Ranking the Tigers: All-time shortstops - Posted on February 22, 2011
One thing is certain: When someone attempts to rank an all-time team or list of players at a certain position, it is impossible to have everyone agree with you. That’s part of the fun of doing those lists.
Well, from time to time I’ll rank the top players at each position for the Detroit Tigers, and today we take a look at shortstop. And, to make it more fun, we’re not going to look at the top three or five at this position – we’re naming the top 10. Let me know your thoughts on where I’m wrong (or right). By the way, these rankings are based entirely on a player’s time with the Tigers. If he played one or two seasons with the Tigers and went on to an all-star career with another team, only his time with the Tigers is judged.
10, Kid Elberfeld (1901-03). The Tigers’ first shortstop, The Tabasco Kid was a fine player who spent only a small portion of his career in Detroit. However, he might have had the best offensive season of any Tigers player in their first season in the American League in 1901. He batted .308 with three home runs and a team-high 76 RBIs. In three seasons with the Tigers, Elberfeld had a .290 batting average with four home runs, 159 RBIs, 175 runs scored and 48 stolen bases. He went on to a 14-year major-league career, mostly with the New York Highlanders.
Well, from time to time I’ll rank the top players at each position for the Detroit Tigers, and today we take a look at shortstop. And, to make it more fun, we’re not going to look at the top three or five at this position – we’re naming the top 10. Let me know your thoughts on where I’m wrong (or right). By the way, these rankings are based entirely on a player’s time with the Tigers. If he played one or two seasons with the Tigers and went on to an all-star career with another team, only his time with the Tigers is judged.
10, Kid Elberfeld (1901-03). The Tigers’ first shortstop, The Tabasco Kid was a fine player who spent only a small portion of his career in Detroit. However, he might have had the best offensive season of any Tigers player in their first season in the American League in 1901. He batted .308 with three home runs and a team-high 76 RBIs. In three seasons with the Tigers, Elberfeld had a .290 batting average with four home runs, 159 RBIs, 175 runs scored and 48 stolen bases. He went on to a 14-year major-league career, mostly with the New York Highlanders.
