Detroit Tigers: 20 Best Hitters in the Last 30 Years

Sep 6, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Cleveland Indians second baseman

Jason Kipnis

(22) and shortstop

Francisco Lindor

(12) during the singing of God Bless America at the seventh inning stretch of the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

9. Darrell Evans

Evans began and ended his career in Atlanta, but gave the Tigers a few of his best. Between the years of 1984 and 1988, he had an OPS of .806 with 141 home runs. By comparison, Evans hit 131 home runs in nine years with the Braves and 142 in eight years with the Giants. In 1985, he led the league with 40 home runs in a single season. Evan certainly knew what to do with the bat while wearing the Old English D.

He is known as one of the most underrated baseball players in history, despite his solid numbers at the plate and on defense. In 1973, he hit 41 home runs with the Braves, making him the first player to hit 40 home runs in the AL and the NL. Along with those home runs, he showed exceptional patience at the plate which led to drawing over 100 walks in five different seasons; one of those was with the Tigers. He knew his strike zones and could identify pitches. He sits in the eleventh spot with all-time walks, over players like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Pete Rose. He also hit over 100 runs with three teams, only Reggie Jackson did this before him.

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