/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73906377/2190300343.0.jpg)
Detroit Tigers Ultimate All-Time Starting Lineup
From Ty Cobb to Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander, here’s the ultimate all-time Detroit Tigers starting lineup. Built to win any era, this dream team has it all.
Over 120 years of baseball greatness in Detroit have produced MVPs, Hall of Famers, World Series champions, and legends of the game. But if you had to pick one starting lineup to represent the all-time best of the Detroit Tigers, who makes the cut?
We built a dream team that spans generations, blends speed, power, and defense—and yes, Justin Verlander is taking the mound.
Why This Lineup Is Built to Win
Top-of-the-Order Chaos
Leading off, we’ve got Alan Trammell, the smooth-fielding, .285-hitting shortstop who defined the Tigers’ middle infield for two decades. Following him is none other than Ty Cobb, who hit .366 in his career—and likely slid cleats-up into second on every single.
Lockdown Defense & Clutch Bats
Willie Horton brings World Series grit and clutch hitting in the 6-spot.
George Kell, a lifetime .306 hitter, stabilizes the hot corner.
Lou Whitaker, one of the most underrated second basemen ever, rounds out the infield.
And behind the plate? Bill Freehan, 11-time All-Star and a wall behind the dish.
On the Mound: Justin Verlander
Let’s be honest: no one else comes close.
After reeling from Henrik Zetterberg not being elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame, to being left off the quarter-century team, we decided the best course of action was to take to the Twitterverse.
What’s your favorite Zetterberg moment? That’s what we asked our social media friends and got some amazing answers.
The 2012-13 season was anything but normal.
The Collective Bargaining Agreement expired and caused another lockout, shortening the season to 48 games. Rumors of expansion teams in Quebec City and Seattle were beginning to swirl, contrary to the league’s official position of no plans for expansion.
In the draft earlier that offseason, the Edmonton Oilers thought it was a good idea to draft Nail Yakupov first overall. Worst of all, Nicklas Lidstrom and Thomas Holmstrom retired, and the first-round pick the Wings traded to Tampa Bay for Kyle Quincey was used to draft Andrei Vasilevskiy.
The Coyotes also continued to be a thorn in everyone’s side. So, at least one thing was constant.
Despite the chaos, the Red Wings had an average season by league standards. They finished middle-of-the-pack in most categories and made it roughly halfway through the postseason. Still, the team could be electric to watch, especially Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.
As the calendar paged to February, the Wings headed to St. Louis to meet the Blues for their second matchup of the season. It was a night to remember for Zetterberg, the Wings, and everyone in Hockeytown.
