Detroit Tigers: Franchise Four Candidates

Apr 12, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman

(24) watches his solo home run in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Miguel Cabrera (2003-Present)

“Miggy” is in just his eighth season in Detroit as he played his first five seasons with the Florida Marlins, but in just seven years, Cabrera has made his mark in Tigers history.

He led the league in home runs, 37, during his first season with the club in 2008. Then, he led the AL in homers again in 2012, which was the season he became the first player since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967 to win the Triple Crown award.

Cabrera hit .330 with 44 home runs and 137 RBI in 2012 and won his first MVP award.

It didn’t take long for him to win his second MVP as he had perhaps a better season in 2013. Cabrera hit .348, winning his third straight AL batting title, with 44 home runs and 137 RBI.

He is already fifth all-time in Tigers history with 254 home runs, fifth in batting average, .326, and second in slugging percentage, .579, behind only Greenberg.

Cabrera still has a ways to go to climb up the Tigers all-time hits, RBI and runs lists, but leading Detroit to its first World Series title in over 30 years might be the only thing missing that would definitely cement Cabrera on the Tigers Mount Rushmore.