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Detroit Tigers: 1990’s All-Decade Team

By Andy Patton

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 25: Alan Trammell #3 of the Detroit Tigers fields the ball during the game against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda Coliseum on June 25, 1996 in Oakland, California. The Tigers defeated the A's 10-8. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 25: Alan Trammell #3 of the Detroit Tigers fields the ball during the game against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda Coliseum on June 25, 1996 in Oakland, California. The Tigers defeated the A's 10-8. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/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) /

Second baseman – Lou Whitaker

1990’s Stats: .277/.379/.464 129 OPS+ 23.4 bWAR

While Lou Whitaker certainly gets remembered more for his time in the 1980’s, he played with the Tigers through 1995. He did not suffer from a late-career collapse either, still boasting a robust 129 OPS+ from 1990-1995. His 1995 season only saw him garner 249 at-bats, but he still managed to slash .293/.372/.518 with 14 home runs and a stellar 129 OPS+.

In fact, Whitaker’s best career season may well have been 1991, when the left-handed hitter posted a .279/.391/.489 slash with 23 home runs, 78 RBI and a career-high 141 OPS+.

Whitaker is an all-around icon in the city of Detroit. He checks in as the second greatest second basemen in Tigers history, and their greatest African-American. His Hall of Fame case more than speaks for itself, although the BBWAA did not think so in 2001, when he fell off the ballot after earning just 3.8% of the vote.

Whitaker retired after the 1995 season, having spent his entire big league career in the Motor City. He finished with 2,369 hits, 244 home runs, 143 stolen bases, a 117 OPS+ and a 74.5 bWAR.

He was a five time all-Star and won the 1978 AL Rookie of the Year.

Although he spent the majority of his career batting leadoff, sweet Lou still logged 2,886 at-bats in the two-hole, posting a .382 OBP. That’s where he will fit in our lineup.

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