Detroit Tigers: Best player by jersey number

30 Magglio Ordonez

43 players, including Alex Wilson for the last four years, have worn #30 in the Motor City. None were better than right fielder Magglio Ordonez, who had seven excellent years in Detroit. He is most known for his iconic walk-off home run in the 2006 ALCS, sending the Tigers to the World Series.

31 Larry Herndon

This is one of the closest ones yet, as left fielder Larry Herndon (1982-1988, 11.3 bWAR, 110 OPS+) is just ahead of right-hander Ned Garver (1953-1956, 8.1 bWAR, 105 ERA+) for the crown.

Ryan Carpenter donned number 31 in his few appearances this season, although he seems unlikely to take over the top spot anytime soon.

32 Michael Fulmer

The second active player to already hold this distinction, Michael Fulmer was selected over iconic Tiger Don Kelly for this crown. There have not been very many successful #32 in Tigers history, so Fulmer has already cemented his legacy.

33 Steve Kemp

The number 33 has had a lot of good, but not great, Tigers represent it. Drew Smyly, Marcus Thames, Matt Nokes and Steven Moya are recent examples, with Pete Kozma wearing it in 2018. None hold a candle to Steve Kemp, who was one of the few bright spots on Detroit’s very bad teams in the late-1970’s.

34 Chet Lemon

James McCann is going on his fifth year with the 3-4 on his back, but he still has a long ways to go if he wants to catch Chet Lemon for the title as the greatest to wear the number.

35 Justin Verlander

No one is wearing #35 for the Tigers this season, and there’s a good chance no one ever will again. Verlander’s legacy should, and likely will, live on with a retired jersey when he makes the Hall of Fame, if not sooner.

36 Jeff Weaver

Jeff Weaver heads a rather rag-tag group of Tigers who wore number 36, including Joe Nathan, Edwin Jackson, Colby Lewis, C.J. Nitkowski and now Blaine Hardy.

37 Max Scherzer

37 has been dominated by pitchers in Tigers history, with Kenny Rogers, Nate Robertson, Chuck Seelbach and Hank Aguirre all owning 37 at some point. None were better than Max Scherzer, who wore it from 2010-2014 before departing for the Washington Nationals.

38 Jeremy Bonderman

Even though six players have worn it since 2013, including Francisco Liriano this year, I can only see Bonderman when I see a Tigers #38 jersey. Mr. Snappy pitched for the Tigers for nearly a decade, and although he didn’t quite reach his potential, he was still a solid starter for the 2006 World Series bound Detroit Tigers.

39 Mike Henneman

Like Hiller and Hernandez, Henneman has a legit claim to the greatest reliever in Tigers history. He edges out Milt Wilcox and super-utility man Ramon Santiago for the best #39 in franchise history.