- Ty Cobb has the highest bWAR in Tigers history at 145.
- Four Tigers have won the MVP award since 1945.
- Detroit has won four World Series, most recently in 1984.
Having played their first season in 1901, the Tigers have been part of the World Series odds for over a century.
During that time, numerous Hall of Famers have donned the “Old English D,” meaning there are plenty of choices when selecting the best Detroit Tigers players of all time.
As is the case with any team, comparing eras is always challenging. Pitting modern icons against players from the dead-ball era will provoke some tricky decisions.
Here are the greatest Tigers players ever who gave their squad the best MLB odds of winning it all when they played.
Best Detroit Tigers Players of All Time
| Rank | Player | Position | Tigers Years |
| 1 | Ty Cobb | Center Fielder | 1905-1926 |
| 2 | Al Kaline | Right Fielder | 1953-1974 |
| 3 | Miguel Cabrera | First Baseman | 2008-2023 |
| 4 | Justin Verlander | Starting Pitcher | 2005-2017 |
| 5 | Alan Trammell | Shortstop | 1977-1996 |
1. Ty Cobb
Just five players in MLB history have amassed a higher bWAR than Ty Cobb. Winner of 12 batting titles, an MVP and a Triple Crown, Cobb has the highest batting average of all time, and his career 171 OPS+ is 10 points better than any other Tiger.
It’s no surprise he leads the Tigers in a multitude of categories, including hits, total bases and runs scored. Cobb was a guarantee for the top spot in these rankings – he’s got a case to be included in the top five greatest baseball players of all time.
2. Al Kaline
An 18-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner, Al Kaline earned and deserved the “Mr Tiger” nickname. Kaline played 22 seasons for Detroit, finishing his career with the most games played in franchise history and the second-most plate appearances.
While he never won MVP, Kaline had 14 seasons with an OPS+ of 130 or better. At his peak, he was an elite hitter and holds the franchise record with 399 homers.
3. Miguel Cabrera
Five seasons with a sub-100 OPS+ in his last seven years dragged down Miguel Cabrera’s career numbers. The focus here, though, is on Cabrera’s first nine years as a Tiger. He was an All-Star in every campaign, received MVP votes every year, and won the award in 2012 and 2013.
Even after a considerable decline into his late 30s, Cabrera ranks sixth in Tigers OPS+. Kaline is the only player with more homers, and only three hitters have recorded more total bases.
4. Justin Verlander
Justin Verlander is only eighth in innings pitched as a Tiger and seventh in ERA+. He is, however, second in strikeouts, and he’s the only pitcher to win American League MVP since 1992.
At his Tigers peak, Verlander was dominant. He won a Triple Crown and led the majors in innings on three occasions. While Detroit was never able to win a ring with Verlander, he was integral on several competitive teams, as is reflected by his four seasons leading the team in bWAR.
5. Alan Trammell
With only six All-Star selections and one top-six MVP finish, Alan Trammell’s candidacy is about volume rather than peak performance. Trammell was also World Series MVP in 1984, and one of the best defenders of his generation with four Gold Gloves at shortstop.
In a 20-year career, Trammell had only seven seasons with an OPS+ better than 114. His defence was his biggest strength, but he also had good contact skills, which made him an effective offensive player at his peak.