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Detroit Tigers: All Saint Patrick’s Day team

By Andy Patton

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 30: Shane Greene #61 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning of a game at Coors Field on August 30, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 30: Shane Greene #61 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning of a game at Coors Field on August 30, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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Detroit Tigers
DENVER, CO – AUGUST 30: Shane Greene #61 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning of a game at Coors Field on August 30, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

The Detroit Tigers have had five players with Green in their name play for them. One of them is a Hall of Famer, and yet another is an active member of the team:

Lenny Green

Born in Detroit in 1933, Green had a solid 12-year big league career. His best season came in 1962 with the Minnesota Twins, when he hit .271 with 14 home runs and eight stolen bases. The center fielder finished his career out home in the Motor City, playing in 58 games in 1967 and another six in 1968. He hit .277 with a 99 OPS+ and a 0.3 bWAR in Detroit.

Hank Greenberg

One of Detroit’s first true icons, Hammerin’ Hank Greenberg played for Detroit from 1930-1946. He missed three seasons for military service, but still blasted 331 career home runs, making him one of Detroit’s most prolific sluggers. The two-time MVP led the league in home runs and RBI four times, and posted a career 158 OPS+. He also won two World Series while with the Tigers, in 1935 and 1945.

Greenberg first appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in 1949 and was inducted in 1956. He became Detroit’s sixth Hall of Famer, behind Ty Cobb, Hughie Jennings, Mickey Cochrane, Charlie Gehringer, Harry Heilmann and Al Simmons.

Al Greene

Al Greene played in 29 games with the Detroit Tigers in 1979. The Detroit native hit .136 with three home runs with the Tigers, before going on to play professional in Mexico for seven seasons.

Paddy Greene

Patrick Joseph (Paddy) Greene accrued 81 at-bats across 24 games from 1902-1903. Three of those at-bats came with the Tigers. Not much else is known on the third baseman who had a cup of coffee in the big leagues nearly 120 years ago. However, he qualifies as both a Patrick and a Green, so that’s cool.

Shane Greene

For our younger Tigers fans, Shane Greene is the most recognizable name on this roster. Greene came to Detroit in a three-team trade with the Yankees and Diamondbacks. After a rough start as a starter in 2015, Greene converted to the bullpen where he found more success. The right-hander posted a 2.66 ERA in 67.2 innings last season. He will open the 2018 season as Detroit’s closer.

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