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Detroit Tigers: The greatest African-Americans in team history

By Andy Patton

DETROIT - OCTOBER 22: Curtis Granderson #28 and Craig Monroe #27 of the Detroit Tigers celebrate after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals during Game Two of 2006 World Series October 22, 2006 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Cardinals 3-1 to tie the series 1-1. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT - OCTOBER 22: Curtis Granderson #28 and Craig Monroe #27 of the Detroit Tigers celebrate after defeating the St. Louis Cardinals during Game Two of 2006 World Series October 22, 2006 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Cardinals 3-1 to tie the series 1-1. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – JUNE 30: Former Detroit Tigers player Lou Whitaker speaks to the fans during the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the 1984 World Series Championship team prior to the game against the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park on June 30, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Athletics 5-4. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – JUNE 30: Former Detroit Tigers player Lou Whitaker speaks to the fans during the celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the 1984 World Series Championship team prior to the game against the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park on June 30, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Athletics 5-4. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

Lou Whitaker

Born in Brooklyn, Lou Whitaker became a Detroit legend after a spectacular 19 year career, all spent in the Motor City.

Paired with Alan Trammell, Whitaker was a part of the greatest and longest tenured double-play combo in baseball history. The duo played in 1,918 games up the middle together, by far the most ever.

While Trammell finally got his Hall of Fame call, Whitaker will have to wait at least two more years for another chance at induction.

The statistics speak for themselves:

The left-handed hitter compiled 2,369 hits, smacked 244 home runs, stole 143 bases, hit .276, and walked more times than he struck out. He made five All-Star games, won three Gold Glove awards, four Silver Slugger awards, was the 1978 Rookie of the Year and compiled a ridiculously high 74.9 WAR.

There are six second baseman with a higher career WAR than Whitaker: Rogers Hornsby, Eddie Collins, Nap Lajoie, Joe Morgan, Rod Carew and former Tiger Charlie Gehringer.

What do those six players have in common? A pretty plaque in Cooperstown with their name on it.

More importantly than the six names in front of Whitaker are the 15(!) Hall of Fame second baseman behind him.

Pick any metric and Whitaker measures up to his HOF counterparts. His JAWS score of 56.4 is 13th among second baseman. That ranks in front of Hall of Famers Roberto Alomar, Jackie Robinson, Joe Gordon, Bobby Doerr and Nellie Fox, among others.

Regardless of Whitaker’s Hall of Fame chances, there is no doubt that he is the greatest African-American ballplayer in Tigers history.

Next: Who will be the next Tigers Hall of Famer?

The Tigers have a rich baseball history. African-American ballplayers like Granderson, Horton and Whitaker are a huge part of that success. Guys like Stewart will help that trend continue for the foreseeable future.

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