Detroit Tigers: 10 Best Players from Michigan

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.

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