Detroit Tigers: Top 10 Hall of Famers in Franchise History

Courtesy of Hankgreenberg.net

Hank Greenberg (1930-1941, 1945-1947)

If not for missing three years of his prime due to World War II, Greenberg would be mentioned as one of the best hitters of all-time rather than the best overlooked one.

He hit .313 with 331 home runs, 1,274 RBI, and 1,046 runs in just 13 seasons. Greenberg also finished his career with an incredible .605 slugging percentage.

Greenberg’s best years were 1935-1940, and he won two AL MVP awards during that time frame. He earned the first one in 1935, batting .328 with a league-leading 37 home runs and 168 RBI in 1935. In 1940, he hit .340 and, again, led the league with 41 homers and 150 RBI, winning his second MVP award.

In 1937 and 1938, however, Greenberg nearly broke two historic records. 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. Greenberg was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1956.