Retired Numbers - Detroit Tigers
The Tigers have existed since before the World Series and the modern era, and are one of only two original AL teams to never change their identity. I feel they should go the "Golden State Warriors" or "New England Patriots" route of team naming and embrace their one nickname of "Motor City Kitties". You could say that the Tigers name is timeless, but I'd counter that Tiger Stadium was too timeless to replace but that's just what they did in 2000, so...
Also, the Tigers are so old that many of their all time greats played before numbers on jerseys were a thing, but that didn't stop the franchise from honoring them.
#1 - Lou Whitaker
If you asked who played more than anyone for the Tigers, obviously you'd start with Ty Cobb, but modern fans might be surprised to see Lou Whitaker as #3 overall. Debuting in 1977, he'd win Rookie of the Year the next season. He'd establish himself right away with his double play partner Alan Trammell and the two of them would be together for 19 years, a record for a DP duo. He'd be an all star every year from 1983 to '87 and pick up 3 Gold Gloves and 4 Silver Sluggers in that time. He'd also play part for Detroit's most recent title in 1984.
#2 - Charlie Gehringer
A Michigan boy, Gehringer impressed Ty Cobb so much that the Player-Manager immediately demanded the Tigers sign him. After a couple years of late season callups, Charlie made the team for good in 1926 and was on good terms with Cobb. Such relationships with Cobb only last so long, however, but in '27 after a falling out and the departure of Cobb, Gehringer busted out and began to make Tiger fans move on from Cobb as well. In 1935, he helped them bring in their 1st World Series title. His career was already in full swing when the all star game finally got started, but he made up for the missed opportunities by making each game from 1933 to 1938. His top year was 1937 when he won the Batting Title and MVP.
#3 - Alan Trammell
The other half of the elite Whitaker-Trammell DP combo, Alan was called up at the same time as Whitaker and they debuted together in 1977. With 4 Gold Gloves and 3 Silver Sluggers, he made himself a mainstay in the heart of Detroit's lineup on both offense and defense. The 6 time all star took center stage for the Tigers in 1984 as he led them to a title and took home the World Series MVP for his efforts that included a pair of homers in Game 4 that single handedly won the game and put Detroit on the cusp of that title. His playing career would last until 1996, but he'd return to coach for the Tigers in 1999 and even manage them from 2003-'05 and get some time as special assistant in 2015.
#5 - Hank Greenberg
Ignoring a brief pinch hit appearance in 1930, Greenberg was with the Tigers for real in 1933. It wasn't long before he was a key part of the offense, but that importance is what caused a bit of an issue in 1934 during the pennant race when the Jewish star stated he was not going to play on Rosh Hashanah (September 10) or Yom Kippur (September 19). He ultimately relented on Rosh Hashanah and powered Detroit to a win, while they lost on Yom Kippur without him. Detroit still won the pennant. In '35 he led them to another pennant with his MVP efforts, but a wrist injury limited his contributions as the Tigers won their 1st World Series title. After the following season was a wash from further wrist complications, he came back hard in '37 as he began a 4 year streak of all star nominations, culminating in 1940 with his 2nd MVP. After the events at Pearl Harbor, the Hebrew Hammer joined the war effort and missed 1942-'44. He returned to the team in '45 to help them in their pennant chase and World Series win.
#6 - Al Kaline
Just like any great Yankee player has to play under the shadow of Babe Ruth to compare to, or Giants greats having to deal with comparisons to Willie Mays, even the most stand out hitter for the Tigers will have to deal with the shadow of Ty Cobb. Al Kaline played his entire career (1953-'74) for the Tigers and his 3,007 Hits puts him in the illustrious 3,000 Hit Club and no brainer Hall of Famers, but it all seems weak when compared to Cobb. The one bragging right Kaline does have is the most all star selections in Tigers history with 18, not to mention his 1968 World Series title. He also won the 1955 Batting Title and a whopping 10 Gold Gloves. No one appeared in more games for the Tigers (2,834) or drew more Walks (1,277).
#10 - Jim Leyland
Jim Leyland was a player in the Tigers minor leagues but never broke out to the majors. He then embarked on a coaching and managing career that took him from Chicago, to Pittsburgh, to Florida and Colorado. In 2006, the Tigers were coming off some very poor years when they hired Jim to take over as Manager. Immediately he navigated them to a Wild Card spot and won the AL pennant. His efforts were recognized with the Manager of the Year award, making him the 3rd Manager to win it in both leagues after he had won it before in Pittsburgh. He'd go on to lead the Tigers in their 2011, '12 and '13 AL Central titles, in which the 2012 postseason saw them winning another AL pennant.
#11 - Sparky Anderson
In 1979 the Tigers hired Anderson to lead the team and he proclaimed that they would win a pennant in 5 years. He was off by one year, but they made up for it by having a historically good 1984 year that saw them with the best record in the league from Opening Day to the end, then dominated in October to win the World Series. He won Manager of the Year for that effort, as well as in 1987 when the Tigers won the AL East again with the best record in the league. With 1,331 wins, no other Tigers Manager has won more games.
#16 - Hal Newhouser
Baseball today pays very well for even the below average players, but it wasn't such a secure career choice back in 1939 when Newhouser began his career with the Tigers. After several less than stellar years, his family urged him to give up on baseball and take a more stable job that paid, but Hal decided that 1944 would be his do-or-die year, and he responded with an MVP season. He followed it up with another MVP effort that included winning the Pitching Triple Crown in addition to a World Series title. He made every all star team from 1942-'48.
#23 - Willie Horton
From 1963 to 1977, Horton established himself as one of baseballs most consistent right handed power hitters. He represented the Tigers in 4 different all star years and in 1968 he helped put the Tigers back in the World Series. Not being the smoothest defender, he still stepped up in a huge way for Detroit in Game 5, with the Tigers trailing the game as he threw out a Cardinals runner from scoring an insurance run. The Tigers would rally to win the game, then go on to win the series in 7 games.
#47 - Jack Morris
No one put in more work in the 1980s than Jack Morris, winning more games (162) and pitching more innings than any other pitcher. He was drafted by Detroit in 1976 and was with the big league club the very next season. 4 of his 5 all star seasons were represented by the Tigers. His 1984 season was his highlight in Detroit as he pitched a no-hitter, made one of his all star games and went to his first World Series where he would pitch 2 Complete Game victories over the San Diego Padres to help lead the Tigers to the top of the baseball world.
Ty Cobb
A baseball great that needs no introduction, Ty Cobb was the highest vote getter for baseballs first ever Hall of Fame vote. The Georgia Peach was arguably the greatest player from the dead ball era as he set dozens of records and set incredible precedents such as regularly hitting over .400, setting records for Runs, Hits and Stolen Bases. He was the 1st ever player recognized with an MVP award (known then as the Chalmers award) and holds baseballs best career Batting Average at .366 (or .367 based on how you view an attempted revision of statistics. Trust me when I say that .001 is a big controversy). His 98.2% on the 1936 Hall of Fame ballot remained the highest ever until the 1990s.
Mickey Cochrane
Cochrane had a Hall of Fame resume established by time the Philadelphia As traded him to the Tigers in 1934 and was immediately named him Player-Manager. He started off hot, making the all star team and winning the MVP as the Tigers won the pennant. The following season he returned to the all star game and the fall classic as he helped Detroit win their 1st World Series title. He stayed in charge of the team until his playing retirement after 1937, then a bit into 1938 as just the Manager.
Sam Crawford
Wahoo Sam signed on with the Tigers at the beginning of the modern era in 1903 and finished his career there in 1917. He maintained his production with his shift to the AL as he led baseball with 25 Triples, staying on track to set the all time record of 309 that still stands today with no threat of being broken. He'd lead the league with 7 Home Runs in a very much dead ball time of 1908 and he'd go on to be a threat for the early MVP awards, coming as close as 2nd in 1914.
Ernie Harwell
Harwell never played baseball, instead choosing to be a commentator for the AA minor league team Atlanta Crackers. Nevertheless he found himself involved in a one-of-a-kind official baseball transaction when the Brooklyn Dodgers traded a minor league Catcher named Cliff Dapper to the Crackers in exchange for Harwell so he could announce for the Dodgers. He then would go on to announce for the New York Giants and Baltimore Orioles through the 50s before joining the Tigers broadcasting team in 1960. He'd stay in his role until 1991 when management decided to change things up. Fan outrage was massive and when new ownership took over in 1992, one of the very first orders or business was to bring Harwell back for 1993. He'd remain in Detroit until his retirement in 2002, where at a statue ceremony in September, he finally met that Dapper guy who he was traded for way back in 1948.
Harry Heilmann
The Tigers have one distinction that no other American League team can brag about. There are only six men who have hit over .400 in AL history and the Tigers claim two of them. One of them, of course, is Ty Cobb, and the other is none other than Harry Heilmann. Heilmann debuted in 1914 for Detroit, then returned for good in '16 where season by season his hitting would improve until he began winning Batting Titles in the 1920s. He won his first in 1921, then hit .403 to claim the 1923 title. He'd go on to win 2 more in '25 and '27.
Hughie Jennings
Ee-yah! Jennings was hired in 1907 to lead a talented crew of Tigers as Manager and immediately provided results as Detroit would win the pennant in '07, '08 and '09, the first AL franchise to accomplish a 3-pete. His arm waving and antics while coaching endeared him to fans even as his teams fell off from pennant contention. Technically he was a Player-Manager, but he'd insert himself very rarely into games, which only provided for the occasional player card.
George Kell
Kell was a Philadelphia Athletic in 1946 when he found himself traded over to Detroit. From there until his 1952 trade to Boston, he was an all star every season for the Tigers, batting over .300 each year. His one Batting Title came with the team as he set the record for fewest Strikeouts of a BA leader with just 13 in 1949. After his playing career ended, he'd find himself back with the Tigers as a broadcaster. In his several seasons as a Tiger, Kell wore a few different numbers (7, 15 and 21), and thus the team chose to honor just his name among their greats instead of tying him to just one specific numeral.
Heinie Manush
Henry Manush began his Hall of Fame career with 5 seasons in Detroit, establishing himself as one of the games best hitters as he'd regularly fight for both the Batting Title and MVP votes. It was with the Tigers when he finally did come in 1st for hitting with a .378 BA in 1928.
