Detroit Tigers reveal historical secret: Two great legends from… the team’s own training system are among the top picks of all time! According to new bWAR data, two of the Tigers’ best draft picks — Alan Trammell and Jack Morris — are among MLB legends, confirming that Detroit once knew how to find “gold” at the draft table…
The report states: Trammell, a second-round pick in 1976 by the Tigers, had a combined 70.6 bWAR, becoming the best infielder in franchise history thanks to a series of All-Star seasons, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger, and the 1984 World Series championship. Morris — a fifth-round pick in 1976 — with 37.7 bWAR, was one of the most consistent and long-lasting pitchers, contributing rare innings, strikeouts, and complete games, creating a solid backbone for the Tigers in the 1980s.
But the story doesn’t end there. In addition to the two Hall-of-Famers, Detroit’s top five bWAR picks also include Lou Whitaker — with 75.1 bWAR — a second baseman who was a consistent 19-year Rookie of the Year, a three-time Gold Glove, a four-time Silver Slugger, and a key member of the 1984 championship team. Whitaker, despite his medals and impressive statistics, is one of the most controversial names not yet inducted into the Hall of Fame.
With a total of three “rarities” like Trammell, Morris, and Whitaker — two of whom have made it to Cooperstown — the article in the prestigious sports magazine affirms that the Tigers’ system of recruiting, recruiting, and developing players over the decades has reached its peak.
For Detroit fans, this news is a boost to hope: if they struck gold in the past, maybe the future — with a rebuilt youth system — will see the Tigers continue their glorious trajectory. They have a track record — and who can say history won’t repeat itself?
Leave a Reply