Detroit Tigers: 20 Best Hitters in the Last 30 Years

Sep 6, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; On deck circle prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

18. Damien Easley

Easley played for seven years with the Tigers during his seventeen years in the league. His bat came to life in Detroit, where he hit .260 with 104 home runs. He played on the AL All-Star game and won a Silver Slugger award in 1998.

His other successes in Detroit included hitting 20 home runs and stealing 20 bases in 1997. He hit 100 RBIs in 1998. He hit for the cycle in 2001; he was only the ninth Tiger to do it. During that season, he had five hits in one game. He also had a “Little League” home run that same year. He also had a six-hit game, which has only been done by two other Tigers and one of them was Ty Cobb.

True to Detroit Tigers’ form, Mike Ilitch awarded him with a contract for $28.9 million for five years that was higher than any other second basemen in the MLB. And, true to Tigers’ form, they let him go in 2003 with more than $14 million still on the contract.

Next: #17