Detroit Tigers: Best player by jersey number

1 Lou Whitaker

No debate here. Whitaker is all over Detroit’s leaderboards, and should be in the Hall of Fame. Whitaker last wore #1 in 1995. The number remained unworn until 2013 presumably while the Tigers waited for Whitaker to get inducted. When it became clear that wasn’t happening, Jose Iglesias donned it. Hopefully, Jose is the last to wear it. If Whitaker gets inducted via the modern era committee in two years, no doubt the Tigers will retire number one.

2 Charlie Gehringer

Detroit’s first retired number belongs to ‘The Mechanical Man’. Gehringer played for the Tigers from 1924-1942, and made the Hall of Fame in 1949. The greatest second baseman in team history, Gehringer sits in the top three in nearly every offensive category in franchise history. Sadly, 19 players wore the number two after Gehringer’s retirement. The number was finally put to rest in 1982.

3 Alan Trammell

Trammell’s number isn’t retired by the Tigers yet, although it will be by the end of 2018. Trammell donned the number three for nearly 20 years, last wearing it in 1996. Since then Gary Sheffield and Ian Kinsler have both donned the number, although no one will be wearing it anymore.

4 Rudy York

Rudy York hit .282/.369/.503 with 239 home runs, 1,149 RBI and a 128 OPS+ with the Tigers from 1934-1945. That was good for a 31.7 bWAR, edging out Tony Phillips (25.3) and Bobby Higginson (23.1) for the crown. Four was last worn by Cameron Maybin in 2016.

5 Hank Greenberg

Not much of a debate here, as Greenberg was one of Detroit’s first superstars. He led the league in home runs and RBI four times, won two MVP awards and hit 331 career home runs. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1956, although his jersey number was not retired until 1982. 13 players wore #5 for the Tigers after Greenberg, most notably slugger Jim Northrup.

6 Al Kaline

The greatest Tigers player to actually wear a number (Ty Cobb played in the era before numbers) Kaline donned the number six for two decades. After he retired in 1974, the number was never worn again.

7 Harvey Kuenn

Harvey Kuenn is one of the greatest shortstops in team history. He donned lucky number seven for six years from 1954-1959. In that time he hit .315 with a 114 OPS+ and 209 doubles. Kuenn barely edged out his predecessor, Rocky Colavito, who wore number seven right after Kuenn from 1960-1963. He amassed 139 home runs and a 130 OPS+ in that time.

Number seven has been worn 34 times in franchise history, most recently by Ivan Rodriguez (2004-2008).

8 Ron LeFlore

The number eight has been worn 36 times in franchise history, most recently by Mikie Mahtook this year, and Justin Upton for the last two seasons. The best #8 in Tigers history was speedster Ron LeFlore, who played for the Tigers from 1975-1979. The former prisoner swiped 68 bases for the Tigers in 1978, which led the league.

9 Carlos Guillen

The number nine was worn plenty from 1931-1996, with very little success. Then, a string of Damion Easley, Carlos Guillen and now Nicholas Castellanos has given the number much more prestige in Tigers history. While Easley and Guillen are two of the best at their respective positions, Guillen gets the edge. Castellanos is well on his way however, and could someday take the top spot.