1950 Detroit Tigers season
Encyclopedia
The Detroit Tigers
had a record of 95-59 (.617), the seventh-best winning percentage in the Tigers' 107-year history. After a tight back-and-forth pennant race, they finished in second place, three games behind a Yankees
team that swept the Phillies
in the 1950 World Series
.
in the American League
and scored the third most runs
of the eight American League teams. The Tigers' home attendance of 1,951,474 was the second highest in the major leagues, trailing only the Yankees.
The 1950 team was led by: third baseman
George Kell
, who was second in the American League in batting with a .340 average
, finished 4th in the AL MVP voting and led the major leagues with 218 hits
and 56 doubles
; center fielder
Hoot Evers
who had a .323 batting average
, 109 RBI
s, and led American League outfielders in fielding percentage
(.997) with one error in over 325 chances; right fielder
Vic Wertz
who had 27 home run
s, 123 RBIs, and a .408 on base percentage
; and pitcher Art Houtteman
who had a record of 19-12 with a 3.54 ERA (Adjusted ERA+
of 132), 21 complete game
s and four shutout
s.
The Tigers got off to a hot start and were in first place from Opening Day until May 18, 1950, when the Yankees edged ahead. The Tigers retook first place on June 10, 1950 and remained there for most of the summer until August 30, 1950, leading by as much as 4½ games. The month of September saw one of the tightest pennant races in history as the Yankees and Tigers exchanged the first place eight times in the final month. The Tigers’ loss of 5 of 6 game to the Cleveland Indians
in the last two weeks of the season helped the Yankees take the pennant by three games.
The 1950 Tigers' winning percentage ranks as the 7th best in team history.
(.226 batting average
in 107 games), Bob Swift
(.227 average in 67 games), and Joe Ginsberg
(.232 average in 36 games).
On September 24, 1950, with the Tigers in the middle of a tight pennant race with the Yankees, Robinson became the "goat." Heavy smoke from a Canadian forest fire forced the Tigers to turn on the lights for a Sunday afternoon game against the Indians. With the game tied 1-1, Cleveland
pitcher Bob Lemon
opened the 10th inning with a triple, and two intentional walks followed. With the bases loaded and one out, Robinson thought he could force out Lemon by stepping on the plate without tagging him. Because of the haze, he did not see first baseman Don Kolloway
remove the force after fielding the ball. Robinson's mental lapse cost Detroit the game, and he was blamed for squelching the Tigers' pennant hopes.
, who hit .289 and had a career-high 62 RBIs, and Dick Kryhoski
, who hit .219 with 19 RBIs.
Second baseman Jerry Priddy
played in a career and AL high 157 games in 1950, all at second base. He hit .277 with a .376 on base percentage, 13 home runs, 75 RBIs, and was among the AL leaders with 104 runs scored (10th), 95 walks (7th), 126 singles (7th), 253 times on base (10th), 13 sacrifice hits (6th), 618 at bats (4th), 22 time grounded into a double play (5th), and 95 strikeouts (2nd). Priddy also led AL second basemen in 1950 with 542 assists and 150 double plays. He finished 17th in the 1950 AL MVP voting. In 1973, Priddy was convicted of trying to extort $250,000 from a steamship company by threatening to put a bomb aboard one of its vessels, the Island Princess. He was sentenced to nine months in prison.
Shortstop Johnny Lipon
played for the Tigers from 1942 to 1952, though he missed 3½ years to the war. In 1950, Lipon hit .293 with a .378 on base percentage, scored 104 runs, walked 88 times, and had 63 RBIs. Lipon also led AL shortstops in 1950 with 483 assists and 126 double plays. In 1951, Lipon scored a run in Bob Feller
's third career no-hitter
, when he reached on an error, stole second base, advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw, and scored on a sacrifice fly
.
Third baseman George Kell
had a tremendous season for the 1950 Tigers. He was second in the AL in batting with a .340 batting average, played in the All Star game, and was 4th in the AL MVP voting. He also led the league in hits (218), doubles (56), runs created (124), games (157), and at bats (641), and was among the league leaders with 310 total bases (4th), 114 runs (5th), 285 times on base (3rd), 148 singles (2nd), and 35.6 at bats per strikeout (2nd). Kell was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
in 1983.
played for the Tigers from 1947 to 1952 and again from 1961 to 1963. In 1950, he hit .308 and was among the AL leaders with a .408 on base percentage (9th), .533 slugging percentage (6th), 123 RBIs (4th), 37 doubles (2nd), 120 runs created (4th), 27 home runs (9th), 172 hits (9th), 68 extra base hits (5th), 298 total bases (8th), 91 walks (10th), 267 times on base (10th), and 20.7 at bats per home run (7th). He finished 10th in the AL MVP voting. Wertz is remembered as the batter who hit the 450-foot fly ball that Willie Mays
caught in the 1954 World Series
, a play that has become known as "The Catch."
Center fielder Hoot Evers
also had a big year for the 1950 Tigers. He was selected for the All Star team, hit for the cycle
on September 7, 1950, led the AL with 11 triples, finished 11th in the AL MVP voting, and was among the AL leaders with a .551 slugging percentage (3rd), 34 doubles (4th), .959 OPS (4th), 67 extra base hits (6th), .323 batting average (7th), 109 RBIs (9th), 259 total bases (9th), and .408 on base percentage (10th). Evers also led AL outfielders in fielding percentage (.997) with one error in over 325 chances. When Evers came to the plate in Detroit, Tigers fans would rise to their feet and yell "Ho-o-o-o-t," "Ho-o-o-o-t."
Left fielder Johnny Groth
played for the Tigers from 1946 to 1952. Tabbed for superstardom in 1949 by Time, Collier's, The Saturday Evening Post, and Life after he hit .340 for the Buffalo Bisons
, Groth hit .306 in 1959 with career-highs in home runs (12), RBIs (85), hits (173), runs scored (95), on base percentage (.407), doubles (30), walks (95), plate appearances (670), and games played (157). At one point during the 1950 season, he had eight consecutive hits.
Pat Mullin
was a backup outfielder for the 1950 Tigers. He hit .251 in 97 games.
The ace of the staff was Art Houtteman
. In 1950, Houtteman was chosen for the All Star team for the only time in his career. He had a record of 19-12 with a 3.54 ERA (Adjusted ERA+
of 132), 21 complete games and four shutouts in 274⅔ innings pitched.
Fred Hutchinson
had the second most wins on the 1950 staff. He finished the year with a 17-8 record, a .680 winning percentage, and a 3.96 ERA in 231⅔ innings pitched.
Hall of Famer Hal Newhouser
had his poorest season since , finishing with a 15-13 record and a 4.34 ERA in 213⅔ inning pitched.
Dizzy Trout
led the team with a .722 winning percentage (2nd best in the AL) with a 13-5 record and 3.75 ERA (Adjusted ERA+
of 124) in 184⅔ innings pitched.
Ted Gray
led the team with 102 strikeouts. Despite a 4.40 ERA, he finished the season with a 10-7 record in 149⅓ innings pitched.
Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included
1950 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
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...
had a record of 95-59 (.617), the seventh-best winning percentage in the Tigers' 107-year history. After a tight back-and-forth pennant race, they finished in second place, three games behind a Yankees
1950 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 48th season for the team in New York and its 50th overall as a franchise. The team finished with a record of 98-56, winning their 17th pennant, finishing 3 games ahead of the Detroit Tigers. In the World Series, they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in 4...
team that swept the Phillies
1950 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies won the National League pennant by two games over the Brooklyn Dodgers. Nicknamed the "Whiz Kids" because of the youth of their roster, they went on to lose the World Series to the New York Yankees in four straight games....
in the 1950 World Series
1950 World Series
The 1950 World Series was the 47th World Series between the American and National Leagues for the championship of Major League Baseball. The Philadelphia Phillies as 1950 champions of the National League and the New York Yankees, as 1950 American League champions, competed to win a best-of-seven...
.
Regular season
The 1950 Tigers outscored their opponents 837 to 713, had the second best team ERAEarned 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...
in 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...
and scored the third most runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
of the eight American League teams. The Tigers' home attendance of 1,951,474 was the second highest in the major leagues, trailing only the Yankees.
The 1950 team was led by: 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...
George Kell
George Kell
George 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...
, who was second in the American League in batting with a .340 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 :...
, finished 4th in the AL MVP voting and led the major leagues with 218 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and 56 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
; 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...
Hoot Evers
Hoot Evers
Walter Arthur "Hoot" Evers was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played twelve seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Giants , Baltimore Orioles , and Cleveland Indians ....
who had a .323 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 :...
, 109 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, and led American League outfielders in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
(.997) with one error in over 325 chances; 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...
Vic Wertz
Vic Wertz
Victor Woodrow Wertz was a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder. He had a seventeen year career from 1947 to 1963. He was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Tigers in 1942 and played for the Tigers, St...
who had 27 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, 123 RBIs, and a .408 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...
; and pitcher 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...
who had a record of 19-12 with a 3.54 ERA (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...
of 132), 21 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 and four 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.
Season summary
The Tigers spent most of the season in first place but lost the pennant in the last two weeks of the season to the Yankees.The Tigers got off to a hot start and were in first place from Opening Day until May 18, 1950, when the Yankees edged ahead. The Tigers retook first place on June 10, 1950 and remained there for most of the summer until August 30, 1950, leading by as much as 4½ games. The month of September saw one of the tightest pennant races in history as the Yankees and Tigers exchanged the first place eight times in the final month. The Tigers’ loss of 5 of 6 game to the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
in the last two weeks of the season helped the Yankees take the pennant by three games.
The 1950 Tigers' winning percentage ranks as the 7th best in team history.
Catchers: Robinson, Swift and Ginsberg
Catching duties were split between Aaron RobinsonAaron Robinson
Aaron Andrew Robinson , was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from to for the Chicago White Sox, the Detroit Tigers, the New York Yankees, and the Boston Red Sox...
(.226 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 :...
in 107 games), 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...
(.227 average in 67 games), and Joe Ginsberg
Joe Ginsberg
Myron Nathan "Joe" Ginsberg was a catcher for the Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians , Kansas City Athletics , Baltimore Orioles , Chicago White Sox , Boston Red Sox , and New York Mets...
(.232 average in 36 games).
On September 24, 1950, with the Tigers in the middle of a tight pennant race with the Yankees, Robinson became the "goat." Heavy smoke from a Canadian forest fire forced the Tigers to turn on the lights for a Sunday afternoon game against the Indians. With the game tied 1-1, Cleveland
1950 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was the 50th season in franchise history. The team finished fourth in the American League with a record of 92-62, six games behind the New York Yankees.- Offseason :...
pitcher Bob Lemon
Bob Lemon
Robert Granville Lemon was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976....
opened the 10th inning with a triple, and two intentional walks followed. With the bases loaded and one out, Robinson thought he could force out Lemon by stepping on the plate without tagging him. Because of the haze, he did not see first baseman Don Kolloway
Don Kolloway
Donald Martin Kolloway , was a Major League Baseball player who played 12 years as an infielder for the Chicago White Sox , Detroit Tigers , and Philadelphia Athletics .Raised on Chicago's south side, he debuted with the White Sox in 1940...
remove the force after fielding the ball. Robinson's mental lapse cost Detroit the game, and he was blamed for squelching the Tigers' pennant hopes.
Infield: Kolloway/Kryhoski, Priddy, Lipon and Kell
First base duties for the 1950 Tigers were split between Don KollowayDon Kolloway
Donald Martin Kolloway , was a Major League Baseball player who played 12 years as an infielder for the Chicago White Sox , Detroit Tigers , and Philadelphia Athletics .Raised on Chicago's south side, he debuted with the White Sox in 1940...
, who hit .289 and had a career-high 62 RBIs, and Dick Kryhoski
Dick Kryhoski
Richard David Kryhoski was a first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for five different teams between 1949 and 1955. Listed at 6' 2", 200 lb., Kryhoski batted and threw left-handed. He was born and raised in Leonia, New Jersey.Kryhoski attended at Upsala College in East Orange, New...
, who hit .219 with 19 RBIs.
Second baseman Jerry Priddy
Jerry Priddy
Gerald Edward "Jerry" Priddy , was a second baseman in Major League Baseball for 11 years. He played for the New York Yankees , Washington Senators , St. Louis Browns , and Detroit Tigers .-Career overview:Priddy appeared in 1,296 major league baseball games...
played in a career and AL high 157 games in 1950, all at second base. He hit .277 with a .376 on base percentage, 13 home runs, 75 RBIs, and was among the AL leaders with 104 runs scored (10th), 95 walks (7th), 126 singles (7th), 253 times on base (10th), 13 sacrifice hits (6th), 618 at bats (4th), 22 time grounded into a double play (5th), and 95 strikeouts (2nd). Priddy also led AL second basemen in 1950 with 542 assists and 150 double plays. He finished 17th in the 1950 AL MVP voting. In 1973, Priddy was convicted of trying to extort $250,000 from a steamship company by threatening to put a bomb aboard one of its vessels, the Island Princess. He was sentenced to nine months in prison.
Shortstop Johnny Lipon
Johnny Lipon
John Joseph Lipon was an American Major League Baseball shortstop for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns and Cincinnati Reds over the course of 12 seasons . He was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio....
played for the Tigers from 1942 to 1952, though he missed 3½ years to the war. In 1950, Lipon hit .293 with a .378 on base percentage, scored 104 runs, walked 88 times, and had 63 RBIs. Lipon also led AL shortstops in 1950 with 483 assists and 126 double plays. In 1951, Lipon scored a run in Bob Feller
Bob Feller
On 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...
's third career no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
, when he reached on an error, stole second base, advanced to third on an errant pickoff throw, and scored on a sacrifice fly
Sacrifice fly
In baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
.
Third baseman George Kell
George Kell
George 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 a tremendous season for the 1950 Tigers. He was second in the AL in batting with a .340 batting average, played in the All Star game, and was 4th in the AL MVP voting. He also led the league in hits (218), doubles (56), runs created (124), games (157), and at bats (641), and was among the league leaders with 310 total bases (4th), 114 runs (5th), 285 times on base (3rd), 148 singles (2nd), and 35.6 at bats per strikeout (2nd). Kell was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
in 1983.
Outfield: Wertz, Evers, and Groth
Right fielder Vic WertzVic Wertz
Victor Woodrow Wertz was a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder. He had a seventeen year career from 1947 to 1963. He was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Tigers in 1942 and played for the Tigers, St...
played for the Tigers from 1947 to 1952 and again from 1961 to 1963. In 1950, he hit .308 and was among the AL leaders with a .408 on base percentage (9th), .533 slugging percentage (6th), 123 RBIs (4th), 37 doubles (2nd), 120 runs created (4th), 27 home runs (9th), 172 hits (9th), 68 extra base hits (5th), 298 total bases (8th), 91 walks (10th), 267 times on base (10th), and 20.7 at bats per home run (7th). He finished 10th in the AL MVP voting. Wertz is remembered as the batter who hit the 450-foot fly ball that Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
caught in the 1954 World Series
1954 World Series
The 1954 World Series matched the National League champion New York Giants against the American League champion Cleveland Indians. The Giants swept the Series in four games to win their first championship since , defeating the heavily favored Indians, who had won an AL-record 111 games in the...
, a play that has become known as "The Catch."
Center fielder Hoot Evers
Hoot Evers
Walter Arthur "Hoot" Evers was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played twelve seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Giants , Baltimore Orioles , and Cleveland Indians ....
also had a big year for the 1950 Tigers. He was selected for the All Star team, hit for the cycle
Hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
on September 7, 1950, led the AL with 11 triples, finished 11th in the AL MVP voting, and was among the AL leaders with a .551 slugging percentage (3rd), 34 doubles (4th), .959 OPS (4th), 67 extra base hits (6th), .323 batting average (7th), 109 RBIs (9th), 259 total bases (9th), and .408 on base percentage (10th). Evers also led AL outfielders in fielding percentage (.997) with one error in over 325 chances. When Evers came to the plate in Detroit, Tigers fans would rise to their feet and yell "Ho-o-o-o-t," "Ho-o-o-o-t."
Left fielder Johnny Groth
Johnny Groth
John Thomas Groth is a former professional baseball player who played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1946 to 1960. He was born in Chicago, Illinois. He play for the Detroit Tigers , St...
played for the Tigers from 1946 to 1952. Tabbed for superstardom in 1949 by Time, Collier's, The Saturday Evening Post, and Life after he hit .340 for the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
, Groth hit .306 in 1959 with career-highs in home runs (12), RBIs (85), hits (173), runs scored (95), on base percentage (.407), doubles (30), walks (95), plate appearances (670), and games played (157). At one point during the 1950 season, he had eight consecutive hits.
Pat Mullin
Pat Mullin
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Mullin , was a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Detroit Tigers from 1940-1941 and 1946-1953. Born in Trotter, Pennsylvania, Mullin was signed by the Tigers before the 1937 season as a 19-year old amateur free agent...
was a backup outfielder for the 1950 Tigers. He hit .251 in 97 games.
Pitching: Houtteman, Newhouser, Hutchinson, Gray and Trout
The Tigers' 1950 pitching staff had a team ERA of 4.12, second best in the American League behind the Cleveland Indians.The ace of the staff was 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...
. In 1950, Houtteman was chosen for the All Star team for the only time in his career. He had a record of 19-12 with a 3.54 ERA (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...
of 132), 21 complete games and four shutouts in 274⅔ innings pitched.
Fred Hutchinson
Fred Hutchinson
Frederick Charles Hutchinson was an American professional baseball player, a major league pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. He also was a manager for three major league teams...
had the second most wins on the 1950 staff. He finished the year with a 17-8 record, a .680 winning percentage, and a 3.96 ERA in 231⅔ innings pitched.
Hall of Famer 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...
had his poorest season since , finishing with a 15-13 record and a 4.34 ERA in 213⅔ inning pitched.
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,...
led the team with a .722 winning percentage (2nd best in the AL) with a 13-5 record and 3.75 ERA (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...
of 124) in 184⅔ innings pitched.
Ted Gray
Ted Gray
Ted Glenn Gray was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played eight seasons with the Detroit Tigers , and then had short stints during the season with the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, and Baltimore Orioles.A native Detroiter, Gray was a star pitcher at Highland Park...
led the team with 102 strikeouts. Despite a 4.40 ERA, he finished the season with a 10-7 record in 149⅓ innings pitched.
Season chronology
- April 17: The Tigers beat the Indians, 7-6, 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 Cleveland. - April 22: The Tigers beat the White Sox, 5-0, behind the shut out pitching of 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...
, to start the season 4-0. - May 11: The Tigers sweep the Red Sox in a double header at Fenway ParkFenway ParkFenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
(13-4 and 5-3). The next day, Ted WilliamsTed WilliamsTheodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
apologized through a front office statement to Boston fans for "insulting gestures" he made in response to catcalls prompted by his two errors in the doubleheader loss. Williams' second error allowed the Tigers winning run to score. - May 19: The Tigers sent 14 batters to the plate and scored 10 runsRun (baseball)In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
in the 5th inning to beat the Athletics‚ 14-8. 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...
and Vic WertzVic WertzVictor Woodrow Wertz was a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder. He had a seventeen year career from 1947 to 1963. He was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Tigers in 1942 and played for the Tigers, St...
each had two hits in the inning. 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...
‚ a 19-game winner in 1949‚ hurt his arm and was lost for the season. Fred HutchinsonFred HutchinsonFrederick Charles Hutchinson was an American professional baseball player, a major league pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. He also was a manager for three major league teams...
pitched in relief and picked up the win. - May 20: Detroit second baseman Jerry PriddyJerry PriddyGerald Edward "Jerry" Priddy , was a second baseman in Major League Baseball for 11 years. He played for the New York Yankees , Washington Senators , St. Louis Browns , and Detroit Tigers .-Career overview:Priddy appeared in 1,296 major league baseball games...
started a record five double playDouble playIn baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s in the first 5 innings to lead the Tigers to a 5-3 win over the A's. Shortstop Johnny LiponJohnny LiponJohn Joseph Lipon was an American Major League Baseball shortstop for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns and Cincinnati Reds over the course of 12 seasons . He was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio....
participated in all the double plays to tie an AL record. - June 2: George Kell hit for the cycleHitting for the cycleIn baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
in the second game of a doubleheader sweep of the A's. The Tigers won the opener, 8-2, behind the pitching of Ted GrayTed GrayTed Glenn Gray was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played eight seasons with the Detroit Tigers , and then had short stints during the season with the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, and Baltimore Orioles.A native Detroiter, Gray was a star pitcher at Highland Park...
, and home runs by Vic Wertz and Hoot EversHoot EversWalter Arthur "Hoot" Evers was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played twelve seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Giants , Baltimore Orioles , and Cleveland Indians ....
. They won the second game, 16-5. Wertz had five RBIs in the opener and two more in the second game. - June 8: The Tigers lost to the Yankees, 11-4, after the Yankees scored seven runs in the 6th inning. Phil RizzutoPhil RizzutoPhilip Francis Rizzuto , nicknamed "The Scooter", was an American Major League Baseball shortstop. He spent his entire 13-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
's record of 238 errorless chances ended when he fumbled a ground ball in the 5th inning. The Red Sox scored 29 runs and an MLB record 58 total bases against the Browns. - June 10: The Tigers retook first place.
- June 15: The Tigers beat the A's‚ 7-3‚ for their 8th win in 9 meetings with the A's. Hoot Evers had his 19 game hit streak stopped but 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...
ran his to 15 games. Fred Hutchinson got the win. - June 16: Pitching before a crowd of 54‚086‚ 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...
beat the Red Sox for the second time in six days‚ winning 4-1. He struck out eight, including Johnny PeskyJohnny PeskyJohn Michael Pesky , nicknamed "The Needle" and "Mr. Red Sox", was a Major League Baseball shortstop, third baseman, and manager. During a 10-year career, he played in 1942 and from 1946-1954 for three different teams. He missed all of the 1943, 1944, and 1945 seasons while serving in World War...
four times. Detroit maintained its 1½ game lead over the Yankees. - June 23: The Tigers beat the Yankees, 10-9, in front of 51,000 fans in Detroit. A then-MLB record eleven home runs accounted for all the runs. Detroit has four home runs in the 4th inning by 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,...
‚ Jerry Priddy‚ Vic Wertz, and Hoot Evers. Trout's home run was the second grand slam of his career. Evers also hit an inside-the-park two-run home run to win the game in the 9th inning. Hank BauerHank BauerHenry Albert "Hank" Bauer was an American right fielder and manager in Major League Baseball. He played with the New York Yankees and Kansas City Athletics ; he batted and threw right-handed...
, Joe DiMaggioJoe DiMaggioJoseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
‚ Jerry ColemanJerry ColemanGerald Francis "Jerry" Coleman is a former Major League Baseball second baseman for the New York Yankees. Currently, he is an analyst and former play-by-play radio announcer for the San Diego Padres...
, Yogi BerraYogi BerraLawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
‚ and Tommy HenrichTommy HenrichThomas David "Tommy" Henrich , nicknamed "The Clutch" and "Old Reliable", was a Major League Baseball right fielder. He played his entire baseball career for the New York Yankees . He led the American League in triples twice and in runs scored once, also hitting 20 or more home runs four times...
hit home runs for New York. - June 24: Art Houtteman led the Tigers to a 4-1 win over the Yankees. Yogi BerraYogi BerraLawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
hit a solo home run for the Yankee's only score. The Tigers led the AL by three games. - June 27: Marlin StuartMarlin StuartMarlin Henry Stuart was an American Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He was born in Paragould, Arkansas....
pitched a 1-0 perfect game for the Toledo Mud HensToledo Mud HensThe Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
. He was then called up to the big leagues to play for the Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe 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...
. - July 2: The Tigers split a doubleheader with the Indians. 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...
got his 200th win‚ 5-3‚ in the second game. Detroit won the opener‚ 8-5. - July 19: The Tigers beat the Red Sox, 9-5, at Fenway Park. In the 9th inning, umpire called time just before a Red Sox pinch hitter tripled to center field. The at bat was played over, and results in a groundout.
- July 23: The Tigers beat the Yankees, 6-5, to maintain their hold on first place. Detroit pitcher Saul RogovinSaul RogovinSaul Walter Rogovin was a professional baseball player.Rogovin was a pitcher over parts of 8 seasons , with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Philadelphia Phillies...
hit a grand slam off Eddie LopatEddie LopatEdmund Walter ""The Junkman"" Lopat was a Major League Baseball pitcher.Lopat was born in New York, New York. His Major League debut was on April 30, 1944, playing for the Chicago White Sox....
. - August 3: The Tigers bought 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...
from the Pirates. Detroit fans recall Borowy as the pitcher who pitched for the Cubs against the Tigers in four games of 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...
, winning two and losing two. - August 14: The Tigers lost to the Indians, 3-2, in 10 innings, before 60,120 fans at Cleveland Stadium. Detroit's lead in the AL was reduced to 2½ games. Al RosenAl RosenAlbert Leonard Rosen , nicknamed "Al", "Flip", and the "Hebrew Hammer", is a former American professional baseball player who was a third baseman and right-handed slugger in the Major Leagues for ten seasons in tthe 1940s and 1950s.He played his entire 10-year career with the Cleveland Indians in...
tied the game in the ninth with a two-out home run. Right fielder Bob KennedyBob KennedyRobert Daniel Kennedy was a right fielder/third baseman, manager and executive in Major League Baseball.From 1939-1957, Kennedy played for the Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians , Baltimore Orioles , Detroit Tigers and Brooklyn Dodgers . He batted and threw right-handed...
started a triple play from the outfield. - August 30: The Tigers dropped out of first place for the first time since June 10 when they split a pair with the Senators, losing 3–2 in 11 innings, then taking the second game, 10–8.
- September 7: Hoot Evers hit for the cycle, added another triple, and batted in six runs in a 13–13, ten-inning tie with Cleveland. The game, ended because of darkness, left Detroit in first place by a few percentage points. Al RosenAl RosenAlbert Leonard Rosen , nicknamed "Al", "Flip", and the "Hebrew Hammer", is a former American professional baseball player who was a third baseman and right-handed slugger in the Major Leagues for ten seasons in tthe 1940s and 1950s.He played his entire 10-year career with the Cleveland Indians in...
and Bob Feller both hit early 2-run home runs as the Indians blew three leads in the game. - September 9: The Tigers and White Sox finished a game that started in April. The game was originally scheduled as the second game of a doubleheader, but was halted by darkness after 9 innings with the scored tied 7-7. Art Houtteman finally ended it with a 1–0, 12-inning win. Hoot Evers tripled and scored on a single by Johnny GrothJohnny GrothJohn Thomas Groth is a former professional baseball player who played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1946 to 1960. He was born in Chicago, Illinois. He play for the Detroit Tigers , St...
. The Tigers lost the second game, 5–4, cutting their lead to a half game over New York and a game ahead of Boston. - September 11: The Tigers were idle, and the Yankees moved into first with a doubleheader sweep over the Senators, 5–1 and 6–2.
- September 12: The Tigers beat the Senators, 3-2 in Detroit, and the Yankees blew a 6-run lead as Cleveland scored four in the 9th inning to win, 8–7. The Tigers moved ahead of the Yankees by a half game and a full game ahead of Boston.
- September 13: The Tigers beat the Senators, 6-1, and the Yankees beat the Indians, 10-3. The Tigers remained 1 half game ahead of the Yankees.
- September 14: The Tigers and Yankees meet in Detroit for a three-game series. The Yankees won, 6-5, as Vic RaschiVic RaschiVictor John Angelo "Vic" Raschi was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was responsible for allowing Hank Aaron's first career home run....
got his 20th win. Detroit scored two runs in the 1st inning, but the Yankees came back as Joe DiMaggio and Hank Bauer both hit home runs. The Yankees took over first place by a half game. - September 15: The Tigers won the second game of the three-game series in Detroit. On a Friday night, Johnny MizeJohnny MizeJohn Robert "Johnny" Mize was a baseball player who was a first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, and New York Yankees...
hit three home runs, but the Tigers won, 9-7. The Tigers moved back into first place by a half game. - September 16: Rookie Whitey FordWhitey FordEdward Charles "Whitey" Ford is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who spent his entire 18-year career with the New York Yankees. He was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.-Early life and career:...
held the Tigers to six hits, as the Yankees beat the Tigers, 8-1. Joe DiMaggio hit his 30th home run and the Yankees scored seven runs in the ninth inning. The Yankees moved a half game ahead of the Tigers in a see-saw pennant race. - September 17–18: The Tigers were swept in a two-game series with the Red Sox in Detroit, both games by identical 3-2 scores.
- September 19–21: The Tigers swept a three-game series against the A's in Detroit.
- September 22: The Tigers were swept in a doubleheader against the Indians, in Cleveland. In the first game, Detroit first baseman Don KollowayDon KollowayDonald Martin Kolloway , was a Major League Baseball player who played 12 years as an infielder for the Chicago White Sox , Detroit Tigers , and Philadelphia Athletics .Raised on Chicago's south side, he debuted with the White Sox in 1940...
hit a two-run home run in the top of the 9th inning off Bob Feller to tie the game at 3–3. In the bottom of the inning, Joe Gordon hit a walk-off home run off Hal Newhouser. The loss moved the Tigers back into 2nd place. The Tigers lost the second game, 10-2. Cleveland was the only team that held a winning record over Detroit in 1950 (13–9). - September 24: The Tigers lost to the Indians, 2-1. In Detroit, heavy smoke from a Canadian forest fire forced the Tigers to put on the lights in the Sunday afternoon game. Bob LemonBob LemonRobert Granville Lemon was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976....
hit a home run in the 4th inning, and Johnny Lipon tied it with a home run. Lemon opened the 10th with a triple, and two intentional walks followed. With the bases loaded and one out, Detroit catcher Aaron RobinsonAaron RobinsonAaron Andrew Robinson , was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from to for the Chicago White Sox, the Detroit Tigers, the New York Yankees, and the Boston Red Sox...
thought he could complete a double play be stepping on the plate. Because of the haze, he did not see first baseman Don Kolloway remove the force after fielding the ball. Robinson's mental lapse cost Detroit the game. - September 26–28: The Tigers won three out of four games against the Browns, and relief pitcher Hal WhiteHal WhiteHarold George White was an American professional baseball player, a right-handed pitcher for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns and St. Louis Cardinals...
got the win in all three games. - September 29-October 1: The Tigers finish the season losing two games in a three game series with the Indians. On the last day of the regular season, the Indians beat the Tigers, 7-5. The Tigers finished three games behind the Yankees.
Roster
| 1950 Detroit Tigers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
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 | 107 | 283 | 64 | .226 | 9 | 37 | |
| 1B | 125 | 467 | 135 | .289 | 6 | 32 | |
| 2B | 157 | 618 | 171 | .277 | 13 | 75 | |
| 3B | 157 | 641 | 218 | .340 | 8 | 101 | |
| SS | 147 | 601 | 176 | .293 | 2 | 63 | |
| OF | 157 | 566 | 173 | .306 | 12 | 85 | |
| OF | 149 | 559 | 172 | .308 | 27 | 123 | |
| OF | 143 | 526 | 170 | .323 | 21 | 103 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | 169 | 37 | .219 | 4 | 19 | |
| 69 | 142 | 31 | .218 | 6 | 23 | |
| 67 | 132 | 30 | .227 | 2 | 9 | |
| 36 | 95 | 22 | .232 | 0 | 12 | |
| 50 | 51 | 16 | .314 | 2 | 16 | |
| 39 | 40 | 10 | .250 | 0 | 7 | |
| 20 | 7 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | 5 | 2 | .400 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 274.2 | 19 | 12 | 3.54 | 88 | |
| 39 | 231.2 | 17 | 8 | 2.96 | 71 | |
| 35 | 213.2 | 15 | 13 | 4.34 | 87 | |
| 34 | 184.2 | 13 | 5 | 3.75 | 88 | |
| 27 | 149.1 | 10 | 7 | 4.40 | 102 | |
| 7 | 48.1 | 3 | 1 | 3.54 | 25 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 111 | 9 | 6 | 4.54 | 53 | |
| 11 | 40 | 2 | 1 | 4.50 | 11 | |
| 13 | 32.2 | 1 | 1 | 3.31 | 12 | |
| 8 | 22.1 | 1 | 2 | 3.63 | 5 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6.31 | 14 | |
| 19 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5.56 | 19 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.75 | 1 |
Awards and honors
- 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...
: 4th in AL MVP voting - Vic WertzVic WertzVictor Woodrow Wertz was a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder. He had a seventeen year career from 1947 to 1963. He was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Tigers in 1942 and played for the Tigers, St...
: 10th in AL MVP voting
1950 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
1950 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1950 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 17th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 11, 1950, at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois the home of the...
- 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...
, starter, third base - Hoot EversHoot EversWalter Arthur "Hoot" Evers was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played twelve seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Giants , Baltimore Orioles , and Cleveland Indians ....
: starter, outfield - Ted GrayTed GrayTed Glenn Gray was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played eight seasons with the Detroit Tigers , and then had short stints during the season with the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, and Baltimore Orioles.A native Detroiter, Gray was a star pitcher at Highland Park...
, reserve (losing pitcher in 13th inning) - 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...
, reserve
League leaders
- Hoot EversHoot EversWalter Arthur "Hoot" Evers was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played twelve seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Giants , Baltimore Orioles , and Cleveland Indians ....
: MLB leader in times caught stealing (9) - Hoot Evers: AL leader in triples (11)
- Hoot Evers: AL leader in fielding percentage by an outfielder (.997)
- Fred HutchinsonFred HutchinsonFrederick Charles Hutchinson was an American professional baseball player, a major league pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. He also was a manager for three major league teams...
: AL leader in shutoutShutoutIn 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 (4) - Fred Hutchinson: AL leader in walks per 9 innings pitched (1.86)
- Fred Hutchinson: AL leader in strikeout to walk ratio (1.48)
- Fred Hutchinson: AL leader in home runs allowed (29)
- 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...
: MLB leader in hitsHit (baseball)In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(218) - George Kell: MLB leader in doublesDouble (baseball)In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(56) - George Kell: AL leader in runs createdRuns createdRuns created is a baseball statistic invented by Bill James to estimate the number of runs a hitter contributes to his team.-Purpose:James explains in his book, The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, why he believes runs created is an essential thing to measure:With regard to an offensive...
(124) - George Kell: AL leader in at batAt batIn 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 (641) - Johnny LiponJohnny LiponJohn Joseph Lipon was an American Major League Baseball shortstop for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns and Cincinnati Reds over the course of 12 seasons . He was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio....
: AL leader in assists (483) and double plays (126) by a shortstop - Jerry PriddyJerry PriddyGerald Edward "Jerry" Priddy , was a second baseman in Major League Baseball for 11 years. He played for the New York Yankees , Washington Senators , St. Louis Browns , and Detroit Tigers .-Career overview:Priddy appeared in 1,296 major league baseball games...
: AL leader in assists (542) and double plays (150) by a second baseman
Players ranking among top 100 of all time at position
The following members of the 1950 Detroit Tigers are among the Top 100 of all time at their positions, as ranked by The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract in 2001:- Jerry PriddyJerry PriddyGerald Edward "Jerry" Priddy , was a second baseman in Major League Baseball for 11 years. He played for the New York Yankees , Washington Senators , St. Louis Browns , and Detroit Tigers .-Career overview:Priddy appeared in 1,296 major league baseball games...
: 73rd best second baseman of all time - 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...
: 30th best third baseman of all time - Hoot EversHoot EversWalter Arthur "Hoot" Evers was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played twelve seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Giants , Baltimore Orioles , and Cleveland Indians ....
: 100th best left fielder of all time - Vic WertzVic WertzVictor Woodrow Wertz was a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder. He had a seventeen year career from 1947 to 1963. He was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Tigers in 1942 and played for the Tigers, St...
: 61st 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