Detroit Tigers: Top 10 Strikeout Kings

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 1: Minnesota Twins fans take a selfie before the start of the last baseball game of the regular season between the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers on October 1, 2017 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Andy King/Getty Images) /

Hal Newhouser spent fifteen seasons with the Detroit Tigers, striking out 1,770 batters and winning one World Series title in 1945.

Newhouser was signed by the Tigers in 1939 at the age of 18. He made his MLB debut in September of 1939. He earned a spot on the forty-man roster during spring training in 1940. During wartime baseball Newhouser was one of several top Tigers players classified as 4-F.

During 1944 he posted a 29-9 record becoming one of the most dominant pitchers of wartime baseball. In 1945 he won the pitching Triple Crown and helped the Tigers win the 1945 World Series title. For a second consecutive year, he was named Sporting News Pitcher of the Year, becoming the youngest to do so at 24.

He continued to be one of baseball’s best pitcher until 1950 when an arm injury saw his workload reduced. Finally, in 1953 the Tigers released Newhouser and he’d spend his final two years of baseball playing for the Indians.

During his fifteen years with the team, Newhouser struck out 1,770 batters in 2944.0 innings of work. He appeared in 460 games, 373 of which he started. He also pitched 212 complete games for the Detroit Tigers. Newhouser finished with a 200-148 record and a 3.07 ERA.

Ahead of Newhouser on our list is another World Series Champion. This time, though, it’s a member of the most recent Tigers World Series Championship.

In at number four, is Jack Morris member of the 1984 Bless You Boys.

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