Detroit Tigers: 10 Best Players from Michigan

Oct 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers fans and hold up signs against the Baltimore Orioles during game three of the 2014 ALDS baseball playoff game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers fan-base is one of the most loyal in all professional sports. This small market team has had its ups and downs, but the fans have remained true. For a Detroit Tigers fan, there is nothing quite like a home-grown player becoming a star. Fans love to be able to say their grandfathers went to high school with an All-Star, or that a home run hero’s family attended their church. Here are some of the best players who were from Michigan and went on to dominate in Tiger Stadium and Comerica Park: 

Next: #10

Oct 17, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers former pitcher Jack Morris throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to game five of the American League Championship Series baseball game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

10. Dave Rozema

This pitcher is from Grand Rapids where he attended Central High School and Grand Rapids Junior College. He was drafted by the Tigers after his first semester in college in 1975. Two years later, he entered the major league and placed fourth in the Rookie of the Year vote and eighth in the Cy Young vote. He finished his career with a 3.47 ERA. Rozema was an outstanding pitcher and teammate. One problem with Dave Rozema was that he pitched at the same time as Jack Morris and played alongside teammates that went on to dominate in the mid-80s. The other problem with Rozema was that he tore several ligaments in his knee in a bench-clearing brawl versus the Minnesota Twins in 1982. His first major league win came against the legendary Carl Yastrzemski when he allowed four hits in an 8-0 routing at Fenway Park. He continues to live in Michigan, where he and Kirk Gibson are brothers-in-law.

Next: #9

Courtesy of aberdeensports.net (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon, File)

9. Ron LeFlore

Of all of the Detroit Tigers, Ron LeFlore’s route to the big leagues was the most unexpected. Born and raised in Detroit, his early life involved a life of crime and drugs. His mother tried to keep him on the straight and narrow, but the call of the streets were too much for him. He became a heroin addict and dropped out of school. Eventually, he was sent to Jackson State Penitentiary for armed robbery. He never played any sports prior to entering prison where he discovered baseball. Fortunately for LeFlore, Billy Martin heard about him. LeFlore was able to try out at Tiger Stadium and the rest is history. His unlikely and inspirational story was turned into a made-for-tv movie.

LeFlore played for nine years, earning a spot on the All-Star team in 1976. He also received votes in four years on the MVP ballot. In 1978, he led the league in runs scored and stolen bases. He also led the league in stolen bases, with 97, in 1980. The centerfielder’s career batting average was .288, but he had a handful of years at .300 or better. His story proves that a talented athlete can overcome any difficulty.

Next: #8

Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

8. Frank Tanana

Born and raised in Detroit and graduated from Detroit Catholic Central, Frank Tanana was one of the most underrated pitchers in the league. He played 21 years and spent 7 seasons with the Detroit Tigers. During his 1975 season with the California Angels, he pitched a game with 17 strikeouts and he had a 100 mph fastball for several seasons until he injured his arm and lost the speed. In 1975, he struck out 269 batters and in 1976, his WHIP was a remarkable 0.988. He made it to the All-Star game in 1976, ’77, and ’78.

His years with Detroit were later in his career. He pitched a 4.08 ERA in his 96-82 record. His most memorable game was against the Toronto Blue Jays were he completed a 1-0 shutout to bring the Tigers the AL East title. His 100 mph fastball was long gone by the time he made it to Detroit, but he was a favorite for his unhittable offspeed pitches at low speeds that he mixed with his 88 mph fastball.

Next: #7

Feb 21, 2012; Lakeland, FL, USA; A major league baseball sits in the grass as Detroit Tigers catchers participate in drills during spring training at Joker Merchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE

6. Bill Freehan

There was something about that 1968 Detroit Tigers team and Bill Freehan was the catcher that called the games. He was from Royal Oak where he attended the city high school. He also attended the University of Michigan where he played football and baseball. He hit .446 in his All-American season in 1961; this is the highest batting average of any player in Michigan history.

He was signed in 1961 and played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. He appeared in 11 All-Star games as a catcher. He earned five Gold Glove awards and he regularly received votes in the MVP voting. He never won the AL MVP, but he finished as high as second place in 1968, where he regularly caught for pitching greats Mickey Lolich and Denny McLain. As a catcher, his fielding percentage was .993. His ability as a catcher and hitter puts only two catchers ahead of him in statistics: Yogi Berra and Bill Dickey. One of his most memorable moments of his career was the final catch in the World Series game 7 in 1968, where he caught Tim McCarver‘s (the St. Louis Cardinals catcher) popup. Interestingly, in three of his seasons, he led the league in being hit by pitches.

Next: #5

Aug 27, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter (2) is presented with two seats from Tigers Stadium by Detroit Tigers former players Al Kaline (center) and Willie Horton (right) before the game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

5. Willie Horton

Even though Willie Horton was born in Virginia in the Appalachian mountains, he was raised in Detroit. He attended Detroit Northwestern High School and at the age of 16 actually hit a home run in Tiger Stadium during a baseball game in high school. His high school won a city championship in 1959, and he signed with the Tigers in 1961. In 1963, he made his rookie debut. He is one of the favorite sons of the City of Detroit because of his attempts to ease race relations in the 1960s all while managing to play in as many games as possible.

Horton played in four All-Star games and received MVP votes in five years. He finished fourth in the MVP vote in 1968 behind two of his teammates, Denny McLain and Bill Freehan. He is one of six Detroit Tigers players whose number (#23) is retired and who has a statue in left field. Even though he is enshrined by the people of Detroit, he is not a member of the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. His batting average of .273 and 325 home runs in 18 seasons was not enough to put him in the Hall. He continues to hold a position in the front office with the Tigers along with his teammate Al Kaline.

Next: #4

4. Mickey Stanley

Mickey Stanley was another member of the 1968 World Series team from Michigan. He was raised in Grand Rapids and attended Ottawa Hill High School. Like Dave Rozema, he played baseball for Grand Rapids Junior College before signing with the Tigers in 1961. Like Bill Freehan, he spent his entire career in Detroit, usually as an outfielder. But, in 1968, he was moved to shortstop when Mayo Smith moved Ray Oyler out and James Northrup into the outfield. Stanley had never played shortstop before that day, but performed well enough to help the team to the championship. The decision kept the best fielders in the game and was considered on of the best decisions made by a coach.

Stanley’s lifetime batting average was .248 in his 15 years with the Tigers and he hit 500 RBIs. In his 15 years in the outfield, he accomplished a neat and tidy .993 fielding percentage. He earned four Gold Glove awards, but never played in an All-Star game. He was in the MVP discussion in one year.

Next: #3

Sep 17, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field. The Giants defeated the Diamondbacks 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

3. Kirk Gibson

This list would be incomplete without a mention of Gibby. He is a Michigan native through and through. He was born in Pontiac, raised in Waterford, and graduated from Waterford Kettering High School. He attended Michigan State University where he played football and was named an All-American wide receiver. He was an outstanding football player and helped lead the Spartans to a Big Ten title. His football coach suggested he play baseball, which was a move that paid off. He played one year, hitting .390, 16 home runs, and 52 RBIs. His performance on the gridiron got the attention of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 7th round. In the MLB, the Tigers drafted him in the 1st round. He chose baseball.

He played nine seasons in Detroit. In three of the seasons, he was in the MVP conversation. It was not until he moved to Los Angeles to play for the Dodgers that he finally won the MVP after his memorable World Series walk-off home run in 1988. Interestingly, this was not his first clutch hit in a World Series. He hit his first World Series clutch home run in 1984 against Goose Gossage in the fifth game in 1984. In his 12 years as a Tiger, he hit .273 with 195 home runs.

Next: #2

Aug 7, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; A general view as umpires James Hoye (92) and Ted Barrett (65) go to a replay review in the fourth inning during the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

2. Hal Newhouser

Newhouser was from Detroit and attended Wilbur Wright High School. He was a phenomenal pitcher known as “Prince Hal” because of his neat and tidy appearance. He did not expect to become a baseball player and was busy earning money to go to a trade school. He was signed by the Tigers in 1939; he played one game that year.

His dominant years were during World War II. He wanted to fight in the war, but he had a heart issue that kept in on American soil. Instead of fighting, he perfected his pitching. In 1944 and 1945, he was awarded the AL MVP. He pitched in All-Star games in six years during the War years. In 1945, the Tigers defeated the Chicago Cubs because of his pitching. In 1945, he won the pitching Triple Crown by leading the league with 1.81 ERA, 25 wins, and 212 strikeouts. He is permanently enshrined in the Hall of Fame as well as on the left field wall at Comerica Park. He is also commemorated in a statue at Comerica Park.

In his post-playing career, he is credited with discovering Derek Jeter while he worked as a scout for the Houston Astros. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1992.

Next: #1

Jun 13, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; General view as Detroit Tigers left fielder J.D. Martinez (28) runs to first in the sixth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

1. Charlie Gehringer

This outstanding baseball player was born near Fowlerville, Michigan, graduated from Fowlerville High School, and attended the University of Michigan. He actually played basketball in college, but was discovered by Bobby Veach who invited him to Navin Field to try out in front of Ty Cobb. He was so impressed with Gehringer that he asked Frank Navin to sign him immediately. 

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He played for 19 years with the Tigers where he dominated at the plate and at his position at second base. Many believe that he was the best second baseman of all time. During his time in Detroit he batted a career .320, with 184 home runs, and 1427 RBIs. He played during the Dead Ball era, so many of his home runs were completed in the park. He won several batting titles as well as the American League MVP in 1937. He played in six All-Star games. In 1929, he led the league in games, plate appearances, runs, hits, doubles, triples, and stolen bases, but was not given any awards or considerations. Each year was a feat of greatness with Charlie Gehringer. His number is retired at Comerica Park and he has a statue in left field, too. In 1949, he was voted into the Hall of Fame.