Detroit Tigers: Franchise Four Candidates

Courtesy of hankgreenberg.net

Hank Greenberg (1930-1941, 1945-1947)

The original “Hammerin’ Hank” only played 13 years, 12 of which with the Tigers, but still managed to put up some incredible career numbers.

Greenberg finished his career batting .313 with 331 home runs, 1,274 RBI, 1,046 runs scored and an astonishing .605 slugging percentage. If not for missing three years of his prime due to World War II, Greenberg could have made a run at some serious records.

Even still, Greenberg won two MVP awards, the first coming in 1935 when he hit .328 with a league-leading 37 home runs and 168 RBI. The second came in 1940 as he hit .340 with, again, a league-leading 41 home runs and 150 RBI.

Those seasons don’t even include his near record-breaking years in 1937 and 1938. In 1937, Greenberg finished with 184 RBI, which was seven shy of Hack Wilson‘s record for most in a season. The following year, Greenberg took a serious run at Babe Ruth‘s home run record, finishing just shy with 58 bombs.

He also helped the Detroit Tigers win four AL Pennants and two World Series Championships in 1935 and 1945.