Detroit Tigers: Top 10 sluggers in franchise history

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.