Detroit Tigers: Best player by jersey number

50 Bryan Holaday

Things are starting to get ugly now. Holaday hit .250 with six home runs in 180 games for the Tigers, enough to take the top spot. A solid season from Mike Fiers could push him into the top spot in 2018.

51 Matt Anderson

The Mariners have Ichiro and Randy Johnson, the Yankees have Bernie Williams and the Tigers have….Matt Anderson? Gabe Kapler? Roberto Novoa? It’s not a pretty list. Johnny Barbato, if he wears #51 again in 2019, would become the first Tiger ever to have that jersey for consecutive seasons.

52 Yoenis Cespedes

Remember when Yoenis Cespedes was a Tiger? His one season in Detroit was enough for him to earn the top spot for the number 52, a number that hasn’t been worn in Detroit since.

53 Joaquin Benoit

The first time #53 appeared on the Tigers was 1997. It has been used sparingly since, primarily by relievers. Benoit was the best of the bunch, and will likely remain in that spot unless Warwick Saupold really turns a corner.

54 Joel Zumaya

There have only been six #54’s for the Tigers, with the last few years belonging to Drew VerHagen. Joel Zumaya, despite his career being cut short by injuries, is clearly the best of the bunch.

55 John Hicks

Like Dixon Machado with the number 49, Hicks did not have to do much to win this crown. Daniel Schlereth and Mark Redman were a pair of relievers who had the number before him, but Hicks has already done enough to pass them.

56 Fernando Rodney

Only six #56’s in Tigers history. Only one Fernando Rodney.

57 Francisco Rodriguez

I’m starting to regret going this far down. Perhaps Artie Lewicki, who looked very solid in long relief a few days ago, will pass K-Rod on the list this season.

58 Doug Fister

Fister had some of the best years of his lengthy career in the Motor City, donning the old 5-8. He edges out Armando Galarraga, who had a rather pedestrian career minus his iconic near no-hitter.

59 Todd Jones

The poster boy for Detroit’s consistently bad bullpen, Jones is actually Detroit’s career leader in saves. Yikes.