Detroit Tigers All-Time 25-Man Roster
By Matt Snyder
First Base – Hank Greenberg
As one of the most prodigious power hitters of his day, Hank Greenberg’s nickname of “Hammerin’ Hank” was well earned.
His 184 runs batted in during the 1937 season remains the Tigers franchise single-season record. In fact, Greenberg holds the Tigers’ top four single-season marks for runs batted in.
Greenberg also holds the franchise record for home runs in a season with 58. He and Cecil Fielder remain the only Tigers in history to hit 50 or more home runs in a season.
Greenberg spent most of his career as a first baseman but holds the distinction of having been named AL MVP at two different positions. Greenberg was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player for the 1935 season during which he played first base, but also won the award in 1940 when he played left field.
His 1941 season was cut short after just 19 games for military service in World War II that would keep Greenberg from returning to baseball until the 1945 season. Greenberg finished with 331 career home runs but had nearly four prime years of his career away from the game because of the war.
Next: Second Base