Lou Whitaker
| Birthdate | 05/12/1957 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1977 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Tigers |
| Positions | Designated Hitter, Second Base |
Former Rookie of the Year, Lou Whitaker teamed with Alan Trammell from 1978-95 to form the longest running double-play combo in MLB history.
Leave a comment
In the collection:
Many believe Lou Whitaker's omission from Cooperstown is an egregious error
Many believe Lou Whitaker's omission from Cooperstown is an egregious error
Lou Whitaker had a 19-year big league career that many believe is worthy of Cooperstown. The second baseman thrived from the start, winning the 1978 AL Rookie of the Year Award. In receiving 21 of the 28 first-place votes, he outpaced future Hall of Famer Paul Molitor as well as his Tiger double play partner Alan Trammell.
From 1982-1989, Whitaker made five All Star appearances and earned three Gold Gloves and four Silver Slugger Awards. He produced outstanding numbers during that 8-year run, averaging 4.7 WAR per season while posting an OPS+ of 119. Those numbers stack up well against other men at his position.
Whitaker retired with 2,369 hits, 1,084 RBI, and 1,386 runs scored. His career WAR of 75.1 is higher than Cooperstown second basemen Roberto Alomar, Craig Biggio, Tony Lazzeri, Nellie Fox and others.
In the collection is this index card signed by Whitaker from early in his career. He has added the inscription, “Detroit Tigers Montgomery Rebels Southern League Double A Second Base”.
Whitaker played for 107 games for Montgomery in 1977, the year before he broke into the major leagues.
In 1986 all five Tigers infielder hit at least 20 homers
In 1986 all five Tigers infielder hit at least 20 homers
The 1986 Tiger infield slugged its way into baseball history. Catcher Lance Parish, first baseman Darrell Evans, shortstop Alan Trammel, third baseman Darnell Coles, and Whitaker each hit at least 20 home runs.
It remains the only time in baseball history an infield has accomplished the feat.
In the collection is an autographed 1986 Lou Whitaker Topps baseball card.
Two years earlier Whitaker had a year to remember. The Tigers started 9-0 in 1984, raced out to a 35-5 record, and led wire-to-wire on their way to the World Championship season. The day his Tigers clinched the Series the second oldest of Whitaker’s four daughters was born.
Lou Whittaker needs to be inducted into the baseball hall of fame now
Lou Whitaker belongs in the Hall of Fame . Numbers don’t lie and Lou Whitaker has better numbers than several others at 2b who are already in Cooperstown .
Is Alan Tramell in the hall? Cause if so “Whit” should be in there pretty soon