gold star for USAHOF

10. Lou Whitaker

10. Lou Whitaker
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: May 12, 1957 in Brooklyn, NY USA
  • Weight: 160 lbs.
  • Height: 5'11"
  • Bats: L
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: September 09, 1977
  • Final Game: October 01, 1995
  • Rookie of the Year - 1978
  • Gold Glove - 1983
  • Silver Slugger - 1983
  • TSN All-Star - 1983
  • Gold Glove - 1984
  • Silver Slugger - 1984
  • TSN All-Star - 1984
  • Gold Glove - 1985
  • Silver Slugger - 1985
  • Silver Slugger - 1987
  • MVP - 1983
  • Rookie of the Year - 1978
 
ABRHHRRBISBAVG
17140277247384882168286 0.276
 
Amazingly it took well over three decades before a player from the 1984 World Series Championship team to make the Baseball Hall of Fame.  Even more incredible is that Lou Whitaker never made it past the first ballot.

Sabremetrics paint Whitaker as one of the biggest Hall of Fame snubs, but eyeballs told you that he was a bona fide star.  Whitaker was without question an elite Second Baseman with both his bat and glove, which he showed instantly by winning the 1978 Rookie of the Year.  "Sweet Lou" would have five consecutive seasons (1983-87) where he was named to the All-Star Team, and in that run, he would win three Gold Gloves and four Silver Sluggers.  Whitaker also would have 244 Home Runs over his career, and outstanding number for a Second Baseman in the 80s.  

Whitaker played his entire career with Detroit, and he would amass 2,369 Hits with a Slash Line of .276/.363/.426 and the Tigers retired hs number 1 in 2021.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Second Base
  • Acquired: Drafted in the 5th Round of the Amateur Draft 6/3/75.
  • Departed: Retired after the 1995 Season.
  • Games Played: 2390
  • Notable Statistics: 1,386 Runs Scored
    2,369 Hits
    420 Doubles
    65 Triples
    244 Home Runs
    1,084 Runs Batted In
    143 Stolen Bases
    .276/.363/.426 Slash Line
    74.9 bWAR

    13 Playoff Games
    13 Runs Scored
    10 Hits
    2 Doubles
    0 Triples
    1 Home Run
    1 Run Batted In
    1 Stolen Base
    .204/.350/.306 Slash Line
  • Major Accolades and Awards: World Series Champion (1984)
    All-Star (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 & 1987)
    Silver Slugger (1983, 1984, 1985 & 1987)
    Gold Glove (1983, 1984 & 1985)
    Most Putouts by a Second Baseman (1989)
    Most Assists by a Second Baseman (1981 & 1982)
    Most Double Plays by a Second Baseman (1982)
    Most Total Zone Runs by a Second Baseman (1981 & 1982)
    Highest Fielding Percentage by a Second Baseman (1982 & 1991)

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