The 9 greatest players in Detroit Tigers history

Best Season: 1971 - 25-14 with a 2.92 ERA, 124 ERA+, 2.85 FIP, 1.138 WHIP, 308 strikeouts, 29 complete games and an 8.3 fWAR
Career Summary: 207-175 with a 3.45 ERA, 105 ERA+, 3.19 FIP, 1.222 WHIP, 2,679 strikeouts and 61.4 fWAR

A three-time All-Star, Lolich's 61.4 fWAR is the highest mark among all pitchers in Tigers history. Additionally, Lolich is the all-time leader among Tigers pitchers in strikeouts (2,679) and complete-game shutouts (39). Lolich went 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA in the 1968 World Series, claiming MVP as the Tigers downed the St. Louis Cardinals in one of the best Fall Classics ever played.

Best Season: 2011 - 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA, 172 ERA+, 2.99 FIP, 0.920 WHIP, 250 strikeouts, four complete games and 6.5 fWAR
Career Summary: 183-114 with a 3.49 ERA, 123 ERA+, 3.48 FIP, 1.191 WHIP, 2,373 strikeouts, 23 complete games and a 57.9 fWAR

Verlander helped the Tigers to reach the World Series in 2006, his first full season. He was the American League Rookie of the Year that same year, and went on to win both the AL Cy Young and MVP Awards in 2011. As a Tiger, Verlander pitched 200 or more innings on nine occasions, and made six All-Star teams. He may ultimately wear a blank cap on his Hall of Fame plaque because he's had some great seasons with the Houston Astros, but the bulk of Verlander's production came in Detroit.

Best Season: 1983 - .320/.380/.457 with 12 home runs, 72 RBIs, 67 walks, .837 OPS, 133 OPS+ and a 6.0 fWAR
Career Summary: .276/.363/.426 with 244 home runs, 1,084 RBIs, 1,197 walks, 2,369 hits, .789 OPS, 117 OPS+ and 68.1 fWAR

Whitaker perhaps didn't have the same level of peak dominance as some Hall of Fame second basemen, but he was so excellent for such a long period of time, that some believe he deserves a spot in Cooperstown. One thing is for sure, there's no questioning his place in Tigers history. Whitaker won the 1984 American League Rookie of the Year Award, made five All-Star teams, won three Gold Glove Awards and helped the 1984 Tigers, one of the better teams in modern history, to win a World Series.

Best Season: 1940 - .340/.433/.670 with 41 home runs, 150 RBIs, 93 walks, 1.103 OPS, 171 OPS+ and a 7.7 fWAR
Career Summary: .319/.412/.616 with 306 home runs, 1,200 RBIs, 748 walks, 1,528 hits, 1.028 OPS, 161 OPS+ and 57.9 fWAR

Service in World War II prevented Greenberg from getting to play in what would have been his age-31-33 seasons, but Greenberg still managed to check in on this list. The original "Hammerin' Hank" was the American League MVP in 1935 and 1940, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1956, after leading the Tigers to two World Series titles. Greenberg's No. 5 was retired by the Tigers in 1983.

Best Season: 1987 - .343/.402/.551 with 28 home runs, 105 RBIs, 60 walks, .953 OPS, 155 OPS+ and a 7.7 fWAR
Career Summary: .285/.352/.415 with 185 home runs, 1,003 RBIs, 850 walks, 2,365 hits, .767 OPS, 110 OPS+ and a 63.7 fWAR

For nearly two decades, the Tigers had stability in their middle infield, and Trammell was one half of that at shortstop. A six-time All-Star, Trammel won three Silver Slugger Awards, while nabbing the Gold Glove Award at shortstop on four occasions. In the five-game 1984 World Series, Trammell hit .450 with two home runs and six RBIs, ultimately being named the MVP of the Fall Classic. Trammell's No. 3 was retired by the Tigers in 2018, the same summer that he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Best Season: 2013 - .348/.442/.636 with 44 home runs, 137 RBIs, 90 walks, 1.078 OPS, 190 OPS+ and an 8.6 fWAR
Career Summary: .313/.392/.539 with 349 home runs, 1,206 RBIs, 1,199 walks, 2,145 hits, .916 OPS, 145 OPS+ and 50.7 fWAR (stats current as of March 2022)

Cabrera spent the first five seasons of his career with the Florida Marlins, but will ultimately be remembered for the more than a decade and a half that he'll spend with the Tigers. Cabrera edged out Mike Trout to win back-to-back American League MVPs in 2012 and 2013, winning the AL Triple Crown in 2012. Cabrera eclipsed 500 home runs in his career in 2021, and will record his 3,000th hit during the 2022 season. Cabrera is destined to wear a Tigers' cap on his Hall of Fame plaque.

Best Season: 1934 - .356/.450/.517 with 11 home runs, 127 RBIs, 99 walks, .967 OPS, 149 OPS+ and an 8.5 fWAR
Career Summary: .320/.404/.480 with 184 home runs, 1,427 RBIs, 1,186 walks, 2,839 hits, .884 OPS, 125 OPS+ and a 78.6 fWAR

During a 19-year career spent entirely with the Tigers, Gehringer established himself as one of the five greatest second basemen in the history of baseball. The 1937 American League MVP, Gehringer also made six All-Star teams, which is an incredible feat when you consider that the All-Star Game didn't start until his age-30 season. The Gold Glove Award wasn't first awarded until more than a decade after Gehringer retired, but his 10.8 career defensive WAR suggests that he would have won some of those if it had been around during his day. Gehringer's No. 2 was retired in 1983, more than three decades after he was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Best Season: 1955 - .340/.421/.546 with 27 home runs, 102 RBIs, 82 walks, .967 OPS, 162 OPS+ and a 7.3 fWAR
Career Summary: .297/.376/.480 with 399 home runs, 1,582 RBIs, 1,277 walks, 3,007 hits, .855 OPS, 134 OPS+ and 88.9 fWAR

Of all the Hall of Famers who have spent time in Detroit, it's Kaline who was simply dubbed "Mr. Tiger." An 18-time All-Star, Kaline spent more than two decades with the Tigers, including helping the team to win the 1968 World Series. Kaline also won 10 Gold Glove Awards, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980. Kaline's No. 6 was retired in 1980.

Best Season: 1911 - .419/.466/.620 with eight home runs, 127 RBIs, 44 walks, 1.086 OPS, 196 OPS+ and an 11.0 fWAR
Career Summary: .368/.434/.516 with 111 home runs, 1,811 RBIs, 1,249 walks, 4,189 hits, .944 OPS, 168 OPS+ and 143.4 fWAR

One of the greatest center fielders in MLB history, Cobb spent 22 of his illustrious 24 seasons with the Tigers. Over that timespan, Cobb won an MVP and an unfathomable 11 batting titles. Cobb's .366 career batting average is the highest mark in MLB history, and given how adept he was at driving in runs, you get the sense that he could have put up elite power numbers if he played in an era where home runs were more prioritized. Whatever his reputation as a person is, Cobb is easily the greatest player in the history of the Tigers.