Detroit Tigers: Top 10 Starting Pitchers of All Time

Oct 8, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer reacts after getting out of a bases loaded situation in the 8th inning of game four of the American League divisional series playoff baseball game against the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

10. Max Scherzer

Honestly, Mad Max deserves a higher spot that #10, but he was only with the Tigers for five years. Had he remained with the team, there is a chance he could become the best pitcher that the Tigers ever had. In his five years, he earned a spot on two All-Star teams and he was the Cy Young winner in 2013. In 2012, he led the AL in strikeouts per nine innings with 11.9. In 2013 and 2014, he won more games in the AL than any other pitcher with 21 and 18 respectively. Also in 2013, his WHIP was an outstanding 0.970 to match his low ERA of 2.90.

He only pitched one complete game in Detroit and it was a shutout against the Chicago White Sox in June of 2014. In that same year, some actually compared Scherzer’s numbers to those belonging to the Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson.

The fans knew in their hearts that 2014 would be Scherzer’s last year in Detroit, but it was still a sad day when he signed the immense contract with the Washington Nationals.

Next: #9 Starting Pitcher of All Time

Aug 20, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers hat and glove in the dugout against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

9. Hooks Dauss

You know you’re a good pitcher when your teammates nickname you after your unhittable pitch. George “Hooks” Dauss had a curve ball that stymied even the best batters of the day between 1912 and 1926. During those 15 years pitching in Detroit, he racked up 223 wins, a number that no Detroit pitcher has topped.

One of the most surprising things about Dauss was his size. He weighed in at 168 pounds and stood all of 5’10, which is certainly small by today’s standards. Despite his size, he was a workhorse for the team logging more than 200 innings each year for 11 years in a row. He also filled in as a reliever, closing 120 games. In three of his years, he pitched over 300 innings.

Next: #8 Starting Pitcher of All Time

Nov 7, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of an official baseball during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

8. John Hiller

When John Hiller retired from baseball in 1980, he was the last of the 1968 World Series team still playing. He played for Detroit during his entire 15 years in the game, with the exception of 1971, when he had a heart attack and took the rest of the year off.

It is uncommon to hear of 28-year olds having heart attacks and even more unusual for heart attack survivors to return to professional sports. Hiller beat the odds. Prior to his heart attack, he pitched in 404 innings. After his heart attack, he only pitched in 44 innings in 1972. But, in 1973, he led the American League in games pitched, games finished, and saves. The very next year, he went to the All-Star game and was in the running for the Cy Young award. He truly taught the world what it means to have the heart of a Tiger.

Next: #7 Starting Pitcher of All Time

Sep 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tiger former player

Mickey Lolich

and bench coach

Gene Lamont

(22) before the game against the Chicago White Sox Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

7. Mickey Lolich

Those who remember the 1968 World Series remember Mickey Lolich as the left-handed pitcher who won Game Seven. While Denny McLain was the MVP and Cy Young winner, it was Lolich who shocked the fans and dominated the mound. McLain lost two of the three games he started in the World Series, as he went against the St. Louis Cardinals’ Bob Gibson in two of the games. Lolich was not stumped by Gibson and defeated him in the finale, where he pitched a complete game. Lolich became the MVP of the 1968 World Series with his 1.67 ERA, 21 strikeouts, and a 3-0 record.

During his 13 years with the Tigers, he went to the All-Star game twice, received Cy Young nominations twice, and MVP votes three times. He finished his career with 3.45 ERA. His best year was 1971 where he led the league in wins, starts, complete games, strikeouts, and batters faced. He still leads the Tigers with 2,679 strikeouts, 39 shutouts, and 459 games started.

Next: #6 Starting Pitcher of All Time

Mar 29, 2015; Clearwater, FL, USA; A general view of a Detroit Tigers hat, glove and sunglasses in the dugout against the Philadelphia Phillies at Bright House Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

6. Schoolboy Rowe

Lynwood “Schoolboy” Rowe pitched for the Tigers for his first 10 years in the Major Leagues. He was a beloved pitcher who ran the mound, while Hank Greenberg knocked in the runs. Together, they brought the 1934 and ’35 Tigers the pennants. He finished his career with two trips to the All-Star game and a seventh-place vote in the MVP race. In 1934, he won 16 games in a row, finishing the season with 24 wins and 8 losses.

He was appreciated for his size and strength on the mound (he was 6’4 and weighed 210) and for his quirky eccentricities. He was a southern boy from Texas and used his charm to his advantage. He often brought trinkets and charms on the mound for luck and he called on his girlfriend for inspiration during the games. He was known for talking to the ball and for his line, “How’m I doing, Edna?”

Next: #5 Starting Pitcher of All Time

Nov 7, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detailed view of an official baseball during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars game at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

5. Dizzy Trout

Dizzy spent 14 years with the Tigers during the War Years bringing the team to two World Series, including the win in 1945. He had two All-Star appearances and received votes for the MVP award in four of his years with the team. His best year was 1944, where he finished second in the MVP vote to his teammate Hal Newhouser. He started in 44 games, finishing 30 of them. That same year he finished with a 2.12 ERA and 7 shutouts. His career ERA with the Tigers was 3.20.

He was also valuable off the mound. In 1949 in a game against the Washington Senators, he hit a grand slam in the 9th inning to help the Tigers win. He was also a play-by-play announcer between 1953-1955 for the Tigers. He is the father of Steve Trout who pitched for the Chicago Cubs and White Sox, but he is not related to current All-Star Mike Trout.

Next: #4 Starting Pitcher of All Time

4. Denny McLain

The great Denny McLain was known not only for his performances on the mound but for his style and antics off the mound. He is the last pitcher to have won 30 games when he won 31 in 1968. That same year, he brought the Tigers to the World Series and he won the AL MVP and Cy Young Award. He also appeared in the All-Star Game. He won the Cy Young in 1969, too. He made it to three All-Star Games. When McLain stopped pitching for the Tigers after eight seasons, he had an ERA of 3.13 with a .654 win-loss percentage. In 1968, his percentage was .838.

During his time with the Tigers, he was known for drinking bottles of Pepsi between the innings and when he was at home. He was an accomplished musician who would entertain his teammates with his organ performances. He actually cut two records playing in Las Vegas. He appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show where he was accompanied by fellow pitcher Bob Gibson who played guitar.

While McLain’s performance on the mound is certainly worthy of a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame, his history off  of the mound is certainly not. Baseball seemed to be the only place that McLain could stay out of trouble. He was involved in gambling, embezzlement, and drug trafficking.

Today, he can occasionally be heard on local sports radio talk shows in Michigan.

Next: #3 Starting Pitcher of All Time

October 4, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Detail view of a Detroit Tigers logo with autographs before game one of the American League divisional series playoff baseball game against the Oakland Athletics at O.co Coliseum. The Tigers defeated Athletics 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

3. Hal Newhouser

Newhouser is the only pitcher on this list in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but there are a few others who could be enshrined in the Hall after their careers are completed. Newhouser pitched for 15 years for the Tigers, including the tumultuous War Years where he completed dominated the game of baseball. He made six appearances in the All-Star Game. He won the MVP two consecutive years in 1944 and ’45. In 1945 and ’46, he led the league with 1.81 and 1.94 ERAs. He led the league in wins in four of his years with Detroit.

Newhouser can be seen by visitors at Comerica Park. He has a statue behind left field and his number 16 will never be worn by another Tiger ever. He was a consummate professional who was lovingly called Prince Hal for his neatness and demeanor. He is the only pitcher on this list who from Detroit, making him a beloved home-town hero.

Next: #2 Starting Pitcher of All Time

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

2. Jack Morris

This legendary pitcher threw strikes for the Tigers for 14 years. He was in five All-Star games and won several other awards including the World Series MVP (with the Minnesota Twins). He led the American League in wins in 1981 and he led the AL in strikeouts in 1983. He finished his time in Detroit with a 3.73 ERA and a WHIP of 1.266. He did frequently lead the league in wild pitches due to his split-finger fastball. However, that same fastball helped him the 1980 strikeouts he had with the Tigers.

His placement in the number 2 spot has to do with his World Series performances. He has three rings, but Morris has never won a Cy Young or a season MVP award. At this time, Morris missed being voted into the Hall of Fame by 8 percent. He will be eligible for enshrinement by the Veterans Committee in 2017. Many believe the BBWAA of did not vote him in because of his surliness with the media during his playing days. Now, he can be seen working for Fox Sports as a baseball analyst.

Next: #1 Starting Pitcher of All Time

Apr 13, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander (35) greets teammates during pre-game introductions before playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

1. Justin Verlander

JV has been the face of the Detroit Tigers since his rookie season in 2006 when he won the Rookie of the Year Award, and received votes for the MVP and Cy Young Awards, too. He helped bring the Detroit Tigers to the 2006 World Series along with the new manager, Jim Leyland. Verlander finished his rookie year with a record of 17-9 and 3.63 ERA.

Sep 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher J. Verlander (35) gets set to pitch in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

His best year was 2011, where he won both the Cy Young and the MVP, sharing the accomplishment with Newhouser and McLain. He finished that season with a .828 win-loss percentage, 2.40 ERA, and 0.920 WHIP. He threw several no-hitters and also earned the coveted Triple Crown of Pitching. While he has had two rough years due to injuries, he finished the 2015 season with the signature fastball that put him on the map. As a lifetime American League player, Verlander has had very few opportunities to hit. He finally got his first official hit in 2014 against the San Diego Padres. He actually scored one run and had two hits in the game on April 12.

Verlander is known as a workhorse, where he rarely misses a start. Until his injury in 2014, he had never been on the disabled list. He opened seven seasons from 2008 until 2014. He has thrown more pitches than any other current pitcher since 2008.

Next: Top Ten Tigers from Michigan

He is signed with the Tigers until 2020, so fans will get to enjoy his fastball for a few more years. Many believe he has the stuff to be voted into the Hall of Fame. Unlike Morris, Verlander is a media darling who shows the ultimate respect for the fans who pay to see him pitch.