Justin Verlander’s Hall of Fame limbo means we're in for a long Tigers-Astros debate

Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander has made it clear he will be retiring following this season, meaning he will retire as a member of the Tigers, but that is only going to spark a debate between Tigers and Houston Astros fans about which team he should be inducted into the Hall of Fame with.

There’s a case to be made for both teams. Obviously, Tigers fans are biased since he started his career with Detroit and became one of the most dominant pitchers in the game with them before he was traded to Houston. The fact that he’s finishing where he began adds an element of sentimentality as well.

In 14 seasons with Detroit he has a 3.50 ERA. He won his American League Rookie of the Year Award, first AL Cy Young Award, and only AL MVP award all with Detroit. He made one World Series appearance in 2012 ... thought that didn’t go so well.

He got traded to Houston in 2017 at the age of 34. Detroit probably thought that he was on track to decline through the rest of his 30s, as many pitchers do, but instead he had a career resurgence and won two more Cy Young awards to prove that he was still one of the most dominant pitchers in the game.

Verlander also got his two World Series titles with Houstonm so that could mean a lot, even if his career World Series numbers are not especially strong.

Bob Nightengale wrote about this quandary for Verlander in his recent column: "Justin Verlander says he's undecided what cap he would wear on his eventual Hall of Fame plaque between the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros, where he won two World Series titles. Prediction: He'll either wear a Tigers cap or no logo."

Thanks for the prediction, Bob! He’s probably right though that the Tigers have the slight edge. Never count out the New York Mets or San Francisco Giants, though!

How Verlander's Tigers stint ends could play a role in HOF decision

In all seriousness, it is a tough decision for Verlander. Both Detroit and Houston were integral stints in his career, so he really has to decide which place means more to him.

Of course, his Tigers story is not yet finished. Maybe if Verlander gets healthy, the Tigers go on some magical run, and he plays a big role in the postseason, that will make the choice obvious for him in the end.

Tigers fans know what the right choice is, though. That won’t stop Astros fans from making their case, but ultimately Verlander should follow whatever voice told him to come back to the Tigers after so many years away.

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