Detroit Tigers: 20 Best Hitters in the Last 30 Years

Aug 16, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman

Miguel Cabrera

(right) flexes his arm as he celebrates with teammate

Jose Iglesias

after hitting a two run home run in the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Anyone who knows anything about the Detroit Tigers knows that the best hitters in the team’s history include Hall of Fame players like Ty Cobb, Al Kaline, Hank Greenberg, Willie Horton, Bill Freehan, and George Kell. These hitters are not only the best in the history of the Tigers, but they are also some of the best in the history of professional baseball. These timeless greats overshadow other players who have had outstanding seasons at the plate, but do not make the best-ever lists because of the records set by the heroes from Navin Field and Tiger Stadium.

This list of the best hitters from the Detroit Tigers includes players who have been on the team in the last 30 years. While this does include some hitters from the 1984 World Series team, the majority of the hitters on this list have never worn a championship ring with an Old English D engraved into it. Some of these hitters have had memorable clutch moments in important games. Some have won MVP awards. They have also led the league in several statistical categories. Most of them will never see their likenesses in statues in left field in Comerica Park, but many are favorites of current Detroit fans who never got to see Kaline, Cobb, Greenberg, Horton, Bobby Veach, or Norm Cash swing a bat in a live game.

Next: The Best Detroit Tiger Hitter in the #20 Spot

Mar 31, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; General view during the national anthem before an opening day baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

20. Craig Monroe

Newer Detroit Tigers fans might just know C-Mo as the guy with the colorful suits sitting at the Fox Sports Detroit desk during games. But, there was a time when Monroe was a real force in Comerica Park. He played in the Motor City for six years between 2002 and 2007. During this time (even with 2002 included), he batted .259 and hit 101 home runs. In 2005, he led the AL in sacrifice flies knocking in 12 runners and 89 RBIs. He never made it to an All-Star game, but he was and continues to be a favorite Tiger who was a beast at the plate.

Next: #19

Jul 5, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez (28) celebrates after hitting a home run in the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

19. J.D. Martinez

March 22, 2014 is a day that J.D. Martinez will never forget. On this day, he was released by the Houston Astros. Two days later, the Detroit Tigers gave him a minor league contract. It was quite clear from the start that Martinez was more than a minor league player.

In 2014, J.D. Martinez cemented his place as a Tiger with strength at the plate. He played in 123 games, hitting .315 with 28 home runs. He went from -0.2 WAR with the Astros to 4.2 with the Tigers. To reach that success, he decided to replicate the swing that made Miguel Cabrera so successful. In side-by-side comparisons, it is easy to see the similarities between these two hitters.

Martinez’s break-out year was 2015. He began the year in a bit of a slump, but recovered to make it to the top ten list of home run hitters for the year finishing with 38 home runs. Those home runs are the third most for an outfielder with the Tigers; Rocky Colavito hit 45 in 1961 and Hank Greenberg hit 41 in 1940. Comparions to Miguel Cabrera and Hank Greenberg are honors that any player would be proud to receive.

In 2015, he scored six RBIs and three home runs against the Yankees, matching a feat Cabrera accomplished two years prior. He also received his first opportunity to play in the All-Star Game. He also earned his first Silver Slugger Award along with Cabrera. Along with that honor, the Baseball Writer’s Association of America in Detroit awarded him Tiger of the Year award for 2015. He was in the running for a Gold Glove, but did not receive that award.

Next: #18

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

Nov 1, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets right fielder

Curtis Granderson

(3) hits a solo home run off of Kansas City Royals starting pitcher

Edinson Volquez

in the first inning in game five of the World Series at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

17. Curtis Granderson

The 2015 World Series reminded Tigers fans what they lost when Curtis Granderson was traded to the New York Yankees. As a member of the 2006 Tigers, the Yankees, and the Mets, Granderson has seen his fair share of post-season games. While in Detroit, he hit .272 with 102 home runs and 299 RBIs. During the 2006 playoff, his OPS was 1.042 in the ALDS and 1.140 in the ALCS.

As a young player in Detroit, he had an amazing September call up in 2005. During this promotion, he hit an inside-the-park home run. Three days later, he followed it up with a five-hit game. Then two weeks later, he hit a walk-off home run to beat the Chicago White Sox. It was obvious after his short time with Detroit that he was ready to be a full-time addition to the roster.

As a hitter, he reached several major milestones. He matched Charlie Gehringer‘s record by hitting over 30 doubles, 20 triples, and 20 home runs in 2007.  Prior to Granderson’s feat, only six other players in history were in the 20-20-20 club. He joined an even more elite 20-20-20-20 club when he stole his twentieth base that same year. In 2009, he appeared in the All-Star Game.

Next: #16

Aug 8, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers former player Placido Polanco is honored before the game against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

16. Placido Polanco

Polanco was added to the Detroit Tigers midway through the 2005 season. The Phillies exchanged him for a pair of players so Chase Utley did not have to platoon the middle infield with Polanco. Fortunately for the Tigers, Polanco played his best baseball in Detroit averaging .311 in his five years with the team. His best year was 2007, when he received a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, and a spot on the All-Star team. He also received votes from some of the BBWAA for the AL MVP award.

Polanco quickly became a favorite Tiger with his ability to play aggressively, but cleanly. He was the MVP of the ALCS in 2006. Despite his glory during the ALCS, he was a no-show at the plate in the World Series. During his 2007 All-Star season, he was error-free in 144 games at second base.

Next: #15

Jul 25, 2015; Cooperstown, NY, USA; MLBPA Executive Director

Tony Clark

speaks in recognition of the work that

Curt Flood

did for players right during the Awards Presentation at National Baseball Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

15. Tony Clark

Clark was another baseball player who played seven years with the Tigers. In 1996, he finished in third place for the Rookie of the Year award. As a switch hitter, he played for a total of 15 years, but his 7 in Detroit were his best. He batted a seven-year average of .277 with 156 home runs and 514 RBIs. During his final year in Detroit he played in the All-Star game. In 2015, he was on the ballot for the BBWAA Hall of Fame.

As a first-baseman, Clark led the league in putouts and range factor in 1997 with 1,423 and 9.64 respectively. He frequently finished in the top ten in positive categories at his base. When coaches show their players what a “big swing” should look like, they turn to videos of Tony Clark.

He is truly dedicated to the game of baseball and to the players. He is currently the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association. No other player has ever held so high a title with the MLBPA.

Next: #14

Apr 6, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; General view of Opening Day before the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

14. Mickey Tettleton

Catchers are not usually the most reliable hitters, but the Tigers seem to find catchers who defy the myth. Between Lance Parrish, Bill Freehan, Pudge Rodriguez, and Mickey Tettleton, these guys could catch and hit. Tettleton earned two Silver Sluggers and a spot on the All-Star team during his four years behind the dish in Detroit. In 1992, he led the league in walks. But, when he put the bat on the ball, he could hit for power.

In 1991, he reach some respectable milestones. The first was hitting seven home runs in seven games. He was one of only five players to hit not one, but two home runs that cleared the right field roof at the old Tiger Stadium. He continued his streak of big home runs in 1992 when he cleared the right field roof at Camden Yards. He hit 31 home runs in 1991 and 32 home runs in both 1992 and 1993.

Next: #13

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

12. Carlos Guillen

This popular infielder had some true struggles during his career, but he still managed to give the Detroit Tigers a .297 batting average in his eight years on the team. He suffered through a bout of pulmonary tuberculosis, ACL surgery, shoulder issues, and a knee surgery for microfractures. He also had to deal with trades and trading places with all-star players Randy Johnson, Miguel Cabrera, and Alex Rodriguez. He also had to play the role of the moveable piece in the puzzle that is the lineup for several consecutive years.

In his first year with Detroit, Guillen led the team in nearly every offensive statistic. Only Ivan Rodriguez had a higher batting average in 2004. Guillen played in the All-Star Game and received some MVP votes. He was injured for most of the 2005 season but had another stellar year in 2006 batting .320 with a .920 OPS. He had a 1.625 OPS during the ALDS against the Yankees and a .920 OPS in the World Series. Despite his rock-star performance on the plate, he committed the most errors (28) of any player in the AL in 2006. He made two more appearances in the All-Star Games in 2007 and 2008.

Next: #11

Sep 18, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; General view of the right field lights that went out prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

11. Travis Fryman

In his 13 years in baseball, Travis Fryman was one of the most consistent players who had the unfortunate luck to play alongside Alan Trammell. Where Trammell made the game look easy, Fryman seemed to need to work just a little harder. He was frequently compared to the great, but he could not replace him in the hearts of the fans despite the fact that he literally had to replace Tram at short.

Fryman quietly developed his statistics during his eight years in Detroit. He was selected to four All-Star Games. He batted a solid .274 with the Tigers and had an OPS of .779. He pounded in 149 home runs and 679 RBIs. His career oWAR in Detroit was 24.4. In 1995 and 1996, he was selected as the Tiger of the Year, while playing with greats like Kirk Gibson, Bobby Higginson, Tony Clark, and Cecil Fielder. In 1992, he was awarded the Silver Slugger award.

His position in Detroit Tigers history has been tainted by the ugly way he was traded by the team

Next: #10

Aug 14, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers former catcher Ivan Rodriguez watches the game in the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

10. Ivan Rodriguez

For four and a half seasons, Pudge Rodriguez shared his skills and personality with Detroit. Many believe that without Pudge’s contributions on and off the diamond, the Tigers would not have made it to the World Series in 2006. He is frequently mentioned as one of the best catchers the game has seen. His offensive ability at the plate is also outstanding.

During his four full seasons in Detroit, he was named an All-Star in each one. He received three Gold Glove awards, a Silver Slugger, and consideration as an AL MVP. He batted .298 and had an OPS of .777. His WAR in Detroit was 14.2. During his 2004 season with the Tigers, he finished fourth in AL batting average crown and he earned his 1000th RBI. In the 2005 All-Star game he finished in second place in the Home Run Derby, which just happened to be in Comerica Park with its long-distance fence. As a career hitter, he is currently in 57th place in the MLB with extra-base hits.

Even though he spent most of his career with the Texas Rangers, he still remains a fan and clubhouse favorite in Detroit.

Next: #9

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.

Next: #8

Aug 7, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Baseballs sit in dugout before the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

8. Magglio Ordonez

Maggs spent his entire career in the AL Central in Chicago and then Detroit. He joined the Tigers in 2005 and quickly cemented himself as a fan favorite in left field. In his seven years in Detroit, he achieved a .312 BA and .812 OPS. He was unstoppable at the plate in 2007, with a league-leading .363 BA and 54 doubles. That same year, he knocked in 28 home runs and 139 RBIs. He received a Silver Slugger and finished second in the MVP vote. His 2007 season is one of the best ever, until Miguel Cabrera played in 2012.

His accomplishments in Detroit are similar to those by players from historical eras. His .363 batting average has only been topped by Charlie Gehringer and Norm Cash. George Kell was the only Tiger to hit more doubles. Rocky Colavito is the only Tiger with more RBIs. Only one other Tiger has hit two home runs in one inning, the other was Al Kaline. Ironically, both players hit them against  the Athletics.

For Tigers fans, the most memorable Maggs moment was the walk-off home run against the Oakland Athletics to win the pennant in 2006. The call by radio broadcaster Dan Dickerson is one of the highlights of modern Tiger history.

Next: #7

Mar 27, 2015; Dunedin, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers special assistant Alan Trammell (3) watches batting practice before the start of the spring training game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

7. Alan Trammell

Trammell is one a few modern baseball players to stay with one team for his entire career. In 20 years, he dominated the Detroit Tigers middle infield and the plate. From 1977 to 1995, he and Lou Whitaker were a double-play threat like no other. Trammell played short to Whitaker’s second base. Trammell had several outstanding years, but his best was 1987 when he finished second in the MVP vote and he earned a Silver Slugger. He had an oWAR of 8.2 with a batting average of .343 and an OPS of .953.

In 1984, he was one of the reasons why the team went to the World Series. He won the World Series MVP where he hit .450 with an OPS of 1.300. In his best year, 1987, he batted clean-up and it was the perfect spot for him. He hit 28 home runs and finished in the top five in several offensive categories. In that same season, he had 200 hits and 100 RBIs; no other Tiger had accomplished this since Kaline did in 1955.

Trammell had two seasons with 20-game hitting streaks. His first one came in 1984. The second one in 1987 was actually a 21-game streak. He earned three Silver Slugger awards in 1987, 1988, and 1990. He played in six All-Star Games. He finished his career with 2365 hits and 1003 RBIs. He is currently in his last year as a nominee for a spot in the Hall of Fame.

Next: #6

Jul 4, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Servicemen line the infield before the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

6. Bobby Higginson

He played eleven years with Tigers and put up some outstanding statistics at the plate. In his second season in the MLB, he batted .320 with an OPS of .982. He had 141 hits and 26 home runs. The following year, his batting average dipped, but his hits and RBIs increased to 163 and 101. In 2000, he batted .300 with an OPS of .915. He also drove in over 100 RBIs, hitting 30 home runs, 44 doubles, and steaing 15 bases.

Despite his success at the plate and in the outfield, he never was awarded with a spot on the All-Star game. He also never received Gold Gloves or Silver Sluggers. Considering that he was a contemporary of hitters like Jason Giambi, Albert Belle, and Mike Piazza, it is no surprise that he was underrated. Now, that the Steroid Era has been identified, Bobby Higginson’s work at the plate and in the outfield has become more impressive.

As an outfielder, he frequently led the league or finished in the top five in assists, double plays, putouts, and range.

Next: #5

Jun 30, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; The bat of Detroit Tigers center fielder

Rajai Davis

(20) stand by home plate against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

5. Lance Parrish

Detroit Tigers fans are eternally grateful that Lance Parrish did not accept the scholarship to UCLA to play football. Instead, he decided to enter the baseball draft where the Tigers nabbed him in the first round. He played 10 years with the Tigers where he was selected to six All-Star Games and won five Silver Slugger awards and three Gold Glove awards. Despite the fact that he played eight seasons with other teams, he has remained one of the most popular Tigers players in recent history.

His love of working out with weights helped him with his performance on offense. In his first All-Star season, he hit .286 with 24 home runs. In 1982, he hit 32 home runs and had an OPS of .867. During the World Series season, he 33 home runs and 98 RBIs. As one of the strongest players on the team, he batted clean up in 1984. One of his greatest defensive games was catching for Jack Morris in the April 7, 1984 no-hitter.

During his 1982 season, he set a new AL home runs record for a catcher which was previously held by Yogi Berra. In 1984, he increased the record by two. He hit a total of 324 home runs and 1070 RBIs. He was intentionally walked 62 times. He was a quiet, but imposing leader of the 1984 World Series team with his ability to keep the pitchers on target and to put the strikes thrown at him into play.

Next: #4

Sep 23, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Arizona Diamondback manager Kirk Gibson in the dugout in the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Minnesota Twins win 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

4. Kirk Gibson

Gibby will always be remembered for his walk-off home run with the Dodgers, but in Detroit he will be remembered for much more. A graduate of Michigan State University and an alumnus from Waterford-Kettering High School, his home-grown talent has made him a legend in his home state. He played for the Tigers for 12 seasons. He had some serious shoes to fill when Sparky Anderson boasted that Gibson would be the next Mickey Mantle.

In his 12 years in Detroit, he hit 195 home runs and 668 RBIs. He never made it to an All-Star Game in any of his 17 years in the MLB. He was named the ALCS MVP in 1984 and he scored the winning home run off of Goose Gossage in Game 5. This moment in baseball is frequently mentioned as one of the top ten moments in all of baseball with Gibby’s moment with the Dodgers as the best. His ability to come through in clutch moments makes him one of the best hitters in recent Tigers history.

Next: #3

Jul 20, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Texas Rangers designated hitter

Prince Fielder

(84) hits an RBI single during the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

3. Cecil Fielder

Cecil Fielder was one of the best home run hitters ever to grace Tiger Stadium. He is best known for two unbelievably long home runs. One was on August 25, 1990, when he hit one over the Tiger Stadium left-field roof. The second was on September 14, 1991 when he hit one out of Milwaukee County Stadium. No one had ever done it or has done it since.

He was a bright light in an otherwise dull Detroit team. He came through in clutch situations and he continued to build numbers that had not been seen in many years. In 1990 and 1991, he finished second in the MVP vote, played in the All-Star Game, and he received Silver Slugger awards. In 1990, he hit 51 home runs and 132 RBIs. The following year he played in every game and hit 44 home runs with 133 RBIs. Between 1990 and 1996 with the Tigers, he hit no fewer than 26 home runs each season. In 1990 and 1991, he led the AL in home runs and RBIs.

His hitting ability was passed on to his son, Prince who played for the Tigers for two seasons. In his 2007 season with Milwaukee Brewers, Prince hit 50 home runs. Cecil and Prince are the only father-son commbination to hit that many home runs in one season.

Next: #2

Apr 26, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Former Detroit Tiger Lou Whitaker (left) is presented with a water color painting to commemorate his 2015 Detroit Tigers African American Legacy Award by former Tiger Willie Horton and starting pitcher

David Price

(right) before the game against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

2. Lou Whitaker

Like his infield counterpart, Alan Trammell, Sweet Lou played his entire career in Detroit. In his rookie season, he won the Rookie of the Year award. Then for the five years between 1983 and 1987, he played in the All-Star Games, won four Silver Slugger awards, and three Gold Glove awards. He finished his career was a 74.9 WAR, a batting average of 276, with 2369 hits, and 1084 RBIs. He frequently had seasons with top ten statistics throughout his career.

His legacy in Detroit is one of quiet strength and discipline. Fans who saw him play at Tiger Stadium will remember the “Loooouuuuuu” cheers that sounded like boos. When he came to the plate, people noticed. Despite the fact that Detroit Tigers fans believe he and Trammell should be immortalized in the Hall of Fame, he did not receive enough votes to make it beyond his first year of eligibility. Many believe that his number should be retired in Comerica Park, although number one looks good on Jose Iglesias.

Next: #1

Jul 3, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) during the national anthem before the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

#1: Miguel Cabrera

There is no doubt that number 24 will grace the left-field wall at Comerica Park. Miguel Cabrera is not only the best Detroit Tiger hitter in the past 30 years, but he is one of the best hitters to ever play the game of baseball. He was the first player in 45 years to win the Triple Crown batting award for leading the league in batting average, home runs, and RBIs. In every year that he has been in the MLB, he has received votes for the MVP award winning it in 2012 and 2013. Between the years of 2004 and 2013, he hit over 30 home runs in each season. In two seasons (2008 and 2012), he led the league in doubles. He has earned six Silver Slugger awards. He currently sits in the career 51st spot and active players third spot with a 72.2 oWAR.

Miggy currently leads the American League with his career .321 batting average. His ability to hit everything has earned him 205 intentional base-on-balls. He is in second place in this statistic with active players and 12th for career statistics.

In his rookie year, he hit four home runs in the post-season and helped the Florida Marlins win the World Series. He set the tone for his career by hitting a walk-off home run in his very first at-bat. His consistency at the plate has earned him comparisons to players like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Al Kaline, and Ken Griffey.

Next: Top 10 Detroit Tigers Pitchers

He is the face of the Detroit Tigers and a fan favorite. Experts call him a pure hitter and the best hitter on the planet. Even his teammates try to emulate his swing, especially J.D. Martinez who earned his first Silver Slugger by copying Miggy’s iconic swing.