DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 18: Paws, the mascot for the Detroit Tigers waves a flag as he stands on the dugout in support of the Tigers against the New York Yankees during game four of the American League Championship Series at Comerica Park on October 18, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The Detroit Tigers were home to one of the greatest players in baseball history. Who else would join Cobb on the franchise Mount Rushmore?
The Detroit Tigers have had spurts of success, surrounded by ongoing struggles. After coming into the American League in 1901, their fortunes changed when they managed to land sign the young Ty Cobb. Paired with Sam Crawford and a strong pitching staff, the Tigers made the World Series in three consecutive seasons from 1907 through 1909. However, they failed to win the championship in any appearance.
Despite having Cobb for most of the next two decades, and a relatively strong pitching staff, the Tigers were unable to return to the postseason until 1934. Again, they lost the World Series that year, but they returned in 1935. This time, led by Tommy Bridges and Charlie Gehringer, the Tigers finally broke through, winning their first World Series. The Tigers would win the championship again in 1940 and 1945, capping one of the more successful stretches in team history.
However, after a pair of second place finishes, the Tigers again fell down the standings in the American League. Finally, in the mid 1960s, they began to show signs of improvement. Then, in 1968, led by Denny McLain, the last 30 game winner in baseball history, the Tigers won the World Series again.
Detroit remained in contention afterwards, making the playoffs again in 1972, but fell off the pace once again. Then, in 1984, the Tigers roared out of the gates, winning 35 of their first 40 games. They coasted from there, handily winning the American League East. They dominated the postseason, taking home their last World Series title.
Since then, the Tigers have made the playoffs six times, including five times in the past dozen years. Although they have made the World Series twice in that time frame, that 1984 pennant remains the last one. With the Tigers currently in the midst of a rebuild, those playoff years seem like ancient history.
For now, let us look back through the history of the Detroit Tigers, and see which players belong on their Mount Rushmore.
One of the biggest stars with the Detroit Tigers in the 1980s, Alan Trammell seemed destined for the Hall of Fame.
He was a brilliant all around shortstop, possessing a bit of pop and solid speed at a time when shortstop was a glove first position. Trammell also acquitted himself well defensively, winning four Gold Glove awards. He ranks in the top 30 all time in putouts, assists, and double plays at short, and his 81 runs saved is the 13th best mark in baseball history.
A six time All Star and three time Silver Slugger, Trammell put together a solid career with the Tigers. In his 20 years, he produced a .285/.352/.415 batting line, hitting 185 homers and 412 doubles. He had decent speed in his earlier days, stealing 20 or more bases three times, and ending his career with 236 stolen bases.
Although he was the leader of the Tigers in the 1980s, and universally regarded as one of the better players in the game at the time, Trammell never came close to being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Perhaps it is due to the offensive explosion after he retired, but Trammell was unable to get more than 40.9% of the vote. His fate is now in the hands of the Veteran’s Committee, which will hopefully see fit to induct one of the best shortstops in the history of the game.
Alan Trammell was one of the best players in Detroit Tigers history. Hopefully, he will get his due in Cooperstown as well.
It was generally assumed that Lou Whitaker would make the Hall of Fame during his playing career. However, the long time Detroit Tigers second baseman only lasted one year on the ballot.
That lack of support was a travesty. Whitaker was an excellent second baseman, teaming up with Alan Trammell to form one of the best double play combinations in history. He possessed what was uncommon power for a second baseman, along with an excellent glove. The 1978 Rookie of the Year, Whitaker was a three time Gold Glove winner, and ranks in the top 11 all time in putouts, assists, double plays, and runs saved at second.
A five time All Star and four time Silver Slugger, Whitaker had a solid career. Over his 19 years in Detroit, he posted a .276/.363/.426 batting line. Whitaker had four seasons with 20 or more homers, hitting 244 home runs. He had decent speed as well, with five seasons of double digit stolen bases en route to a total of 143 steals in his career.
Yet, as highly regarded as he had been over his career, Whitaker was barely considered for induction into the Hall of Fame. In his one year on the ballot, he garnered only 15 votes, just 2.9% of the total. For a player with his credentials, such a low total is ridiculous. Now, if Whitaker is to be inducted, it will be through the Veteran’s Committee.
Lou Whitaker was one of the best second basemen in the game. The Detroit Tigers star is also one of the biggest snubs for the Hall of Fame.
The Detroit Tigers teams in the 1950s and into the 1960s may not have been great, but they had one of the bigger stars in the game with Al Kaline.
One of the greatest hitters of the decade, Kaline was a perennial MVP candidate, finishing in the top ten eight times, including two second place finishes, although he never won the award. In 1950, he led the American League with 200 hits and a .340 batting average. Kaline had nine seasons with 20 or more homers, with one of the highest career totals of someone who never hit 30 homers in a season.
Even though he did not consider himself a superstar on par with the likes of Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays, Kaline put together an excellent career. An 18 time All Star, he posted a lifetime .297/.376/.480 batting line, hitting 399 home runs and 498 doubles. Although he fell just short of the home run and double milestones, Kaline did manage to get 3007 hits, using the designated hitter role to get those final base knocks.
“I wasn’t meant to be a superstar. I’m no Willie Mays, or Mickey Mantle,” said Kaline.
Kaline was also a gifted defensive player. He won ten Gold Glove awards, leading American League right fielders in runs saved eight times. His career mark of 155 runs saved is second all time, trailing only Roberto Clemente. Kaline also had a tremendous arm, leading the league in assists three times and ranking 19th all time.
Al Kaline was one of the better all around players in the game during his prime. Even if he did not consider himself a superstar, the Detroit Tigers outfielder was one anyway.
One of the greatest players in the history of the game, there was never a hitter like Cobb. He was a master with the bat, winning 12 batting titles and leading the league in OPS 11 times. Cobb had incredible power, and was one of the leading sluggers of the Dead Ball Era, leading the league in slugging eight times. He had none seasons with 200 or more hits, and was a demon on the basepaths, leading the league in steals six times.
Cobb is one of the more storied hitters in the history of the game. His lifetime .366 batting average is the major league record, and he ranks ninth all time with a .433 on base percentage. Cobb hit 724 doubles and 295 triples, while driving in 1944 runs, ranking in the top ten in each category. His 4189 hits were the record until surpassed by Pete Rose, and still ranks second in major league history. He also stole 897 bases, the modern record until passed by Rickey Henderson.
He played the game with a chip on his shoulder and hatred in his heart. Mercilessly tormented by his teammates early in his career, they would call for a ball, only to peel off at the last moment, letting the fly drop in and making Cobb look bad. After one incident, when pitcher Ed Seiver attacked Cobb and accused him of losing the game, Cobb pummeled Seiver senseless, and had to be dragged off of him, still punching his downed teammate.
That fire burned on the diamond. He went into bases with his spikes up, using a file to sharpen them while sitting on the bench. Cobb once attacked a crippled heckler in the stands, beating the fan despite the fact that he did not have any hands. Cobb may have also beaten a man to death in Detroit in that same year, although that claim seems dubious at best. Yet, for all of his anger and violence on the bases, Cobb was recognized as one of the all time greats, and a part of the inaugural class of the MLB Hall of Fame.
Ty Cobb is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game. The Detroit Tigers outfielder certainly made sure that he gave everything he had whenever he stepped between the lines.
