1945 Detroit Tigers season
Encyclopedia
The Detroit Tigers
was the team's 45th since they entered the American League
in 1901. The team won the American League
pennant
, then went on to win the 1945 World Series
, defeating the Chicago Cubs
4 games to 3. It was the second World Series
championship for the Tigers. Detroit pitcher Hal Newhouser
was named the American League's Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season.
(94 games) and Paul Richards
(83 games). Swift hit .233, and Richards .256. Richards got the nod as the starting catcher in the World Series. Swift took over as the Tigers' manager in 1965
after Chuck Dressen
was felled by two heart attacks. Later that year, Swift was diagnosed with lung cancer and died in October at age 51. Richards went on to be a manager for the White Sox (1951–54), Orioles (1955–61), and Braves (1966–72).
Rudy York
was among the American League
leaders in home runs for 11 consecutive seasons from 1937 to 1947, and his .503 slugging percentage as a Tiger ranks #4 in franchise history. In 1945, York hit .264 with 18 home runs and 87 RBIs. York had a poor World Series in 1945, playing in all seven games, but batting only .179 with no home runs.
Prior to 1944, second baseman
Eddie Mayo
had never hit for a batting average
higher than .227. Yet in 1945, Mayo hit for a .285 average and .347 on base pecentage with 24 doubles and a career-high 10 home runs. Mayo also won his second Gold Glove award in 1945 and led all American League second basemen with a .980 fielding percentage. Selected for the American League All-Star team, he had the highest batting average among Tigers players with at least 300 at bat
s. Hal Newhouser
credited Mayo for sparking the Tigers' 1945 pennant drive, calling him the "take-charge guy in our infield." Mayo finished second to Newhouser in the AL MVP voting. Newhouser had 9 first place votes, and Mayo had 7.
Traded to the Tigers after the 1944 season, shortstop
Skeeter Webb
proved to be a liability at bat, as he hit only .199. Though he was a fine fielder, many believed he held onto the starting shortstop job despite his weak hitting because he was married to the daughter of Tigers' manager Steve O'Neill
. In Game 7 of the World Series, Skeeter had his best performance, scoring two runs and fielding the final out of the Series.
Third baseman
Bob Maier
played only one season in the big leagues, but he spent that season on a championship team. Maier played in 132 games for the 1945 Tigers, batting .263 with 58 runs, 34 RBIs, 25 doubles, 7 triples, and 7 stolen bases. Though he was the starting third baseman during the regular season, the starting job went to Jimmy Outlaw
in the World Series, as Outlaw moved from the outfield to third base to make room for Hank Greenberg
who had returned from military service in July. Maier had a pinch-hit single Game 6 of the 1945 World Series
, which turned to be his last major league at bat.
Jimmy Outlaw
was the left fielder
for the first half of the season, but he was replaced by Hank Greenberg
when he returned from the war in July. After Greenberg returned, Outlaw played 21 games at third base, 17 games in center field and 8 games in right field. Outlaw hit .271 in 132 games.
Greenberg had missed four seasons to military service, but rejoined the Tigers after his discharge on July 1, 1945. At age 34, Greenberg picked up where he left off, hitting a home run in his first game. Without the benefit of spring training
, he returned to the Tigers, was again voted to the All-Star Team, and hit a dramatic pennant-clinching grand slam home run in the 9th inning on the last day of the regular season. He also set a major league record with 11 multi-homer games in 1945.
Center fielder
Doc Cramer
, nicknamed "Flit", was a veteran player who had been playing in the major leagues since 1929. He ended his career with 2,705 hits. In 1945, at age 40, he was the oldest player on an old team. He hit .275 with 58 RBIs in the regular season and led the team with a .379 batting average in the 1945 World Series
, scoring seven runs and batting in four.
Shortly before the 1945 season started, right fielder
Roy Cullenbine
was traded by the Indians to the Tigers. Cullenbine was raised in Detroit and started his career as a Tiger but was declared a free agent
by Judge Landis
in 1940. In 1945, Cullenbine led the American League with 113 walks
and was 2nd in the AL with a .402 on base percentage
. He also hit for power in 1945, with 18 home run
s (tied with Rudy York for 2nd in the AL), 93 RBI
s (2nd in the AL), 51 extra base hit
s (4th in the AL), and a .444 slugging percentage (3rd in the AL). Despite batting only .227 in the Series, Cullenbine walked 8 times for a .433 on base percentage and scored five runs.
, Dizzy Trout
, Al Benton
, Stubby Overmire
, and Les Mueller
.
Hal Newhouser, also known as "Prince Hal", won 25 games and was named the American League's Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season. He was the first pitcher in the history of the American League to win the MVP for two consecutive seasons. Newhouser won the pitching triple crown, leading the American League
in wins (25, against nine losses), ERA
(1.81) and strikeout
s (212). He also led the league in innings pitched (313⅓), games started (36), complete game
s (29), and shutout
s (8). Newhouser also won two games in the World Series, including the deciding seventh game. Newhouser and Greenberg were the only two players from the 1945 Tigers who were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Al Benton missed the 1943 and 1944 seasons while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was discharged from the Navy in November 1944 and had his best year in 1945. He compiled a record of 13–8, a career-low 2.02 ERA, five shutouts, and 12 complete games in 191.2 innings. In a remarkable testament to the Tigers' pitching in 1945, Newhouser and Benton were No. 1 and No. 2 in ERA among AL
pitchers. Newhouser's Adjusted ERA+
in 1945 was 195 and Benton's was 175. The Adjusted ERA+ figures posted by Newhouser and Benton in 1945 rank as the 1st and 5th best seasons all time for a Detroit Tigers
pitcher with at least 150 innings pitched. (See Detroit Tigers team records)
After winning 20 games in 1943 and 27 games in 1944, Dizzy Trout won 18 games in 1945 and was a workhorse in the pennant drive. He pitched six games and won four over a nine-game late-season stretch. In Game 4 of the 1945 World Series
, Trout beat the Cubs 4–1 on a five-hitter. Trout went 1–1 in the Series with an ERA of 0.66.
The Tigers #4 starter in 1945 was Stubby Overmire. He won 9 games and started Game 3 of the 1945 World Series against the Chicago Cubs
. Despite giving up only 2 runs in 6 innings, Overmire took the loss as the Tigers were shut out 3–0.
After service in the Navy, Virgil Trucks
returned to the Tigers on the last day of the regular season. He got the start in the final game (allowing 1 run in 5⅓ innings), in which the Tigers clinched the pennant. To help returning veterans, the Commissioner waived the rule requiring a player to be on the roster on September 1 to be eligible for World Series play. Trucks was the winning pitcher in Game 2 of the World Series.
Though he had a record of 6–8, pitcher Les Mueller appeared in 26 games and played an important role in the 1945 Tigers season. After missing the 1942–1944 seasons to military service, Mueller gave up a single to Pete Gray
, the St. Louis Browns
' famous one-armed outfielder, in Gray's first major league game in April 1945. Three months later, on July 21, 1945, Mueller pitched the first 19⅔ innings for the Tigers and left having given up only 1 run. No pitcher has thrown as many innings in a major league game since Mueller's feat. The game lasted 4 hours and 48 minutes before the game was called due to darkness. Mueller also pitched 2 scoreless innings in Game 1 of the 1945 World Series.
Relief pitching was split between George Caster
(who was selected off waivers from the St. Louis Browns on August 8, 1945), Walter Wilson, Zeb Eaton
, and Art Houtteman
.
Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included
featured the Tigers and the Chicago Cubs
, with the Tigers winning in seven games for their second championship in six World Series appearances. To minimize travel due to wartime restrictions, the first three games were played in Detroit, and the remaining four games at Wrigley Field
in Chicago.
Because of the depleted talent pool resulting from many players being in the military, the Tigers and the Cubs both fielded teams that would have been considered mediocre before or after the war. Warren Brown
, author of a 1946 history of the Cubs, commented on this by titling his chapter on the 1945 World Series, "World's Worst Series". Sportswriter Frank Graham jokingly called this Series "the fat men versus the tall men at the office picnic."
In Game 1, Detroit ace Hal Newhouser
gave up four runs in the first inning and three more in the third. Pitching for the Cubs in his first of four games in the 1945 Series, Hank Borowy
threw a six-hit shutout to defeat the Tigers, 9–0.
In Game 2, Virgil Trucks
got the start less than a week after his discharge from the U.S. Navy. Trucks held the Cubs to 1 run, and Hank Greenberg
hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning. The Tigers won, 4–1, to even the Series.
In Game 3, the Tigers were shut out by Cubs pitcher Claude Passeau
. Passeau allowed only one hit—a single by Rudy York
. The Tigers lost, 3–0.
In Game 4, Dizzy Trout
helped even the Series, allowing only 5 hits and 1 run. The Tigers won, 4–1.
In Game 5, Hal Newhouser faced Hank Borowy. Newhouser struck out 9 Cubs, and Hank Greenberg
hit three doubles off Borowy. The Tigers won 8–4.
In Game 6, Hank Greenberg hit a home run in the eighth inning to tie the score, but the Cubs won, 8–7, in extra innings. The game ended in the 12th inning with a line drive by Stan Hack
that took a bad hop past Greenberg in left field. Initially, Greenberg was charged with an error, but the call was reversed the next morning, and Hack was credited with a double. Game 6 is also remembered for Chuck Hostetler
's baserunning blunder. The 42-year-old Hostetler had debuted the previous year as the oldest rookie in MLB history. He reached base in Game 6 on an error to start the 6th inning. He advanced to second with one out, and when Doc Cramer
hit a single to left field, Hostetler ran through manager Steve O’Neill’s stop sign at third base. He tried to put on his brakes half way home, lost his footing, fell to the ground, and was tagged out while scrambling around on all fours. The Tigers could have avoided extra innings and won the Series in Game 6 if Hostetler had held up, as he would have scored in the rally that followed. Hostetler did not appear in another major league game. Fifty years later, baseball writer Joe Falls
recalled Hostetler's blunder in a column in the Detroit News, writing: "If anyone symbolized the futility of wartime baseball —both in Detroit and America — it was outfielder Chuck Hostetler
of the Tigers, the man who fell on his face in the 1945 World Series."
In Game 7, Cubs' manager Charlie Grimm
gave the start to Hank Borowy despite his having pitched in Games 1, 5, and 6. The Tigers scored five runs off Borowy in the 1st inning, while Hal Newhouser struck out 10 and held the Cubs to three runs. Doc Cramer went 3-for-5, and Paul Richards
hit a bases-loaded double in the first inning to clear the bses and give Newhouser a lead. In all, Richards had two doubles and four RBIs to lead the Tigers in Game 7. The Tigers won the game, 9–3.
The day after the Tigers' Game 7 victory, H. G. Salsinger
wrote in the Detroit News that pitching was the key to the Tigers' success: "Detroit beat the Cubs with TNT, meaning Trucks, Newhouser, and Trout, and they beat them twice with 'N.'"
A little known fact about the 1945 World Series
is that teenage boys worked the games as the ushers
in the stands. With most able bodied men away at war, young teenage boys were allowed to work as ushers. The boys would line up at the gate outside Briggs Stadium before the game and would be selected in a fashion similar to how migrant workers are selected to work today. The boys would volunteer their services, but would receive tips.
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
was the team's 45th since they entered the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in 1901. The team won the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
, then went on to win the 1945 World Series
1945 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 3, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 2:Thursday, October 4, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 3:Friday, October 5, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan...
, defeating the Chicago Cubs
1945 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season was a season in American baseball. The team won the National League pennant with a record of 98-56, 3 games ahead of the second-place St. Louis Cardinals. The team went on to the 1945 World Series, which they lost to the Detroit Tigers in seven games...
4 games to 3. It was the second World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
championship for the Tigers. Detroit pitcher Hal Newhouser
Hal Newhouser
Harold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
was named the American League's Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season.
Offseason
- March 5, 1945: Spring training opens. Due to war-time travel restrictions, the Tigers and six other teams hold spring training in Indiana.
Catchers: Swift and Richards
The catching duties were split between Bob SwiftBob Swift
Robert Virgil Swift was an American catcher, coach, manager and scout in Major League Baseball.Swift is pictured in one of the most famous photographs in American sporting history. He was the catcher for the Detroit Tigers on August 19, 1951, when St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck sent midget...
(94 games) and Paul Richards
Paul Richards (baseball)
Paul Rapier Richards was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and executive in Major League Baseball. During his playing career, he was a catcher and right-handed batter with the Brooklyn Dodgers , New York Giants , Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
(83 games). Swift hit .233, and Richards .256. Richards got the nod as the starting catcher in the World Series. Swift took over as the Tigers' manager in 1965
1965 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fourth in the American League with a record of 89-73, 13 games behind the Minnesota Twins.- Offseason :...
after Chuck Dressen
Chuck Dressen
Charles Walter Dressen , known as both "Chuck" and "Charlie," was an American third baseman, manager and coach in professional baseball during a career that lasted almost fifty years, and was best known as the manager of the powerful Brooklyn Dodgers of 1951–1953...
was felled by two heart attacks. Later that year, Swift was diagnosed with lung cancer and died in October at age 51. Richards went on to be a manager for the White Sox (1951–54), Orioles (1955–61), and Braves (1966–72).
Infield: York, Mayo, Maier, and Webb
First basemanFirst baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Rudy York
Rudy York
Preston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
was among the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
leaders in home runs for 11 consecutive seasons from 1937 to 1947, and his .503 slugging percentage as a Tiger ranks #4 in franchise history. In 1945, York hit .264 with 18 home runs and 87 RBIs. York had a poor World Series in 1945, playing in all seven games, but batting only .179 with no home runs.
Prior to 1944, second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Eddie Mayo
Eddie Mayo
Edward Joseph Mayo , nicknamed "Hotshot" and "Steady Eddie," was a professional baseball infielder...
had never hit for a batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
higher than .227. Yet in 1945, Mayo hit for a .285 average and .347 on base pecentage with 24 doubles and a career-high 10 home runs. Mayo also won his second Gold Glove award in 1945 and led all American League second basemen with a .980 fielding percentage. Selected for the American League All-Star team, he had the highest batting average among Tigers players with at least 300 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s. Hal Newhouser
Hal Newhouser
Harold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
credited Mayo for sparking the Tigers' 1945 pennant drive, calling him the "take-charge guy in our infield." Mayo finished second to Newhouser in the AL MVP voting. Newhouser had 9 first place votes, and Mayo had 7.
Traded to the Tigers after the 1944 season, shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Skeeter Webb
Skeeter Webb
James Laverne "Skeeter" Webb was a Major League Baseball infielder who played twelve season in the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals , Cleveland Indians , Chicago White Sox , Detroit Tigers , and Philadelphia Athletics...
proved to be a liability at bat, as he hit only .199. Though he was a fine fielder, many believed he held onto the starting shortstop job despite his weak hitting because he was married to the daughter of Tigers' manager Steve O'Neill
Steve O'Neill
Stephen Francis O'Neill was an American catcher, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball.Born to Irish immigrants in Minooka, Pennsylvania , O'Neill was one of six brothers who escaped a life in the coal mines by playing in the major leagues...
. In Game 7 of the World Series, Skeeter had his best performance, scoring two runs and fielding the final out of the Series.
Third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Bob Maier
Bob Maier
Robert Phillip Maier was a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Detroit Tigers during their 1945 World Series championship season. Born in Dunellen, New Jersey, Maier played only one season in the big leagues, but he spent that season on a championship team...
played only one season in the big leagues, but he spent that season on a championship team. Maier played in 132 games for the 1945 Tigers, batting .263 with 58 runs, 34 RBIs, 25 doubles, 7 triples, and 7 stolen bases. Though he was the starting third baseman during the regular season, the starting job went to Jimmy Outlaw
Jimmy Outlaw
James Paulus Outlaw was an outfielder and third baseman who played in Major League Baseball between the and season...
in the World Series, as Outlaw moved from the outfield to third base to make room for Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
who had returned from military service in July. Maier had a pinch-hit single Game 6 of the 1945 World Series
1945 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 3, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 2:Thursday, October 4, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 3:Friday, October 5, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan...
, which turned to be his last major league at bat.
Outfield: Cullenbine, Cramer, Outlaw, and Greenberg
Jimmy Outlaw
James Paulus Outlaw was an outfielder and third baseman who played in Major League Baseball between the and season...
was the left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
for the first half of the season, but he was replaced by Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
when he returned from the war in July. After Greenberg returned, Outlaw played 21 games at third base, 17 games in center field and 8 games in right field. Outlaw hit .271 in 132 games.
Greenberg had missed four seasons to military service, but rejoined the Tigers after his discharge on July 1, 1945. At age 34, Greenberg picked up where he left off, hitting a home run in his first game. Without the benefit of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, he returned to the Tigers, was again voted to the All-Star Team, and hit a dramatic pennant-clinching grand slam home run in the 9th inning on the last day of the regular season. He also set a major league record with 11 multi-homer games in 1945.
Center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
Doc Cramer
Doc Cramer
Roger Maxwell Cramer [Doc] was an American center fielder and left-handed batter in Major League Baseball who played for four American League teams from 1929 to 1948.-Career:...
, nicknamed "Flit", was a veteran player who had been playing in the major leagues since 1929. He ended his career with 2,705 hits. In 1945, at age 40, he was the oldest player on an old team. He hit .275 with 58 RBIs in the regular season and led the team with a .379 batting average in the 1945 World Series
1945 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 3, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 2:Thursday, October 4, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 3:Friday, October 5, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan...
, scoring seven runs and batting in four.
Shortly before the 1945 season started, right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
Roy Cullenbine
Roy Cullenbine
Roy Joseph Cullenbine was a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. He played ten years in the Major Leagues for six teams: Detroit Tigers , Brooklyn Dodgers , St...
was traded by the Indians to the Tigers. Cullenbine was raised in Detroit and started his career as a Tiger but was declared a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
by Judge Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis was an American jurist who served as a federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and as the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death...
in 1940. In 1945, Cullenbine led the American League with 113 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
and was 2nd in the AL with a .402 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
. He also hit for power in 1945, with 18 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s (tied with Rudy York for 2nd in the AL), 93 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
s (2nd in the AL), 51 extra base hit
Extra base hit
In baseball, an extra base hit , also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner...
s (4th in the AL), and a .444 slugging percentage (3rd in the AL). Despite batting only .227 in the Series, Cullenbine walked 8 times for a .433 on base percentage and scored five runs.
Pitching: Newhouser, Trout, Benton, Overmire and Trucks
The starting pitchers were Hal NewhouserHal Newhouser
Harold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
, Dizzy Trout
Dizzy Trout
Paul Howard "Dizzy" Trout was a Major League Baseball pitcher primarily for the Detroit Tigers. Born in Sandcut, Indiana, he first played professionally in 1935 with the Terre Haute Tots in the Three-I League before signing with Detroit in 1939.Trout played for the Tigers for fourteen seasons,...
, Al Benton
Al Benton
John Alton Benton was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who played with the Philadelphia Athletics , Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox ....
, Stubby Overmire
Stubby Overmire
Frank W. Overmire was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played ten seasons for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns , and New York Yankees . In ten seasons, Overmire won 58 games and lost 67 with a 3.96 earned run average...
, and Les Mueller
Les Mueller
Leslie Clyde Mueller is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers in 1941 and 1945. He was born in Belleville, Illinois....
.
Hal Newhouser, also known as "Prince Hal", won 25 games and was named the American League's Most Valuable Player for the second consecutive season. He was the first pitcher in the history of the American League to win the MVP for two consecutive seasons. Newhouser won the pitching triple crown, leading the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in wins (25, against nine losses), ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(1.81) and strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s (212). He also led the league in innings pitched (313⅓), games started (36), complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
s (29), and shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s (8). Newhouser also won two games in the World Series, including the deciding seventh game. Newhouser and Greenberg were the only two players from the 1945 Tigers who were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Al Benton missed the 1943 and 1944 seasons while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was discharged from the Navy in November 1944 and had his best year in 1945. He compiled a record of 13–8, a career-low 2.02 ERA, five shutouts, and 12 complete games in 191.2 innings. In a remarkable testament to the Tigers' pitching in 1945, Newhouser and Benton were No. 1 and No. 2 in ERA among AL
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
pitchers. Newhouser's Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
in 1945 was 195 and Benton's was 175. The Adjusted ERA+ figures posted by Newhouser and Benton in 1945 rank as the 1st and 5th best seasons all time for a Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
pitcher with at least 150 innings pitched. (See Detroit Tigers team records)
After winning 20 games in 1943 and 27 games in 1944, Dizzy Trout won 18 games in 1945 and was a workhorse in the pennant drive. He pitched six games and won four over a nine-game late-season stretch. In Game 4 of the 1945 World Series
1945 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 3, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 2:Thursday, October 4, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 3:Friday, October 5, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan...
, Trout beat the Cubs 4–1 on a five-hitter. Trout went 1–1 in the Series with an ERA of 0.66.
The Tigers #4 starter in 1945 was Stubby Overmire. He won 9 games and started Game 3 of the 1945 World Series against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. Despite giving up only 2 runs in 6 innings, Overmire took the loss as the Tigers were shut out 3–0.
After service in the Navy, Virgil Trucks
Virgil Trucks
Virgil Oliver Trucks is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1941 through 1958, Trucks played for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns , Chicago White Sox , Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees . He batted and threw right-handed...
returned to the Tigers on the last day of the regular season. He got the start in the final game (allowing 1 run in 5⅓ innings), in which the Tigers clinched the pennant. To help returning veterans, the Commissioner waived the rule requiring a player to be on the roster on September 1 to be eligible for World Series play. Trucks was the winning pitcher in Game 2 of the World Series.
Though he had a record of 6–8, pitcher Les Mueller appeared in 26 games and played an important role in the 1945 Tigers season. After missing the 1942–1944 seasons to military service, Mueller gave up a single to Pete Gray
Pete Gray
Pete Gray was a professional baseball player best known for playing in the major leagues despite having lost his right arm in a childhood accident.-Early life:...
, the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
' famous one-armed outfielder, in Gray's first major league game in April 1945. Three months later, on July 21, 1945, Mueller pitched the first 19⅔ innings for the Tigers and left having given up only 1 run. No pitcher has thrown as many innings in a major league game since Mueller's feat. The game lasted 4 hours and 48 minutes before the game was called due to darkness. Mueller also pitched 2 scoreless innings in Game 1 of the 1945 World Series.
Relief pitching was split between George Caster
George Caster
George Jasper Caster nicknamed "Ug," was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics , St. Louis Browns , and Detroit Tigers . Born in Colton, California, Ug appeared in 376 major league games and compiled a record of 76-100 in 1377-2/3 innings pitched...
(who was selected off waivers from the St. Louis Browns on August 8, 1945), Walter Wilson, Zeb Eaton
Zeb Eaton
Zebulon Vance Eaton , nicknamed "Red," was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers in 1944 and 1945. Born in Cooleemee, North Carolina, Zeb Eaton played in 6 games for the Tigers in 1944 with no decisions and a 5.74 earned run average...
, and Art Houtteman
Art Houtteman
Arthur Joseph Houtteman was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for 12 seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles...
.
Roster
| 1945 Detroit Tigers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Season highlights
- April 17, 1945: The Tigers lost to the St. Louis Browns1945 St. Louis Browns seasonThe 1945 St. Louis Browns season involved the Browns finishing 3rd in the American League with a record of 81 wins and 70 losses.- Regular season :Coming off their first pennant in 1944, St...
, 7–1 on Opening DayOpening DayOpening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
. In his first major league game, one-armed outfielder Pete GrayPete GrayPete Gray was a professional baseball player best known for playing in the major leagues despite having lost his right arm in a childhood accident.-Early life:...
hit a single off Detroit pitcher Les MuellerLes MuellerLeslie Clyde Mueller is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers in 1941 and 1945. He was born in Belleville, Illinois....
. Gray handled no chances in the outfield. - April 29, 1945: Between games of a doubleheader‚ the Tigers acquired Roy CullenbineRoy CullenbineRoy Joseph Cullenbine was a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. He played ten years in the Major Leagues for six teams: Detroit Tigers , Brooklyn Dodgers , St...
in a trade with the Indians. - May 1, 1945: Light-hitting Skeeter WebbSkeeter WebbJames Laverne "Skeeter" Webb was a Major League Baseball infielder who played twelve season in the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals , Cleveland Indians , Chicago White Sox , Detroit Tigers , and Philadelphia Athletics...
was the only Tiger to reach base with a single in the third inning, as the White Sox1945 Chicago White Sox seasonThe 1945 Chicago White Sox season was the White Sox's 45th season in the major leagues, and their 46th season overall. They finished with a record 71-78, good enough for 6th place in the American League, 15 games behind the 1st place Detroit Tigers....
pitcher Joe Haynes missed a perfect gamePerfect gameA perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
. The Tigers lost, 5–0. - May 6, 1945: Hal NewhouserHal NewhouserHarold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
and Al BentonAl BentonJohn Alton Benton was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who played with the Philadelphia Athletics , Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox ....
shut out the Browns in a double-header. Newhouser won the opener, 3–0, and Benton takes the second game, 1–0. Roy CullenbineRoy CullenbineRoy Joseph Cullenbine was a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. He played ten years in the Major Leagues for six teams: Detroit Tigers , Brooklyn Dodgers , St...
hit a 9th inning home run to win the second game. - May 9, 1945: The Tigers defeated the Yankees1945 New York Yankees seasonThe New York Yankees season was the team's 43rd season in New York and its 45th overall. The team finished in fourth place in the American League with a record of 81-71, finishing 6.5 games behind the Detroit Tigers. New York was managed by Joe McCarthy...
, 4–1, behind the pitching of Dizzy TroutDizzy TroutPaul Howard "Dizzy" Trout was a Major League Baseball pitcher primarily for the Detroit Tigers. Born in Sandcut, Indiana, he first played professionally in 1935 with the Terre Haute Tots in the Three-I League before signing with Detroit in 1939.Trout played for the Tigers for fourteen seasons,...
. - May 13, 1945: The Tigers split a double-header with the Boston Red Sox1945 Boston Red Sox seasonThe 1945 Boston Red Sox season involved the Red Sox finishing 7th in the American League with a record of 71 wins and 83 losses.- Offseason :* Prior to 1945 season: Tom Poholsky was signed as an amateur free agent by the Red Sox.- Regular season :...
. The Tigers won the second game, 2–0, on an Al Benton shutout. Benton had allowed one earned run in his last 45 innings. - May 18, 1945: The Tigers were rained out for the 4th straight day.
- May 24, 1945: After starting the season with 5 wins and 3 shutouts‚ Al Benton was injured in the 4th inning after being hit in the ankle by a line driveLine driveIn baseball, a line drive is a type of batted ball, sharply hit, and on a level trajectory. The threshold between a line drive and a fly ball can be subjective....
. The A's beat the Tigers, 7–2. - June 29, 1945: The Tigers lost to the Washington Senators1945 Washington Senators seasonThe Washington Senators won 87 games, lost 67, and finished in second place in the American League. They were managed by Ossie Bluege and played home games at Griffith Stadium.- Regular season :...
, 8–3, after Detroit pitcher Stubby OvermireStubby OvermireFrank W. Overmire was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played ten seasons for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns , and New York Yankees . In ten seasons, Overmire won 58 games and lost 67 with a 3.96 earned run average...
gave up 5 runs in the 1st inning. The Tigers led the Yankees by a half-game. - July 1, 1945: Hank GreenbergHank GreenbergHenry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
played his first game after returning from four years in the military. He hit a home run in front of 47,700 fans at Tiger Stadium. Rudy YorkRudy YorkPreston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
also hit a three-run home run, as the Tigers win the first game of a double-header against the A's1945 Philadelphia Athletics seasonThe Philadelphia Athletics season involved the A's finishing 8th in the American League with a record of 52 wins and 98 losses.- Notable transactions :* May 29, 1945: Frankie Hayes was traded by the Athletics to the Cleveland Indians for Buddy Rosar....
‚ 9–5. The Tigers also won the second game, 5–3‚ to increase their lead over the Yankees to 3½ games. - July 9, 1945: In lieu of the All-Star game, which had been cancelled due to wartime travel restrictions, the major leagues scheduled interleague exhibition games. The Tigers were to play at Pittsburgh, but the game is cancelled when the Office of Defense Transportation refused to grant the Tigers permission to detour 62 miles to get to Pittsburgh.
- July 15, 1945: Detroit manager Steve O'NeillSteve O'NeillStephen Francis O'Neill was an American catcher, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball.Born to Irish immigrants in Minooka, Pennsylvania , O'Neill was one of six brothers who escaped a life in the coal mines by playing in the major leagues...
sent in pitcher Zeb EatonZeb EatonZebulon Vance Eaton , nicknamed "Red," was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers in 1944 and 1945. Born in Cooleemee, North Carolina, Zeb Eaton played in 6 games for the Tigers in 1944 with no decisions and a 5.74 earned run average...
to hit with the bases loaded in the 4th against the Yankees' Hank BorowyHank BorowyHenry Ludwig Borowy was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1942 through 1951, Borowy played for the New York Yankees , Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies , Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers...
. Eaton hit a grand slam‚ but the Yankees won, 5–4, when Detroit rookie Walter Wilson walked a batter with the bases loaded in the 6th inning. - July 21, 1945: The Tigers and A's play 24 innings in a game that is called due to darkness with the score tied 1–1. Les Mueller pitched 19⅔ innings‚ allowing only one run. In the 10th inning, Jimmy OutlawJimmy OutlawJames Paulus Outlaw was an outfielder and third baseman who played in Major League Baseball between the and season...
threw a runner out at home to preserve the tie. The game lasted an AL-record 4 hours and 48 minutes. Umpire Bill Summers called the game at 7:48 p.m., saying: "I'm sorry, I just can't see the ball anymore." A's third baseman George KellGeorge KellGeorge Clyde Kell was an American baseball third baseman who played for the Philadelphia Athletics , Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox , and Baltimore Orioles in the American League, who went on to become a baseball broadcaster for 40 years.-Playing career:In college, Kell...
had the worst game of his career, going 0-for-10. - July 27, 1945: The Tigers beat the White Sox, 1–0, behind the shutout pitching of Hal Newhouser. Eddie MayoEddie MayoEdward Joseph Mayo , nicknamed "Hotshot" and "Steady Eddie," was a professional baseball infielder...
hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th inning to win it for Detroit. - August 6, 1945: The Tigers split a double-header with the White Sox. Al Benton won the opener 6–2, but the Tigers were shut out by Johnny HumphriesJohnny HumphriesJohn William Humphries was a pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1938 to 1946. He played for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies. When Humphries joined the Indians in 1938, he was thought to have the best fastball in the American League.-External links:...
in the second game, 7–0. - August 8, 1945: The Tigers split a double-header with the Red Sox‚ winning the opener, 5–2, and losing the second game, 7–4. In the 10th inning of game 2, Hank Greenberg hit a line drive that hit Boston pitcher Jim WilsonJim Wilson (pitcher)James Alger Wilson , was a former professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1945-1958. He would play for the Boston Red Sox, St...
in the head. Wilson underwent surgery and did not pitch another major league game for 11 years. - August 12, 1945: The Tigers swept the Yankees in a double-header. Newly-acquired pitcher Jim TobinJim TobinJames Anthony Tobin, known as Abba Dabba, was a right-handed major league baseball pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Bees/Braves and Detroit Tigers from 1937 to 1945...
hit a 3-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning to win the opener, 9–6. Hal Newhouser got his 18th win in the second game, 8–2. - August 15, 1945: The Tigers lost to the Washington Senators, 8–0, behind the pitching of Dutch LeonardDutch Leonard (right-handed pitcher)Emil John "Dutch" Leonard was an American professional baseball player. He played in in Major League Baseball as a right-handed knuckleball pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers , Washington Senators , Philadelphia Phillies , and Chicago Cubs...
. - August 20, 1945: Hal Newhouser won his 20th game with a 4–0 shutout against the A's. Roy CullenbineRoy CullenbineRoy Joseph Cullenbine was a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. He played ten years in the Major Leagues for six teams: Detroit Tigers , Brooklyn Dodgers , St...
and Doc CramerDoc CramerRoger Maxwell Cramer [Doc] was an American center fielder and left-handed batter in Major League Baseball who played for four American League teams from 1929 to 1948.-Career:...
both hit home runs for the Tigers. - August 24, 1945: Pitching stars Hal Newhouser and Bob FellerBob FellerOn December 8, 1941, Feller enlisted in the Navy, volunteering immediately for combat service, becoming the first Major League Baseball player to do so following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. Feller served as Gun Captain aboard the USS Alabama, and missed four seasons during his service...
faced off in Cleveland. A sellout crowd of 46‚477 paid to see Feller's first game since being discharged from the Navy. The Tigers lost, 4–2, as Feller struck out 12 batters. - August 25, 1945: The Tigers beat the Browns, 1–0. The only run came in the 3rd inning when Joe HooverJoe HooverRobert Joseph Hoover , was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played for the Detroit Tigers from 1941–1945. Born in Brawley, California, played for the Hollywood Stars in the Pacific Coast League...
stole home as part of a double steal. - September 1, 1945: Pitching stars Hal Newhouser and Bob Feller faced off for the second time in two weeks. This time, the Tigers won 5–4, but Newhouser injured his back in the 7th inning and was out of action for six days. The Tigers were 1½ games ahead of the 2nd place Washington Senators.
- September 4, 1945: The Tigers crushed the Yankees, 10–0, as Dizzy Trout pitches a shutout. With their pitching depleted, the Yankees' batting practice pitcher Paul SchreiberPaul SchreiberPaul Frederick Schreiber was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in ten games for the Brooklyn Robins during the 1922 and 1923 baseball season. He returned to the major leagues as a batting practice pitcher and coach for the New York Yankees...
got the start at age 43. Schreiber's last major league pitching appearance had been in 1923. - September 7, 1945: Hal Newhouser got his first start after injuring his back on September 1. The Tigers beat the Yankees, 5–0, as Newhouser held the Yankees to 4 singles.
- September 15, 1945: With the Senators trailing the Tigers by a half game, the top two teams faced each other in a 5-game series. The Tigers swept a double-header over the Senators to extend their lead to 2½ games.
- September 16, 1945: The Tigers and Senators split a double-header—the second in a row between the teams. The Senators beat Hal Newhouser, 3–2, in game 1, and the Tigers took the second game, 5–4.
- September 18, 1945: The Tigers lost to the Senators, as the Tigers' lead shrank to 1½ games. Dizzy Trout, pitching for the 6th time in 10 days‚ gave up four runs in the first inning. Playing on a muddy field, the Tigers and Senators tied the MLB record at the time by using 35 players in the game.
- September 19, 1945: The Tigers were shut out by Bob Feller, 2–0. Jimmy Outlaw had the only hit off Feller, a bloop single in the 5th inning. The Senators did not play, and the Tigers' lead is 1 game.
- September 20, 1945: The Tigers lost to the Indians 6–1, as the Tigers committed 4 errors. The Yankees beat the Senators, and the Tigers' lead remained at 1 game.
- September 22, 1945: The Tigers beat the St. Louis Browns, 9–0, as Hal Newhouser recorded another shutout.
- September 23, 1945: The Tigers lost, 5–0, to the Browns. The Senators lost to the A's, as third baseman George Kell drove in the winning run for the A's.
- September 26, 1945: The Tigers won the first game of a double-header against Cleveland, 11–0, behind the pitching of Hal Newhouser. They had a chance to clinch the pennant in the second game, but lost 3–2. The Tigers finished the day one game ahead of the Senators.
- September 29, 1945: The Tigers could have won the pennant with a victory over the Browns, but the game was rained out.
- September 30, 1945: The last day of the regular season, and the Tigers had to beat the Browns to avoid a one-game playoff with the Senators. The Tigers start Virgil TrucksVirgil TrucksVirgil Oliver Trucks is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1941 through 1958, Trucks played for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns , Chicago White Sox , Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees . He batted and threw right-handed...
, who had not played all year and had been released from the military three days earlier. Hal Newhouser relieved Trucks in the 5th inning, and allowed a run in the bottom of the 8th inning to put the Browns on top 3–2. Hank Greenberg came to bat with the bases loaded in the top of the 9th inning, and he hit a grand slam home run. Al Benton pitched the bottom of the 9th to hold the lead, and the Tigers won the pennant. - October 10, 1945: The Tigers won Game 7 of the World Series in Wrigley FieldWrigley FieldWrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
to win the team's second World Series championship. Only Hank Greenberg and Tommy BridgesTommy BridgesThomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946...
remained from the 1935 championship team. - November 8, 1945: The American League Most Valuable Player award went to Hal Newhouser for the second straight year. Tigers second baseman Eddie Mayo finished second in the MVP voting.
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 95 | 279 | 65 | .233 | 0 | 24 | |
| 1B | 155 | 595 | 157 | .264 | 18 | 87 | |
| 2B | 134 | 501 | 143 | .285 | 10 | 54 | |
| 3B | 132 | 486 | 128 | .263 | 1 | 34 | |
| SS | 118 | 407 | 81 | .199 | 0 | 21 | |
| OF | 146 | 523 | 145 | .277 | 18 | 93 | |
| OF | 141 | 541 | 149 | .275 | 6 | 58 | |
| OF | 132 | 446 | 121 | .271 | 0 | 34 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78 | 270 | 84 | .311 | 13 | 60 | |
| 83 | 234 | 60 | .256 | 3 | 32 | |
| 74 | 222 | 57 | .257 | 1 | 17 | |
| 55 | 130 | 35 | .269 | 0 | 9 | |
| 42 | 44 | 7 | .159 | 0 | 2 | |
| 8 | 29 | 11 | .379 | 0 | 4 | |
| 28 | 23 | 3 | .130 | 0 | 1 | |
| 2 | 4 | 3 | .750 | 0 | 1 | |
Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 313.1 | 25 | 9 | 1.81 | 212 | |
| 41 | 246.1 | 18 | 15 | 3.14 | 97 | |
| 31 | 191.2 | 13 | 8 | 2.02 | 76 | |
| 31 | 162.1 | 9 | 9 | 3.88 | 36 | |
| 26 | 134.2 | 6 | 8 | 3.68 | 42 | |
| 1 | 5.1 | 0 | 0 | 1.69 | 32 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 58.1 | 4 | 5 | 3.55 | 14 | |
| 12 | 48 | 2 | 3 | 3.00 | 14 | |
| 3 | 11.1 | 0 | 0 | 1.59 | 3 | |
| 4 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 3.27 | 6 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W= Wins; L= Losses; SV = Saves; GF = Games Finished; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | GF | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 4.61 | 28 | |
| 22 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 3.86 | 23 | |
| 17 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 4.05 | 15 | |
| 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 5.33 | 9 | |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1.80 | 10 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9.00 | 0 |
World Series summary
The 1945 World Series1945 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 3, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 2:Thursday, October 4, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 3:Friday, October 5, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan...
featured the Tigers and the Chicago Cubs
1945 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season was a season in American baseball. The team won the National League pennant with a record of 98-56, 3 games ahead of the second-place St. Louis Cardinals. The team went on to the 1945 World Series, which they lost to the Detroit Tigers in seven games...
, with the Tigers winning in seven games for their second championship in six World Series appearances. To minimize travel due to wartime restrictions, the first three games were played in Detroit, and the remaining four games at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
in Chicago.
Because of the depleted talent pool resulting from many players being in the military, the Tigers and the Cubs both fielded teams that would have been considered mediocre before or after the war. Warren Brown
Warren Brown (sportswriter)
Warren Brown was an American sportswriter who spent the major portion of his career in Chicago, Illinois. Brown was born in Somersville, California, a mining town near San Francisco. His father Patrick was the local saloon keeper...
, author of a 1946 history of the Cubs, commented on this by titling his chapter on the 1945 World Series, "World's Worst Series". Sportswriter Frank Graham jokingly called this Series "the fat men versus the tall men at the office picnic."
In Game 1, Detroit ace Hal Newhouser
Hal Newhouser
Harold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
gave up four runs in the first inning and three more in the third. Pitching for the Cubs in his first of four games in the 1945 Series, Hank Borowy
Hank Borowy
Henry Ludwig Borowy was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1942 through 1951, Borowy played for the New York Yankees , Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies , Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers...
threw a six-hit shutout to defeat the Tigers, 9–0.
In Game 2, Virgil Trucks
Virgil Trucks
Virgil Oliver Trucks is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1941 through 1958, Trucks played for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns , Chicago White Sox , Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees . He batted and threw right-handed...
got the start less than a week after his discharge from the U.S. Navy. Trucks held the Cubs to 1 run, and Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning. The Tigers won, 4–1, to even the Series.
In Game 3, the Tigers were shut out by Cubs pitcher Claude Passeau
Claude Passeau
Claude William Passeau was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From through , Passeau played with the Pittsburgh Pirates , Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs . He batted and threw right-handed...
. Passeau allowed only one hit—a single by Rudy York
Rudy York
Preston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
. The Tigers lost, 3–0.
In Game 4, Dizzy Trout
Dizzy Trout
Paul Howard "Dizzy" Trout was a Major League Baseball pitcher primarily for the Detroit Tigers. Born in Sandcut, Indiana, he first played professionally in 1935 with the Terre Haute Tots in the Three-I League before signing with Detroit in 1939.Trout played for the Tigers for fourteen seasons,...
helped even the Series, allowing only 5 hits and 1 run. The Tigers won, 4–1.
In Game 5, Hal Newhouser faced Hank Borowy. Newhouser struck out 9 Cubs, and Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
hit three doubles off Borowy. The Tigers won 8–4.
In Game 6, Hank Greenberg hit a home run in the eighth inning to tie the score, but the Cubs won, 8–7, in extra innings. The game ended in the 12th inning with a line drive by Stan Hack
Stan Hack
Stanley Camfield Hack , nicknamed "Smiling Stan," was an American third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Chicago Cubs and was the National League's top third baseman in the late 1930s and early 1940s...
that took a bad hop past Greenberg in left field. Initially, Greenberg was charged with an error, but the call was reversed the next morning, and Hack was credited with a double. Game 6 is also remembered for Chuck Hostetler
Chuck Hostetler
Charles Cloyd Hostetler was a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Detroit Tigers in 1944 and 1945...
's baserunning blunder. The 42-year-old Hostetler had debuted the previous year as the oldest rookie in MLB history. He reached base in Game 6 on an error to start the 6th inning. He advanced to second with one out, and when Doc Cramer
Doc Cramer
Roger Maxwell Cramer [Doc] was an American center fielder and left-handed batter in Major League Baseball who played for four American League teams from 1929 to 1948.-Career:...
hit a single to left field, Hostetler ran through manager Steve O’Neill’s stop sign at third base. He tried to put on his brakes half way home, lost his footing, fell to the ground, and was tagged out while scrambling around on all fours. The Tigers could have avoided extra innings and won the Series in Game 6 if Hostetler had held up, as he would have scored in the rally that followed. Hostetler did not appear in another major league game. Fifty years later, baseball writer Joe Falls
Joe Falls
Joseph Francis Falls was an American journalist. He began his career in his native New York City. At the age of 17 in 1945, he took a job as a copyboy for the Associated Press. After an apprenticeship of eight years, Falls moved to the Detroit bureau of the AP.In Detroit, Falls flourished...
recalled Hostetler's blunder in a column in the Detroit News, writing: "If anyone symbolized the futility of wartime baseball —both in Detroit and America — it was outfielder Chuck Hostetler
Chuck Hostetler
Charles Cloyd Hostetler was a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Detroit Tigers in 1944 and 1945...
of the Tigers, the man who fell on his face in the 1945 World Series."
In Game 7, Cubs' manager Charlie Grimm
Charlie Grimm
Charles John Grimm , nicknamed "Jolly Cholly", was a first baseman and manager in Major League Baseball best known for his years with the Chicago Cubs; he was also a sometime radio broadcaster, and a popular goodwill ambassador for baseball...
gave the start to Hank Borowy despite his having pitched in Games 1, 5, and 6. The Tigers scored five runs off Borowy in the 1st inning, while Hal Newhouser struck out 10 and held the Cubs to three runs. Doc Cramer went 3-for-5, and Paul Richards
Paul Richards (baseball)
Paul Rapier Richards was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and executive in Major League Baseball. During his playing career, he was a catcher and right-handed batter with the Brooklyn Dodgers , New York Giants , Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
hit a bases-loaded double in the first inning to clear the bses and give Newhouser a lead. In all, Richards had two doubles and four RBIs to lead the Tigers in Game 7. The Tigers won the game, 9–3.
The day after the Tigers' Game 7 victory, H. G. Salsinger
H. G. Salsinger
Harry George "H.G." Salsinger was sports editor of The Detroit News for 49 years.Salsinger was born in Ohio in 1885. In 1907, he started writing for The Cincinnati Post....
wrote in the Detroit News that pitching was the key to the Tigers' success: "Detroit beat the Cubs with TNT, meaning Trucks, Newhouser, and Trout, and they beat them twice with 'N.'"
A little known fact about the 1945 World Series
1945 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 3, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 2:Thursday, October 4, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 3:Friday, October 5, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan...
is that teenage boys worked the games as the ushers
Usher (occupation)
Ushers assist visitors by formally showing the way in a large building or to their appropriate seats. This may coincide with a security role. The word comes from the French huissier, with the same meaning , ushers were servants or courtiers who showed or ushered visitors in and out of meetings in...
in the stands. With most able bodied men away at war, young teenage boys were allowed to work as ushers. The boys would line up at the gate outside Briggs Stadium before the game and would be selected in a fashion similar to how migrant workers are selected to work today. The boys would volunteer their services, but would receive tips.
| Game | Score | Date | Location | Attendance | Winning Pitcher | Losing Pitcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cubs – 9, Tigers – 0 | October 3 | Tiger Stadium | 54,637 | Hank Borowy Hank Borowy Henry Ludwig Borowy was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1942 through 1951, Borowy played for the New York Yankees , Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies , Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers... |
Hal Newhouser Hal Newhouser Harold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League... |
| 2 | Cubs – 1, Tigers – 4 | October 4 | Tiger Stadium | 53,636 | Virgil Trucks Virgil Trucks Virgil Oliver Trucks is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1941 through 1958, Trucks played for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns , Chicago White Sox , Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees . He batted and threw right-handed... |
Hank Wyse Hank Wyse Henry Washington Wyse was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. Between and , Wyse played for the Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Athletics and Washington Senators . A native of Lunsford, Arkansas, he batted and threw right-handed... |
| 3 | Cubs – 3, Tigers – 0 | October 5 | Tiger Stadium | 55,500 | Claude Passeau Claude Passeau Claude William Passeau was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From through , Passeau played with the Pittsburgh Pirates , Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs . He batted and threw right-handed... |
Stubby Overmire Stubby Overmire Frank W. Overmire was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played ten seasons for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns , and New York Yankees . In ten seasons, Overmire won 58 games and lost 67 with a 3.96 earned run average... |
| 4 | Tigers – 4, Cubs – 1 | October 6 | Wrigley Field Wrigley Field Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales... |
42,923 | Dizzy Trout Dizzy Trout Paul Howard "Dizzy" Trout was a Major League Baseball pitcher primarily for the Detroit Tigers. Born in Sandcut, Indiana, he first played professionally in 1935 with the Terre Haute Tots in the Three-I League before signing with Detroit in 1939.Trout played for the Tigers for fourteen seasons,... |
Ray Prim Ray Prim Raymond Lee "Ray" Prim , nicknamed "Pop," was an American pitcher who played Major League Baseball during the 1930s and 1940s. During his professional career, he also pitched for the Los Angeles Angels of the AAA-Class Pacific Coast League... |
| 5 | Tigers – 8, Cubs – 4 | October 7 | Wrigley Field Wrigley Field Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales... |
43,463 | Hal Newhouser Hal Newhouser Harold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League... |
Hank Borowy Hank Borowy Henry Ludwig Borowy was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1942 through 1951, Borowy played for the New York Yankees , Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies , Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers... |
| 6 | Tigers – 7, Cubs – 8 | October 8 | Wrigley Field Wrigley Field Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales... |
41,708 | Hank Borowy Hank Borowy Henry Ludwig Borowy was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1942 through 1951, Borowy played for the New York Yankees , Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies , Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers... |
Dizzy Trout Dizzy Trout Paul Howard "Dizzy" Trout was a Major League Baseball pitcher primarily for the Detroit Tigers. Born in Sandcut, Indiana, he first played professionally in 1935 with the Terre Haute Tots in the Three-I League before signing with Detroit in 1939.Trout played for the Tigers for fourteen seasons,... |
| 7 | Tigers – 9, Cubs – 3 | October 10 | Wrigley Field Wrigley Field Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales... |
41,590 | Hal Newhouser Hal Newhouser Harold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League... |
Hank Borowy Hank Borowy Henry Ludwig Borowy was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1942 through 1951, Borowy played for the New York Yankees , Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies , Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers... |
Batting
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doc Cramer Doc Cramer Roger Maxwell Cramer [Doc] was an American center fielder and left-handed batter in Major League Baseball who played for four American League teams from 1929 to 1948.-Career:... |
7 | 29 | 11 | .379 | 0 | 4 |
| Roy Cullenbine Roy Cullenbine Roy Joseph Cullenbine was a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. He played ten years in the Major Leagues for six teams: Detroit Tigers , Brooklyn Dodgers , St... |
7 | 22 | 5 | .227 | 0 | 4 |
| Hank Greenberg Hank Greenberg Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation... |
7 | 23 | 7 | .304 | 2 | 7 |
| Joe Hoover Joe Hoover Robert Joseph Hoover , was a Major League Baseball shortstop who played for the Detroit Tigers from 1941–1945. Born in Brawley, California, played for the Hollywood Stars in the Pacific Coast League... |
1 | 3 | 1 | .333 | 0 | 1 |
| Chuck Hostetler Chuck Hostetler Charles Cloyd Hostetler was a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Detroit Tigers in 1944 and 1945... |
3 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
| Eddie Mayo Eddie Mayo Edward Joseph Mayo , nicknamed "Hotshot" and "Steady Eddie," was a professional baseball infielder... |
7 | 28 | 7 | .250 | 0 | 2 |
| John McHale John McHale John Joseph McHale was an American first baseman and executive in Major League Baseball who served as the general manager of three teams: the Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, and Montreal Expos... |
3 | 3 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
| Jimmy Outlaw Jimmy Outlaw James Paulus Outlaw was an outfielder and third baseman who played in Major League Baseball between the and season... |
7 | 28 | 5 | .179 | 0 | 3 |
| Paul Richards Paul Richards (baseball) Paul Rapier Richards was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and executive in Major League Baseball. During his playing career, he was a catcher and right-handed batter with the Brooklyn Dodgers , New York Giants , Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers... |
7 | 19 | 4 | .211 | 0 | 6 |
| Bob Swift Bob Swift Robert Virgil Swift was an American catcher, coach, manager and scout in Major League Baseball.Swift is pictured in one of the most famous photographs in American sporting history. He was the catcher for the Detroit Tigers on August 19, 1951, when St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck sent midget... |
3 | 4 | 1 | .250 | 0 | 0 |
| Hub Walker Hub Walker Harvey Willos "Hub" Walker was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played five seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds . Born in Gulfport, Mississippi, Walker was the brother of Major League player, Gee Walker... |
2 | 2 | 1 | .500 | 0 | 0 |
| Skeeter Webb Skeeter Webb James Laverne "Skeeter" Webb was a Major League Baseball infielder who played twelve season in the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals , Cleveland Indians , Chicago White Sox , Detroit Tigers , and Philadelphia Athletics... |
7 | 27 | 5 | .185 | 0 | 1 |
| Rudy York Rudy York Preston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama... |
7 | 28 | 5 | .179 | 0 | 3 |
Pitching
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hal Newhouser Hal Newhouser Harold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League... |
3 | 20.2 | 2 | 1 | 6.10 | 22 |
| Dizzy Trout Dizzy Trout Paul Howard "Dizzy" Trout was a Major League Baseball pitcher primarily for the Detroit Tigers. Born in Sandcut, Indiana, he first played professionally in 1935 with the Terre Haute Tots in the Three-I League before signing with Detroit in 1939.Trout played for the Tigers for fourteen seasons,... |
2 | 13.2 | 1 | 1 | 0.66 | 9 |
| Virgil Trucks Virgil Trucks Virgil Oliver Trucks is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1941 through 1958, Trucks played for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns , Chicago White Sox , Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees . He batted and threw right-handed... |
2 | 13.1 | 1 | 0 | 3.38 | 7 |
| Stubby Overmire Stubby Overmire Frank W. Overmire was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played ten seasons for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns , and New York Yankees . In ten seasons, Overmire won 58 games and lost 67 with a 3.96 earned run average... |
1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 3.00 | 2 |
| Al Benton Al Benton John Alton Benton was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who played with the Philadelphia Athletics , Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox .... |
3 | 4.2 | 0 | 0 | 1.93 | 5 |
| Jim Tobin Jim Tobin James Anthony Tobin, known as Abba Dabba, was a right-handed major league baseball pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Bees/Braves and Detroit Tigers from 1937 to 1945... |
1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6.00 | 0 |
| Les Mueller Les Mueller Leslie Clyde Mueller is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers in 1941 and 1945. He was born in Belleville, Illinois.... |
1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 |
| Tommy Bridges Tommy Bridges Thomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946... |
1 | 1.7 | 0 | 0 | 16.20 | 1 |
| George Caster George Caster George Jasper Caster nicknamed "Ug," was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics , St. Louis Browns , and Detroit Tigers . Born in Colton, California, Ug appeared in 376 major league games and compiled a record of 76-100 in 1377-2/3 innings pitched... |
1 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 |
League leaders
- Doc CramerDoc CramerRoger Maxwell Cramer [Doc] was an American center fielder and left-handed batter in Major League Baseball who played for four American League teams from 1929 to 1948.-Career:...
: AL fielding percentage leader in outfield (.991) - Roy CullenbineRoy CullenbineRoy Joseph Cullenbine was a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. He played ten years in the Major Leagues for six teams: Detroit Tigers , Brooklyn Dodgers , St...
: AL walks leader (113) - Art HouttemanArt HouttemanArthur Joseph Houtteman was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for 12 seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles...
: Youngest player in AL (17) - Eddie MayoEddie MayoEdward Joseph Mayo , nicknamed "Hotshot" and "Steady Eddie," was a professional baseball infielder...
: The Sporting News Most Valuable Player Award - Eddie Mayo: AL fielding percentage leader at second base (.980)
- Hal NewhouserHal NewhouserHarold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
: AL pitching triple crown winner - Hal Newhouser: AL wins leader (25)
- Hal Newhouser: AL ERA leader (1.81)
- Hal Newhouser: AL strikeouts leader (212)
- Hal Newhouser: AL complete games leader (29)
- Hal Newhouser: AL shutouts leader (8)
- Hal Newhouser: AL games started leader (36)
- Hal Newhouser: AL innings pitched leader (313⅓)
- Hal Newhouser: AL strikeouts per 9 innings pitched leader (6.09)
- Hal Newhouser: AL batters faced leader (1261)
- Hal Newhouser: AL fielding percentage leader at pitcher (1.000)
- Dizzy TroutDizzy TroutPaul Howard "Dizzy" Trout was a Major League Baseball pitcher primarily for the Detroit Tigers. Born in Sandcut, Indiana, he first played professionally in 1935 with the Terre Haute Tots in the Three-I League before signing with Detroit in 1939.Trout played for the Tigers for fourteen seasons,...
: AL leader in errors at pitcher (9) - Rudy YorkRudy YorkPreston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
: AL grounded into double play leader (23) - Rudy York: AL leader in putouts at first base (1464)
- Rudy York: AL leader in errors at first base (19)
Players ranking among top 100 of all time at position
The following members of the 1945 Detroit Tigers are among the Top 100 of all time at their position, as ranked by The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract in 2001:- Hank GreenbergHank GreenbergHenry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
: 8th best first baseman of all time - Rudy YorkRudy YorkPreston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
: 56th best first baseman of all time - Doc CramerDoc CramerRoger Maxwell Cramer [Doc] was an American center fielder and left-handed batter in Major League Baseball who played for four American League teams from 1929 to 1948.-Career:...
: 91st best center fielder of all time - Roy CullenbineRoy CullenbineRoy Joseph Cullenbine was a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. He played ten years in the Major Leagues for six teams: Detroit Tigers , Brooklyn Dodgers , St...
: 68th best right fielder of all time - Hal NewhouserHal NewhouserHarold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
: 36th best pitcher of all time - Virgil TrucksVirgil TrucksVirgil Oliver Trucks is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1941 through 1958, Trucks played for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns , Chicago White Sox , Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees . He batted and threw right-handed...
: 61st best pitcher of all time