Michigan’s Best Baseball Players
For a lot of people where we are from is a point of pride. When we meet someone who hales from the same place as us there is often a sense of comradery. Below is a list of the best players born in the state of Michigan.
- Bobby Grich – Muskegon, MI
- Age: 21 – 37
- Years: 1970 – 1986
- Pos: 2B, SS
- Team(s): Baltimore Orioles, California Angels
- Charlie Gehringer – Fowlerville, MI
- Age: 21 – 39
- Years: 1924 – 1942
- Pos: 2B
- Team(s): Detroit Tigers
- Hal Newhouser – Detroit, MI
- Age: 18 – 34
- Years: 1939 – 1955
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians
- Eddie Cicotte – Springwells, MI
- Age: 21, 24 – 36
- Years: 1905, 1908 – 1920
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox
- John Smoltz – Detroit, MI
- Age: 21 – 32, 34 – 42
- Years: 1988 – 1999, 2001 – 2009
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals
- Billy Pierce – Detroit, MI
- Age: 18, 21 – 37
- Years: 1945, 1948 – 1964
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants
- Frank Tanana – Detroit, MI
- Age: 19 – 39
- Years: 1973 – 1993
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): California Angels, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, New York Yankees
- Jack Fournier – Au Sable, MI
- Age: 22 – 28, 30 – 37
- Years: 1912 – 1918, 1920 – 1927
- Pos: 1B
- Team(s): Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, Brooklyn Robins, Boston Braves
- Ted Simmons – Highland Park, MI
- Age: 18 – 38
- Years: 1968 – 1988
- Pos: C, 1B
- Team(s): St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves
- Jim Kaat – Zeeland, MI
- Age: 20 – 44
- Years: 1959 – 1983
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Washington Senators / Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals
- Bill Freehan – Detroit, MI
- Age: 19, 21 – 34
- Years: 1961, 1963 – 1976
- Pos: C, 1B
- Team(s): Detroit Tigers
- Kiki Cuyler – Harrisville, MI
- Age: 22 – 39
- Years: 1921 – 1938
- Pos: RF, CF, LF
- Team(s): Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Brooklyn Dodgers
- Kirk Gibson – Pontiac, MI
- Age: 22 – 38
- Years: 1979 – 1995
- Pos: LF, RF, CF
- Team(s): Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Ed Reulbach – Detroit, MI
- Age: 22 – 34
- Years: 1905 – 1917
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Chicago Cubs, Brooklyn Superbas / Robins, Newark Pepper, Boston Braves
- Bob Welch – Detroit, MI
- Age: 21 – 37
- Years: 1978 – 1994
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics
- Pat Hentgen – Detroit, MI
- Age: 22 – 35
- Years: 1991 – 2004
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles
- Milt Pappas – Detroit, MI
- Age: 18 – 34
- Years: 1957 – 1973
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs
- Bob Rush – Battle Creek, MI
- Age: 22 – 34
- Years: 1948 – 1960
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Braves, Chicago White Sox
- Derek Lowe – Dearborn, MI
- Age: 24 – 40
- Years: 1997 – 2013
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers
- John Mayberry – Detroit, MI
- Age: 19 – 33
- Years: 1968 – 1982
- Pos: 1B
- Team(s): Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees
- Merv Rettenmund – Flint, MI
- Age: 25 – 37
- Years: 1968 – 1980
- Pos: RF, LF, CF
- Team(s): Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, California Angels
- Jim Northrup – Breckenridge, MI
- Age: 24 – 35
- Years: 1964 – 1975
- Pos: RF, CF, LF
- Team(s): Detroit Tigers, Montreal Expos, Baltimore Orioles
- Tom Tresh – Detroit, MI
- Age: 22 – 30
- Years: 1961 – 1969
- Pos: LF, SS, CF
- Team(s): New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers
- Rick Wise – Jackson, MI
- Age: 18, 20 – 36
- Years: 1964, 1966 – 1982
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres
- Charlie Maxwell – Lawton, MI
- Age: 23 – 25, 27 – 37
- Years: 1950 – 1952, 1954 – 1964
- Pos: LF
- Team(s): Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox
- Bernie Carbo – Detroit, MI
- Age: 21 – 32
- Years: 1969 – 1980
- Pos: RF, LF
- Team(s): Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Jim Abbott – Flint, MI
- Age: 21 – 28, 30 – 31
- Years: 1989 – 1996, 1998 – 1999
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): California Angels, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers
- Bob Buhl – Saginaw, MI
- Age: 24 – 38
- Years: 1953 – 1967
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Milwaukee Braves, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies
- Scott Sanderson – Dearborn, MI
- Age: 21 – 39
- Years: 1978 – 1996
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, California Angels, San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox
- Chris Sabo – Detroit, MI
- Age: 26 – 34
- Years: 1988 – 1996
- Pos: 3B
- Team(s): Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals
- Ron LeFlore – Detroit, MI
- Age: 26 – 34
- Years: 1974 – 1982
- Pos: CF, LF
- Team(s): Detroit Tigers, Montreal Expos, Chicago White Sox
- Vic Saier – Lansing, MI
- Age: 20 – 26, 28
- Years: 1911 – 1917, 1919
- Pos: 1B
- Team(s): Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates
- Dave Rozema – Grand Rapids, MI
- Age: 20 – 29
- Years: 1977 – 1986
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers
- Jason Varitek – Rochester, MI
- Age: 25 – 39
- Years: 1997 – 2011
- Pos: C
- Team(s): Boston Red Sox
- Stan Lopata – Delray, MI
- Age: 22 – 34
- Years: 1948 – 1960
- Pos: C
- Team(s): Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Braves
- Mike Bordick – Marquette, MI
- Age: 24 – 37
- Years: 1990 – 2003
- Pos: SS, 2B
- Team(s): Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays
- Ray Herbert – Detroit, MI
- Age: 20 – 21, 23 – 25, 28 – 36
- Years: 1950 – 1951, 1953 – 1955, 1958 – 1966
- Pos: SP
- Team(s): Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Athletics, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
71.4 | 129 | 2008 | 8220 | 6890 | 1033 | 1833 | 320 | 47 | 224 | 864 | 104 | 82 | 1087 | 1278 | .266 | .371 | .424 | .794 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
80.7 | 124 | 2323 | 10237 | 8860 | 1774 | 2839 | 574 | 146 | 184 | 1427 | 181 | 89 | 1186 | 372 | .320 | .404 | .480 | .884 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
60.2 | 76 | 488 | 374 | 207 | 150 | 3.06 | 2993 | 212 | 33 | 26 | 1197 | 1016 | 1249 | 1796 | 14.2% | 1.31 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
57.3 | 82 | 502 | 361 | 208 | 149 | 2.38 | 3223.1 | 249 | 35 | 25 | 1149 | 853 | 827 | 1374 | 9.9% | 1.16 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
66.5 | 81 | 723 | 481 | 213 | 155 | 3.33 | 3473 | 53 | 16 | 154 | 1391 | 1284 | 1010 | 3084 | 21.6% | 1.18 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
53.7 | 84 | 585 | 432 | 211 | 169 | 3.27 | 3306.2 | 193 | 38 | 32 | 1325 | 1201 | 1178 | 1999 | 14.4% | 1.26 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
57.1 | 94 | 638 | 616 | 240 | 236 | 3.66 | 4188.1 | 143 | 34 | 1 | 1910 | 1704 | 1255 | 2773 | 15.7% | 1.27 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
41.2 | 141 | 1530 | 6033 | 5208 | 822 | 1631 | 252 | 113 | 136 | 859 | 145 | 94 | 587 | 408 | .313 | .392 | .483 | .875 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
50.3 | 116 | 2456 | 9685 | 8680 | 1074 | 2472 | 483 | 47 | 248 | 1389 | 21 | 33 | 855 | 694 | .285 | .348 | .437 | .785 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
45 | 93 | 898 | 625 | 283 | 237 | 3.45 | 4530.1 | 180 | 31 | 18 | 2038 | 1738 | 1083 | 2461 | 12.9% | 1.26 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
44.9 | 113 | 1774 | 6899 | 6073 | 706 | 1591 | 241 | 35 | 200 | 758 | 24 | 21 | 626 | 753 | .262 | .340 | .412 | .752 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
46.8 | 126 | 1878 | 8098 | 7161 | 1305 | 2299 | 394 | 157 | 128 | 1065 | 328 | 27 | 676 | 752 | .321 | .386 | .474 | .860 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
38.5 | 123 | 1635 | 6656 | 5798 | 985 | 1553 | 260 | 54 | 255 | 870 | 284 | 78 | 718 | 1285 | .268 | .352 | .463 | .815 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
37.4 | 80 | 399 | 300 | 182 | 106 | 2.28 | 2632.1 | 201 | 40 | 13 | 887 | 668 | 892 | 1137 | 10.1% | 1.14 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
43.4 | 94 | 506 | 462 | 211 | 146 | 3.47 | 3092.1 | 61 | 28 | 8 | 1310 | 1191 | 1034 | 1969 | 15.2% | 1.27 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
33.1 | 93 | 344 | 306 | 131 | 112 | 4.32 | 2075.1 | 34 | 10 | 1 | 1076 | 996 | 775 | 1290 | 14.5% | 1.39 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
46.2 | 92 | 520 | 465 | 209 | 164 | 3.40 | 3186 | 129 | 43 | 4 | 1331 | 1203 | 858 | 1728 | 13.1% | 1.23 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
36.3 | 92 | 417 | 321 | 127 | 152 | 3.65 | 2410.2 | 118 | 16 | 8 | 1128 | 977 | 789 | 1244 | 12.2% | 1.29 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
33.1 | 93 | 681 | 377 | 176 | 157 | 4.03 | 2671.1 | 10 | 4 | 86 | 1333 | 1195 | 794 | 1722 | 15.2% | 1.33 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24.9 | 123 | 1620 | 6447 | 5447 | 733 | 1379 | 211 | 19 | 255 | 879 | 20 | 15 | 881 | 810 | .253 | .360 | .439 | .799 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
20.0 | 128 | 1023 | 3074 | 2555 | 393 | 693 | 114 | 16 | 66 | 329 | 68 | 28 | 445 | 382 | .271 | .381 | .406 | .786 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
22.2 | 116 | 1392 | 5215 | 4692 | 603 | 1254 | 218 | 42 | 153 | 610 | 39 | 38 | 449 | 635 | .267 | .333 | .429 | .763 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
21.9 | 115 | 1192 | 4895 | 4251 | 595 | 1041 | 179 | 34 | 153 | 530 | 45 | 25 | 550 | 698 | .245 | .335 | .411 | .746 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
31.9 | 100 | 506 | 455 | 188 | 181 | 3.69 | 3127 | 138 | 30 | 0 | 1455 | 1281 | 804 | 1647 | 12.5% | 1.29 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
19.8 | 117 | 1133 | 3796 | 3245 | 478 | 856 | 110 | 26 | 148 | 532 | 18 | 7 | 484 | 545 | .264 | .360 | .451 | .811 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18.5 | 128 | 1010 | 3320 | 2733 | 372 | 722 | 140 | 9 | 96 | 358 | 26 | 18 | 538 | 611 | .264 | .387 | .427 | .814 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
19.6 | 99 | 263 | 254 | 87 | 108 | 4.25 | 1674 | 31 | 6 | 0 | 880 | 791 | 620 | 888 | 12.3% | 1.43 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
27.9 | 97 | 457 | 369 | 166 | 132 | 3.55 | 2587 | 111 | 20 | 6 | 1162 | 1019 | 1105 | 1268 | 11.5% | 1.37 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
29.2 | 99 | 472 | 407 | 163 | 143 | 3.84 | 2561.2 | 43 | 14 | 5 | 1209 | 1093 | 625 | 1611 | 15.0% | 1.26 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16.6 | 110 | 911 | 3714 | 3354 | 494 | 898 | 214 | 17 | 116 | 426 | 120 | 49 | 274 | 460 | .268 | .326 | .445 | .772 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
18.1 | 104 | 1099 | 4872 | 4458 | 731 | 1283 | 172 | 57 | 59 | 353 | 455 | 142 | 363 | 888 | .288 | .342 | .392 | .734 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15.2 | 122 | 865 | 3431 | 2948 | 455 | 775 | 143 | 61 | 55 | 395 | 121 | 26 | 378 | 369 | .263 | .351 | .409 | .760 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15.7 | 86 | 248 | 132 | 60 | 53 | 3.47 | 1106 | 36 | 7 | 17 | 491 | 427 | 258 | 448 | 09.7% | 1.25 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24.3 | 99 | 1546 | 5839 | 5099 | 664 | 1307 | 306 | 14 | 193 | 757 | 25 | 18 | 614 | 1216 | .256 | .341 | .435 | .776 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15.5 | 114 | 853 | 3034 | 2601 | 375 | 661 | 116 | 25 | 116 | 397 | 18 | 11 | 393 | 497 | .254 | .351 | .452 | .803 |
WAR | wRC+ | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26.8 | 84 | 1720 | 6484 | 5770 | 676 | 1500 | 257 | 30 | 91 | 626 | 96 | 58 | 500 | 800 | .260 | .323 | .362 | .685 |
WAR | ERA- | G | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | CG | ShO | SV | R | ER | BB | SO | K% | WHIP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16.1 | 104 | 407 | 236 | 104 | 107 | 4.01 | 1881.1 | 68 | 13 | 15 | 927 | 839 | 571 | 864 | 10.8% | 1.37 |