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Detroit Tigers: Top Ten First Basemen in Franchise History

By Andy Patton

NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 02: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates the last out of the game against the New York Yankees on August 2, 2017 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 02: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates the last out of the game against the New York Yankees on August 2, 2017 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 9: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers hits a two-run home run in the first inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 9, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Miguel Cabrera

Detroit Tigers: 2008-2018

Similar to York, Miggy loses a little value because he played two of his best (offensive) seasons at third base. Still, there’s no debate that Miggy is one of the greatest to ever don the Olde English D. He still has plenty left in the tank, as evidenced by his .299/.395/.448 line this season before succumbing to season-ending back surgery. However, his time as a first baseman is likely over, as Victor Martinez‘s retirement likely will shift Cabrera to full-time DH duties.

Hopefully, you don’t need me to tell you how great Miggy has been. From 2008-2011, Miggy slashed .322/.403/.571 with 139 home runs (35/year) and a blistering 159 OPS+. He was one of the best sluggers in all of baseball, winning a batting title, leading the league in home runs and RBI, and finishing top-five in MVP voting three of those four years.

2012 and 2013 were the two seasons that Miggy spent at third base, and all he managed to do there was win a Triple Crown (the first in over 30 years) two MVP awards, two batting titles, two Silver Slugger awards, blast 88 home runs (44 each year) and earn an incredible 176 OPS+. Ho hum.

Miggy transitioned back to first base after that, and while he didn’t quite reach those levels of dominance, he remained one of the best players in all of baseball. 2014 saw Miggy hit .313 and led the league with 52 doubles. 2015 saw him win his fourth batting title, with a .338/.440/.534 line. 2016 was a .316/38/108 season, and seventh consecutive All-Star game nod.

2017 was Miggy’s toughest year, as his average dipped to .249 with just 16 home runs. Many felt this was the beginning of the end for the slugger, who is now 35 years old. However, Miggy’s 2018 numbers showed plenty of life, although back surgery is certainly not ideal. Hopefully, he can return to form as the team’s DH and put up enough numbers to reach 500 career home runs, 3,000 hits and maybe even 2,000 RBI.

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