Detroit Tigers: Top 10 sluggers in franchise history

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DETROIT, MI – JULY 4: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers flies out against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning at Comerica Park on July 4, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Cabrera was replaced at first base by Andrew Romine. The Tigers defeated the Giants 5-3. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

The Detroit Tigers have had plenty of sluggers throughout the years. From Cecil Fielder to Miguel Cabrera. But, where do they stack up in Tigers lore?

The Detroit Tigers have seen plenty of homers go over the walls of Comerica Park. Before that plenty of baseballs were going over the wall at Tiger Stadium. Cumulatively, the top ten sluggers in Tigers history have hit over 2,500 home runs.

There are plenty of noteworthy Tigers not on this list. Prince Fielder, for example. With the Tigers, he posted just 55 home runs. But his career home run total is 319. That number would put him fourth on our list. However, we are focusing on those who racked up the most homers as a Tiger.

Ty Cobb, unfortunately, don’t make this list. While he’s the greatest Tiger, he didn’t hit enough home runs to make the list. It’s hard to argue that he isn’t one of the greatest players offensively in the history of the franchise.

There are some familiar names on this list, and even a couple surprises. Currently, only one modern player is on the list (probably not a surprise who it is).

This list portrays many of the great sluggers who have worn the Olde English D. Recent years have given Tigers fan J.D. Martinez and Justin Upton. But they’re just the tip of the iceberg of great hitters throughout the years.

If you think someone else should be on this list, let us know in the comments.

First up, Tiger great Bill Freehan takes the number ten spot.

*Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.

KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 27: A baseball sits on the field before the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 27, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Brian Davidson/Getty Images) /

Bill Freehan spent his fifteen-year career with the Detroit Tigers and was arguably one of the greatest catchers in team history.

Freehan was an 11-time All-Star and five-time Gold Glove winner for the Olde English D. Over his career he posted a .262/.340/.412 slash line and hit exactly 200 home runs. Those 200 dingers put him at number ten on the greatest sluggers in Tigers history.

A native of Detroit, Freehan went to the University of Michigan where he set the Big-Ten all-time batting mark of .585. He signed with the Tigers in 1961 and didn’t break into the bigs full-time until 1963. When the Tiger’s signed him, they gave him a $125,000 signing bonus. However, he made a deal with his dad that he didn’t get the bonus until he finished his degree.

Freehan also took part in one of the most memorable moments in World Series history. He blocked the home plate as Lou Brock was arriving to try and score. Freehan tagged him in the final out of Game 7. SABR’s Bio project gives a perfect quote of the play:

“What makes [Freehan] so extraordinary is that he plants his two big feet firmly in the ground, doesn’t bother giving the base runner barreling down on him from third base so much as a sidelong glance and plain refuses to budge even when said base runner hits him at midship like a torpedo. “

SABR’s bio project also notes that in 1968 Freehan caught 155 games include all seven games in the World Series. Freehan is just behind Lance Parrish on this list. Many Tigers fans remember Parrish as being a member of the ’84 Bless You Boys. Parrish takes the number nine spot coming in with 212 home runs.

DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 18: A general view of the field and sky as the Detroit Tigers host the New York Yankees during game four of the American League Championship Series at Comerica Park on October 18, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

Lance Parrish was an important part of the Tigers ’84 World Series. Batting cleanup he brought in 98 runners and hit 33 home runs.

In 1974, the Detroit Tigers drafted Lance Parrish in the first round of the MLB Draft. Originally, he had been offered a baseball scholarship to UCLA. He turned it down, however, to pursue playing professional baseball.

Parrish made it to the big league club in 1977 and by ’79 he was the team’s regular catcher. 1983 saw Parrish hit 27 home runs and bring in 114 RBIs. It would give him his third Silver Slugger award, in addition to winning his first Golden Glove award that season.

As a member of the 1984 World Series champs, Parrish batted cleanup. He hit 33 home runs and brought in 98 runners that season. Parrish left the Tigers in 1987 when he signed with the Phillies in the offseason as a free-agent. He’d make stops with the Angels, Mariners, Blue Jays, Pirates, Dodgers and back to Detroit before his career ended in 1996.

Parrish would make his way back to the Tigers organization in his post-playing career. In 2014, the Tigers hired Parrish to serve as the skipper for their Double-A affiliate. He now serves as the manager for the Tigers Single-A Affiliate.

Next on the list is Rudy York. A name that is probably unfamiliar to many Tigers fans. He last played for the Tigers as a member of the 1945 World Series champs. The Tigers would trade him to Boston in the offseason. He comes in at number eight with 239 career home runs as a member of the team.

Rudy York spent thirteen seasons with the Tigers, including a bench role on the 1934 World Series team.

York started his baseball career with the Knoxville club of the Southern League. At the end of the 1934 season, the Tigers brought him up to the big leagues. He saw action in three games and sat on the bench for the ’34 World Series. The Tigers sent York back to the minor leagues in the offseason.

He wouldn’t return to playing with Detroit until 1937. He struggled defensively at third and in the outfield. His batting didn’t enough outweigh his defensively struggles to justify making York a regular starter for the Olde English D. By early August York was playing catcher. He gave the baseball world a record-setting September as a rookie. He hit 18 home runs, surpassing Babe Ruth‘s record of 17 (as a rookie) and hit 49 RBIs. His 49 RBIs also surpassed a record set by Loe Gehrig.

He’d finish his rookie campaign with 35 home runs. York was the Tigers starting catcher in ’38 until he was moved to first in 1940. He compiled 33 home runs that season behind Hank Greenburg who hit 41. York’s home runs began to slip in 1941 as he pulled in on 27 that year. he slipped further in ’42 belting just 21 home runs.

He managed to bounce back in ’43 with 34 home runs but fell to under 20 home runs in ’44 and ’45. After a poor performance in the 1945 World Series, the Tigers traded York to Boston in the offseason.

Ahead of York is Lou Whitaker who played alongside Lance Parrish in 1984. Whitaker comes in at number seven on our list.

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) /

Sweet Lou was a member of the 1984 Bless You Boys that brought home a World Series title to Detroit.

Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell were part of the longest running double play combination in MLB history. The duo were fan favorites during their time in the Motor City. The Tigers selected Whitaker in the fifth round of the 1975 MLB draft. Along with Trammell, Whitaker was called up by Detroit at the end of the 1977 season.

The 1978 season saw Whitaker win the AL Rookie of the Year Award, where he posted a .285 batting average. 1983 saw Sweet Lou make his first of five consecutive all-star appearances. The following season the Bless You Boys won the ’84 Fall Classic. 1985 saw him hit 21 home runs, which was a Tigers franchise record for second basemen. He followed that with a 20 home-run season in ’86. Every infielder of the ’86 team hit at least twenty home-runs that season.

In 1989 he hit a career-best twenty-eight home runs, besting his franchise record of home runs by a second baseman. In 1992 he hit his 200^th home run. He would finish his career with 244 home runs in all.

Over the course of his 19-year career, Whitaker posted a .276 batting average, 244 home runs, 1,084 RBIs, 420 doubles, 65 triples and 143 stolen bases. Whitaker is just one home run behind Cecil Fielder. Fielder comes in at number six on the top ten greatest Tigers sluggers of all-time.

DETROIT, MI – OCTOBER 18: A detail of a Detroit Tigers hat with an official postseason logo is seen on the bat rack in the udgout againstthe New York Yankees during game four of the American League Championship Series at Comerica Park on October 18, 2012 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

After a season in Japan Cecil Fielder signed a two-year deal with the Detroit Tigers, where he’d spend seven seasons and establish himself as a slugger.

In his first season with the Tigers, Fielder hit 51 home runs and 132 RBIs. At the time, he was just the 11^th player in MLB history to reach the 50 home run mark. He was also the first member of the Tigers since Hank Greenberg to do so, and no other Tiger has done it since.

While the Tigers played through the early nineties with little-to-no success, Fielder became a fan favorite. His slugging power and big smile were a hit amongst many of the Tigers fans. In seven seasons with the Tigers, Fielder hit a total of 245 home runs. However, his career mark is 319 home runs.

In his seven seasons, Fielder posted a .258 BA, .351 OBP .498 SLG, and a .849 OPS. He hit 245 Hrs, 758 RBIs, 141 doubles and 947 hits. Cecil Fielder comes in at sixth on our list. He’s behind Tigers great Willie Horton, who is regarded as one of the all-time great Tigers. He was a member of the ’68 World Series Championship. Horton infamously stood on the corner he grew-up on and tried to calm the riots of Detroit in 1967.

DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 24: James McCann #34 of the Detroit Tigers pounds fist with Paws before a MLB game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on September 24, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

Willie Horton was a member of the 1968 World Series title that helped bring unity to a city that was struggling.

He’s also known for standing on the corner he grew-up on to try and bring peace to rioters.

It was at 12th Street and Clairmount, 15 hours after a blind pig had been raided by Detroit police, setting off one of the worst racial uprisings in American history. Horton was still in his Tigers uniform following a doubleheader the Tigers and Yankees had split that afternoon at Tiger Stadium. He and the players had been urged to leave in a hurry, to head straight home, to stay far from the smoke and searing tempers that had turned a town into a cauldron.

The Tigers signed Horton in 1961, he played with the Tigers’ farm team until September of 1963 when he made his MLB debut. During his rookie campaign, he rang in 104 RBIs and 29 home runs, which earned him all-star status. He was also a member of the 1968 World Series Title that helped bring unity to Detroit.

During his 15-years with the Detroit Tigers, he was a four-time all-star. He hit 262 home runs, 886 RBIs, and 211 doubles. He also posted a slash line of .276/.337.472/.808. He’d finish his career elsewhere as the Tigers traded him to the Rangers in 1977. He followed that with a stop in Cleveland, Oakland, before spending 1978-1980 with Seattle.

Ahead of Horton on our list is another Tigers legend. In at number four is Hank Greenberg who posted 306 home runs during his time in the Motor City.

DETROIT, MI – APRIL 7: A general view of Comerica Park during the tribute to former owner Michael Ilitch during the opening day celebrations prior to that start of the game against the Boston Red Sox game on April 7, 2017 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

Hank Greenberg was a member of the Detroit Tigers who served during WWII and won two World Series with the Tigers.

In 1929 the New York Yankees offered Hank Greenberg a contract to play alongside Lou Gehrig, he opted to turn it down and spend a year at NYU. The Tigers would later offer him a contract that he accepted.

Greenberg spent three years in the minors, made a brief appearance in the majors in 1930 and ultimately stayed in the majors beginning in 1933. At this time he established himself as one of the great sluggers in baseball. He hit .301 with 87 RBIs in 33. His sophomore year of baseball saw Greenberg led the league in doubles, and extra-base hits. This was in a league that included Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

He was also a member of the 1935 World Series team that brought Detroit its first MLB title since 1909. 1938 saw Greenberg narrowly miss out on Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record as he racked up 58 home runs. When Greenberg initially enlisted in the army he was initially classified as 4F, which meant he was ineligible to serve. However, the classifying was later changed and he was able to serve in the Army.

In the end, he would serve 47 months and by June 1945 was placed on the military inactive list. He returned to the Tigers and helped them win the Fall Classic in ’45. In 1947 the Tigers sold his contract to the Pirates after Greenberg elected to not decline in pay. He’d finish his career with 262 home runs.

Ahead of Greenberg is current Tiger Miguel Cabrera, coming in at number three on our list.

OAKLAND, CA – MAY 05: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers laughs before their game against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on May 5, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Miguel Cabrera has been a fan favorite at Comerica Park since the Detroit Tigers acquired him in a December 2007 trade.

Before coming to the Tigers, Miggy primarily played third base with the Florida Marlins. However, in April of 2008 skipper, Jim Leyland announced that Miggy would be moving to first base where he has spent the majority of his playing time with the Tigers. Cabrera has been an 11-time all-star throughout his career. A two-time AL MVP winner, the AL Triple Crown winner, as well as numerous other batting titles throughout his tenure with the Tigers.

In 2012, the Tigers signed Prince Fielder (the son of Cecil Fielder) and it was announced that Miggy would go back to playing third. When Fielder was traded to the Rangers several seasons later, Miggy resumed his duties of playing at first.

The 2017 season saw Miggy with a down year as he battled nagging injuries. However, during the off-season, he worked hard to lose weight and get into shape. He has come into spring training looking healthy and with some pep in his step.

Just 49 home runs behind Norm Cash on the top ten home run list, Cabrera could surpass that number before he retires and put himself at number two. The top spot would require 76 home runs out of Cabrera, which isn’t impossible but would be much for difficult for the 35-year-old slugger.

Tiger great Norm Cash is next on our list with 373 home runs.

LAKELAND, FL – MARCH 01: A view from the Tiger spring training home Joker Marchant Stadium before the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Detroit Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 1, 2016 in Lakeland, Florida. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Norm Cash spent fifteen seasons with the Detroit Tigers where he racked up 373 home runs.

He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1955 and spent ’57 in the military before making his MLB debut in 1958. He was traded to the Indians in December of 1959, only to subsequently be traded to the Tigers where he’d spend the next fifteen years playing.

A breakout season in ’61 saw Cash win the AL batting title, however, he later admitted that his career high stats that season were the result of using a corked bat. He was also the first Tiger to hit a homer out of Tiger Stadium and did it a total of four times throughout his career.

He was a member of the 1968 World Champions, out shadowed by teammate Al Kaline, but he led the rally that would propel the Tigers to winning it all. The Tigers would end up releasing Cash in 1974 after he hit .228 in 53 games.

Over the course of his career Cash compiled 377 home runs, 1103 RBIs, 1046 runs, 1820 hits, 241 doubles, 41 triples and 43 stolen bases. He was considered to be one of the better defensive

players of his generation. However, offensively teammate Al Kaline shined more than Cash.

Kaline has belted in more home runs than any other player in Detroit Tigers history. For that he is number one on our list, coming in with 399 home runs.

Nicknamed “Mr. Tiger”, Al Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career the Detroit Tigers.

In that 22-year career, he racked up 399 home runs, 1,583 RBIs, 3,007 hits, and compiled a .297 career batting average.

Kaline skipped the minors and directly joined the Tigers, making his MLB debut on June 25, 1953. He became the youngest player to win the AL batting title in 1955 and the first twenty-year-old to win it since Ty Cobb in 1907.

In 1968 Kaline broke his arm and would end up missing two months of the season. However, when he returned skipper benched shortstop Ray Oyler. He put Mickey Stanley at shortstop and Kaline in the outfield. ESPN would later call this one of the top ten greatest coaching moves of the century. Kaline was a crucial member of the 1968 Fall Classic Title.

After reaching the 3,000 hit mark in 1974 Kaline announced his retirement from baseball at the end of the season. In addition to holding the Tigers home runs record, he holds the Tigers record for career games played (2, 834), walks (1,277) and sacrifice flies (104).

Next: 10 reasons to be excited for 2018

The ten greatest sluggers in Tigers history are the top ten by home runs. If you feel that someone else was deserving of being on this less, let us know in the comments.

By now means does this list snub anyone on purpose. Ty Cobb is arguably the greatest Tiger ever. He happened to just play at a time when home runs weren’t hit as often.

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