Detroit Tigers from the vault: First baseman Prince Fielder

In the latest edition of from the vault, look at former Detroit Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder and his time with the organization before being traded.

Now out of baseball, Prince Fielder logged an eleven-year career in Major League Baseball, only two of those with the Detroit Tigers. Though it was only two seasons, he was a part of the Tigers’ most recent World Series appearance and was the central part of one of the blockbuster trade with the Texas Rangers.

Fielder’s career started with seven seasons in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. Fielder was a three-time all-star with the Brewers and took home two Silver Slugger awards as well. After that, the son of former Tigers mainstay Cecil Fielder would come home to Detroit in free agency.

Prince would sign a nine-year, $214 million contract with the Tigers, looking like he was going to be a part of the future plans alongside slugger Miguel Cabrera. Fielder would ultimately only spend two seasons in a Tigers uniform before being a part of the Tigers blockbuster trade.

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While in a Tigers uniform, Fielder would play all 162 games of each season between first base and being the designated hitter.

Fielder would be an American League all-star in both of his seasons with the Tigers, winning a Silver Slugger in 2012 as well.

Looking back on 2012, Fielder would slash .313/.412/.528 with 30 home runs and 108 RBI on the year for the Tigers who would march to the World Series and get stomped on by the San Francisco Giants.

The following year in 2013, Fielder would hit .279/.362/.457 with 25 home runs and 106 RBI on the year before getting shipped off to the Rangers before his career took a downhill turn.

After the 2013 season, the Tigers shipped Fielder off to Texas for infielder Ian Kinsler. Kinsler would then spend the next four seasons, and then after the 2019 season, Kinsler announced his retirement from Major League Baseball.

After departing the Tigers, Fielder’s career would go south; neck injuries would plague the end of his career. He would play three seasons in a Rangers uniforms before the neck injuries forced him to retire from Major League Baseball, though he is still on the Rangers payroll.

Sadly his career was cut short, and his time with the Tigers was only two seasons, but he left some memories for Tigers fans that should remind fans of better times. The obvious memory of Fielder that comes to mind is when he grabs a nacho from a fan tray after going for a foul ball.

That is not all, though Fielder also was a treasure on the basepaths; he had some intriguing moments on the basepaths also captured by the Detroit Free Press on Twitter. They showed some of Fielder’s stumbles around the basepaths.

Let’s not forget when the big fella won the 2012 Home Run Derby in Kansas City at Kauffmann Stadium as one of the Tigers representatives. Fielder offered Tigers fans plenty of joy during his two seasons in the organization.

Interestingly enough, Fielder put up 319 home runs throughout his career, which exactly matches his father, who would also finish his career with 319 blasts. Though Fielder was only here for the two years, he was an integral part of the Tigers team the last time they made it to the World Series.

Detroit Tigers fans should take some time to look at Fielder and be reminded of the times when the Tigers actually knew what the playoffs were and being competitive was normal.