1921 Detroit Tigers season - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...

finished in sixth place in the American League

American League

The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...

, 27 games behind the Yankees

1921 New York Yankees season

The New York Yankees season was the 19th season for the Yankees in New York and their 21st overall. The team finished with a record of 98-55, winning their first pennant in franchise history, winning the American League by 4½ games over the previous year's champion, the Cleveland Indians. New York...

, with a record of 71-82. Despite their sixth place finish, the 1921 Tigers amassed 1,724 hits

Hit (baseball)

In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....

and a team batting average

Batting average

Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...

of .316—the highest team hit total and batting average in American League

American League

history. Detroit outfielder

Outfielder

Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...

s Harry Heilmann

Harry Heilmann

Harry Edwin Heilmann , nicknamed “Slug,” was a Major League Baseball player who played 17 seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1952.Heilmann was a line drive hitter who won four American League batting crowns: in 1921, 1923, 1925 and...

and Ty Cobb

Ty Cobb

Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...

finished #1 and #2 in the American League

American League

batting race with batting averages of .394 and .389, and all three Detroit outfielders (Heilmann, Cobb, and Bobby Veach

Bobby Veach

Robert Hayes "Bobby" Veach was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played fourteen seasons for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees and Washington Senators ....

) ranked among the league leaders in batting average

Batting average

and RBIs

Run batted in

Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...

. As early proof of the baseball adage that "Good Pitching Beats Good Hitting," the downfall of the 1921 Tigers was the absence of good pitching. The team ERA was 4.40, they allowed nine or more runs 28 times, and only one pitcher (Dutch Leonard

Dutch Leonard (left-handed pitcher)

Hubert Benjamin "Dutch" Leonard, was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who had an 11-year career from 1913–1921, 1924-1925. He played for the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers, and holds the major league modern-era record for the lowest single-season ERA of all time — 0.96...

) had an ERA

Earned run average

In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...

below 4.24.

The Players

Catcher: Johnny Bassler

Catcher

Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...

Johnny Bassler
Johnny Bassler
John Landis Bassler was a Major League Baseball catcher. Born in Mechanics Grove, Pennsylvania. Bassler played professional baseball from 1913 to 1937, including 9 seasons in the major leagues with the Cleveland Naps and Detroit Tigers...

had a career on base percentage

On base percentage

In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...

of .416 in nine major league seasons, the second highest all time among major league catchers. He was considered the best catcher in baseball from 1921

1921 in baseball

-Headline Events of the Year:*First radio broadcast of the World Series.*Babe Ruth breaks Roger Connor's All-Time Home Run record of 138.-Champions:*World Series: New York Giants over New York Yankees -MLB statistical leaders:...

–1925

1925 in baseball

-Champions:*World Series: Pittsburgh Pirates over Washington Senators *Negro League World Series: Hilldale Daisies over Kansas City Monarchs -Awards and honors:*League Award** Roger Peckinpaugh, Washington Senators, SS** Rogers Hornsby, St...

, finishing in the top seven in the American League

American League

MVP voting three straight years: 6th in 1922

1922 in baseball

-Champions:*World Series: New York Giants over New York Yankees -Statistical leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:-Negro National League final standings:-East final standings:...

, 7th in 1923

1923 in baseball

-Champions:*World Series: New York Yankees over New York Giants -Awards and honors:*League Award**Babe Ruth, New York Yankees, OF-Statistical leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:...

, and 5th in 1924

1924 in baseball

-Champions:*World Series: Washington Senators over New York Giants *First Negro League World Series: Kansas City Monarchs over Hilldale -Awards and honors:*League Award** Walter Johnson, Washington Senators, P** Dazzy Vance, Brooklyn Dodgers, P...

. Bassler was an outstanding offensive and defensive player. Baseball historian Bill James

Bill James

George William “Bill” James is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics...

wrote that, "if his major league career wasn’t so short he would rank among the top 20 catcher

Catcher

s of all time.” Because of the brevity of his major league career, James ranked Bassler as the 47th best catcher of all time. Bassler was a career .304 hitter who walked

Base on balls

A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...

437 times, while striking out

Strikeout

In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....

only 81 times. That is a ratio of 5.4 walks per strikeout

Walk-to-strikeout ratio

In baseball statistics, walk-to-strikeout ratio is a measure of a hitter's plate discipline and knowledge of the strike zone. Generally, a hitter with a good walk-to-strikeout ratio must exhibit enough patience at the plate to refrain from swinging at bad pitches and take a base on balls, but he...

– one of the highest in major league history. His 1925 total of 57.3 at bat

At bat

In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...

s per strikeout is one of the highest in American League history.

Infield: Blue, Young, Bush, Jones and Flagstead

First baseman

First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...

Lu Blue
Lu Blue
Luzerne Atwell "Lu" Blue was a Major League Baseball first baseman. He played in the major leagues from 1921 to 1932 with the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, and Chicago White Sox. Blue was a switch-hitter who had a career on base percentage of .402 and was one of the best fielding 1st basemen...

was a switch-hitter who had a career on base percentage

On base percentage

of .402. The 1921

1921 in baseball

season was Blue's first in the major leagues, and he hit .308 with a .416 on base percentage

On base percentage

and 131 runs scored

Run (baseball)

In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...

. Blue was the Tigers' starting first baseman from 1921 to 1927, hitting above .300 four times, including a .311 season in 1924

1924 in baseball

. He finished among the top vote getters in the American League

American League

Most Valuable Player voting three times for the Tigers: 10th in 1922

1922 in baseball

, 19th in 1924, and 12th in 1925

1925 in baseball

. Blue was among the league leaders in bases on balls

Base on balls

ten times in his career (1921–1923, 1925–1931). With his ability to get on base, Blue was also a top run scorer, with 1151 runs scored in his career, including six seasons with 100 or more runs. Blue was also one of the best fielding first basemen of his era. In 1571 games at first base, Blue had 15,644 putout

Putout

In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...

s and a career range factor

Range Factor

Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...

of 10.60 – almost 3.00 full points above the league average of 7.64 for first basemen in his era.

Second baseman

Second baseman

Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...

Ralph Young
Ralph Young
Ralph Stuart "Pep" Young was an American Major League Baseball second baseman. During his nine major league seasons, he played with the New York Yankees , Detroit Tigers , and Philadelphia Athletics .-Background:Young was a right-handed second baseman and switch hitter...

played for the Tigers from 1915 to 1921. At 5'5", Young was one of the shortest players ever to wear the Tigers' uniform. His small stature, and correspondingly small strike zone

Strike zone

In baseball, the strike zone is a conceptual right pentagonal prism over home plate which defines the boundaries through which a pitch must pass in order to count as a strike when the batter does not swing.-Definition:...

, assisted him in both collecting walks

Base on balls

and avoiding strikeout

Strikeout

In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....

s. In nine seasons, Young collected 495 bases on balls

Base on balls

and struck out only 254 times (in 3,643 at bat

At bat

s). In 1921

1921 in baseball

, he hit .299 and was the only Detroit position player at the end of the season who fell short of the .300 mark.

Shortstop

Shortstop

Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...

Donie Bush
Donie Bush
Owen Joseph "Donie" Bush , was a Major League Baseball shortstop in the American League for the Detroit Tigers and the Washington Senators...

was Detroit’s starting shortstop

Shortstop

for thirteen seasons from 1909

1909 in baseball

-Champions:*World Series: Pittsburgh Pirates over Detroit Tigers -MLB statistical leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:-Events:...

–1921

1921 in baseball

. In 1914

1914 in baseball

-Champions:*World Series: Boston Braves over Philadelphia Athletics -Awards and honors:*Chalmers Award** Eddie Collins, Philadelphia Athletics, 2B** Johnny Evers, Boston Braves, 2B-MLB statistical leaders:-American League final standings:...

, Bush had 425 putout

Putout

In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...

s (still the major league record for shortstops) and 969 chances

Total chances

In baseball statistics, total chances , also called chances offered, represents the number of plays in which a defensive player has participated. It is calculated as follows: Total Chances = assists + putouts + errors. Chances accepted refers to the total of putouts and assists only. Fielding...

(still the American League

American League

record). During the decade from 1910

1910 in baseball

-Champions:*World Series: Philadelphia Athletics over Chicago Cubs -Awards and honors:*Chalmers Award**Ty Cobb, Detroit Tigers, OF**Nap Lajoie, Cleveland Naps-MLB statistical leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:...

to 1919

1919 in baseball

-Headline Event of the Year:Chicago White Sox players accused of throwing World Series, resulting in the Black Sox scandal.-Champions:*World Series: Cincinnati Reds over Chicago White Sox -MLB statistical leaders:-Headline Event of the Year:...

, no one had more bases on balls

Base on balls

than Bush. Bush also ranked among the league leaders in stolen bases nine times. With his ability to get on base, Bush was also among the league leaders in runs scored ten times. Bush was released by the Tigers in late August 1921 and signed by the Washington Senators

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...

.

After Bush was released, Ira Flagstead

Ira Flagstead

Ira James "Pete" Flagstead was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played thirteen seasons in the American and National League with the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Washington Senators , and Pittsburgh Pirates .In 1218 career games, Flagstead batted .290 with a .407 on base percentage,...

and Herm Merritt

Herm Merritt

Herman G. Merritt was a shortstop in Major League Baseball who played 20 games for the Detroit Tigers in 1921. Born in Independence, Kansas, Merritt made his major league debut on August 24, 1921, and replaced Donie Bush as the Tigers' shortstop for the last month of the 1921 season...

played shortstop for Detroit during the balance of the 1921 season. Despite batting .370 in his rookie season, Merritt did not make the team in 1922

1922 in baseball

and never played another major league game. Merritt died in 1927

1927 in baseball

-Headline Event of the Year:*Murderers' Row lead New York Yankees to World Series victory.*Babe Ruth hits 60 home runs.-Champions:* World Series: New York Yankees over Pittsburgh Pirates...

at age 26.

Outfield: Veach, Cobb, Heilmann and Shorten

Left fielder

In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...

Harry Heilmann
Harry Heilmann
Harry Edwin Heilmann , nicknamed “Slug,” was a Major League Baseball player who played 17 seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1952.Heilmann was a line drive hitter who won four American League batting crowns: in 1921, 1923, 1925 and...

won the first of his four American League

American League

batting crowns in 1921, hitting .394. On July 8, 1921, Heilmann hit a home run

Home run

In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...

in Detroit that the New York Tribune

New York Tribune

The New York Tribune was an American newspaper, first established by Horace Greeley in 1841, which was long considered one of the leading newspapers in the United States...

reported measured 610 feet – one of the longest home run

Home run

s ever hit by a Tiger. In addition to winning the batting crown, Heilmann also led the league with 237 hits

Hit (baseball)

and was among the league leaders with a .444 on base percentage

On base percentage

(3rd best), .606 slugging percentage (2nd best), 365 total bases

Total bases

In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....

(2nd best), 43 doubles

Double (baseball)

In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....

(3rd best), 139 RBIs (2nd best), and 76 extra base hit

Extra base hit

In baseball, an extra base hit , also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner...

s (3rd best). Heilmann also won batting crowns in 1923

1923 in baseball

, 1925

1925 in baseball

, and 1927

1927 in baseball

-Headline Event of the Year:*Murderers' Row lead New York Yankees to World Series victory.*Babe Ruth hits 60 home runs.-Champions:* World Series: New York Yankees over Pittsburgh Pirates...

. Heilmann and Ted Williams

Ted Williams

Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...

are the last two American League

American League

players to hit .400, Heilmann having accomplished the feat in 1923 with a batting average

Batting average

of .403. As of the end of the 2009 season, Heilmann’s career batting average

Batting average

of .342 is the 12th highest in major league history..

In 1921, the Tigers' owner, Frank Navin

Frank Navin

Francis Joseph Navin was the principal owner of the Detroit Tigers in Major League Baseball for 27 years, from 1909 to 1935. He also served as vice president and acting president of the American League....

, signed center fielder

Center fielder

A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...

Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...

to take over for Hughie Jennings

Hughie Jennings

Hugh Ambrose Jennings was a Major League Baseball player and manager from 1891 to 1925. Jennings was a leader, both as a batter and as a shortstop, with the Baltimore Orioles teams that won National League championships in 1894, 1895, and 1896. During the three championship seasons, Jennings had...

as the team's manager

Manager (baseball)

In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...

. The signing caught the baseball world off-guard. Universally disliked (even by the members of his own team) but a legendary player, Cobb's management style left a lot to be desired. He expected as much from his players as he gave, and most of the men did not meet his standard. As a player, Cobb continued to excel, finishing second in the AL batting race to Heilmann with a .389 batting average

Batting average

, with a .596 slugging percentage (3rd in the AL), 124 runs

Run (baseball)

(5th in the AL), 22 stolen base

Stolen base

In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...

s (4th in the AL), 197 hits

Hit (baseball)

(8th in the AL), 65 extra base hit

Extra base hit

s (7th in the AL), and 101 RBIs (9th in the AL).

Bobby Veach
Bobby Veach
Robert Hayes "Bobby" Veach was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played fourteen seasons for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees and Washington Senators ....

was Detroit's starting left fielder

Left fielder

for eleven years from 1913 to 1923. Despite being one of the most productive hitters in baseball during his years in Detroit, Veach played in the shadows of three Detroit outfielders who won 16 batting titles and were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame: Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford

Sam Crawford

Samuel Earl Crawford , nicknamed "Wahoo Sam", was a Major League Baseball player who played outfield for the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1957....

, and Harry Heilmann. Veach had 128 RBIs (4th in the AL) and hit .338 (9th in the AL) in 1921. He led the league in RBIs three times (1915

1915 in baseball

-Champions:*World Series: Boston Red Sox over Philadelphia Phillies Inter-league playoff: Boston declined challenge by Chicago Inter-league playoff: Philadelphia declined challenge by Chicago -Statistical leaders:...

, 1917

1917 in baseball

-Major League Baseball:* World Series: Chicago White Sox over New York Giants -MLB statistical leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:-Events:...

, and 1918

1918 in baseball

-MLB statistical leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:-Events:*April 15 - The American League season opened with Boston Red Sox ace Babe Ruth pitching a four-hit, 7–1 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics...

) and was among the league leaders 10 times. Nobody in baseball hit as many RBIs or extra base hit

Extra base hit

s as Veach did during his prime from 1915 to 1922

1922 in baseball

. Veach also ranked among the league leaders in batting average

Batting average

six times and had a career batting average of .311. Veach was also a superior left fielder

Left fielder

. His 384 putout

Putout

In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...

s in 1921 and 26 assists

Assist (baseball)

In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...

in 1920 are among the highest ever by a left fielder.

In 1921, Veach was the subject of an unusual motivational tactic by new player-manager Ty Cobb. Cobb believed that Veach, who came to bat with a smile and engaged in friendly conversation with umpires

Umpire (baseball)

In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...

and opposing pitcher

Pitcher

In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...

s, was too easygoing. Detroit Tigers historian, Fred Lieb

Fred Lieb

Frederick Lieb was an American sportswriter and baseball historian. He and his wife Mary were especially close to Lou Gehrig. Walter Brennan's character in the movie The Pride of the Yankees was loosely based on him...

, described Veach as a "happy-go-lucky guy, not too brilliant above the ears," who "was as friendly as a Newfoundland

Newfoundland (dog)

The Newfoundland is a breed of large dog. Newfoundlands can be black, brown, gray, or black and white. They were originally bred and used as a working dog for fishermen in the Dominion of Newfoundland, now part of Canada. They are known for their giant size, tremendous strength, calm dispositions,...

pup

Puppy

A puppy is a juvenile dog. Some puppies may weigh , while larger ones can weigh up to . All healthy puppies grow quickly after birth. A puppy's coat color may change as the puppy grows older, as is commonly seen in breeds such as the Yorkshire Terrier...

with opponents as well as teammates." Hoping to light a fire in Veach, Cobb persuaded Harry Heilmann, who followed Veach in the batting order

Batting order (baseball)

The batting order, or batting lineup, in baseball is the sequence in which the nine members of the offense take their turns in batting against the pitcher. The batting order is the main component of a team's offensive strategy. The batting order is set by the manager before the game begins...

, to taunt Veach from the on-deck circle. “I want you to make him mad. Real mad. . . . [W]hile you’re waiting, call him a yellow belly

Cowardice

Cowardice is the perceived failure to demonstrate sufficient mental robustness and courage in the face of a challenge. Under many military codes of justice, cowardice in the face of combat is a crime punishable by death...

, a quitter and a dog. … Take that smile off his face.” The tactic may have worked, as Veach had career-highs in RBIs (126) and home run

Home run

s (16), and his batting average

Batting average

jumped from .308 to .338. Cobb had promised to tell Veach about the scheme when the season was over, but he never did. When Heilmann tried to explain, Veach reportedly snarled, “Don’t come sucking around me with that phony line.” Veach never forgave Heilmann.

Pitching: Leonard, Dauss, Ehmke, Oldham and Sutherland

Dutch Leonard
Dutch Leonard (left-handed pitcher)
Hubert Benjamin "Dutch" Leonard, was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who had an 11-year career from 1913–1921, 1924-1925. He played for the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers, and holds the major league modern-era record for the lowest single-season ERA of all time — 0.96...

was the "ace" of the Tigers' pitching staff in 1921 with a 3.75 ERA—the only pitcher with an ERA below 4.00. In 1914, Leonard set the major league record for the lowest single-season ERA

Earned run average

of all time—0.96.

Through his years in Detroit, Leonard fought with manager Ty Cobb. Even before their player-manager feud, Leonard and Cobb had a history. In 1914, Leonard hit Cobb in the ribs with a fastball. In the next at bat, Cobb dragged a bunt down the first base line and ran directly at Leonard who was covering the bag. Cobb later called Leonard a "damned coward" for running toward the dugout to avoid being cut by Cobb's spikes. During a 1922 argument, Leonard cursed Cobb to his face and ended up quitting the team, calling Cobb a "horse's ass." When Leonard returned to the Tigers in 1924, the feud resumed. In 1925, Leonard had an 11-3 record, but Cobb called him shirker. Leonard accused Cobb of over-working him, and Cobb responded in July 1925 by leaving Leonard on the mound for an entire game despite Leonard's giving up 20 hits and taking a 12-4 beating. After that, Leonard refused to pitch for Cobb, and the Tigers put Leonard on waivers, ending Leonard's career.

In 1926, Leonard sought his revenge, accusing Cobb of being involved in fixing games with Tris Speaker

Tris Speaker

Tristram E. Speaker , nicknamed "Spoke" and "The Grey Eagle", was an American baseball player. Considered one of the best offensive and defensive center fielders in the history of Major League Baseball, he compiled a career batting average of .345 , and still holds the record of 792 career doubles...

. To corroborate his story, Leonard produced letters (including one written by Cobb) that obliquely referred to gambling or game fixing. When Judge Landis

Kenesaw Mountain Landis

Kenesaw Mountain Landis was an American jurist who served as a federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and as the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death...

made Leonard's letters public, it touched off a scandal. However, Leonard declined to appear and testify at a hearing called by Judge Landis, saying he feared a physical attack from "that wild man." In the absence of Leonard's testimony, Landis found Cobb and Speaker not guilty.

Hooks Dauss
Hooks Dauss
George August "Hooks" Dauss was a Major League pitcher who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. Nicknamed 'Hooks' or 'Hookey' because of his hard-to-hit curveball...

played his entire fifteen-year career with the Tigers and is the team's all time wins

Win (baseball)

In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...

leader. Though he was among top five in wins five times, Dauss had a 10-15 record in 1921 with a 4.33 ERA

Earned run average

. Dauss was an excellent fielding pitcher. His career range factor

Range Factor

Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...

of 2.28 is 0.65 points higher than the average pitcher of his era. He had 1128 assists

Assist (baseball)

in his career, and is career fielding percentage

Fielding percentage

In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...

of .968 was also 20 points higher than the average pitcher of his era. Dauss committed only one error in the combined 1923 and 1924 seasons in nearly 100 games pitched.

Howard Ehmke
Howard Ehmke
Howard Jonathan Ehmke was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He is best known for being the surprise starter who won Game 1 of the 1929 World Series for the Philadelphia Athletics at the age of 35...

led the 1921 team with 13 wins

Win (baseball)

but had an overall record of 13-14 with a 4.54 ERA

Earned run average

. Ehmke ranks No. 16 on the all time major league list for hitting batsmen with a pitch. He hit 137 batters in his career and led the AL in the category in 1921 and six other times, including a career-high 23 in 1922. On August 8, 1920, Ehmke shut out the Yankees 1-0 in one of the shortest games in AL history, lasting only 1 hour‚ 13 minutes. In 1923, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...

, where he won 20 games and set the AL record (still standing) for allowing the fewest hits (one) in two consecutive starts.

The team's fourth starter, Red Oldham
Red Oldham
John Cyrus "Red" Oldham was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played five years with the Detroit Tigers and two years with the Pittsburgh Pirates...

, had an 11-14 record. As an indicator of how bad the team's pitching was in 1921, Oldham's 4.27 ERA

Earned run average

was the second lowest on the team. Shortly after an interview in which new manager Ty Cobb

Ty Cobb

Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...

told a reporter that "his aim was to use tact and diplomacy" in dealing with players, Cobb publicly embarrassed Oldham, as he called time-out from his position in center field, "ran in, wrested the ball from Oldham's hand, and gave him a dressing-down before calling in a reliever." Oldham appeared in the final inning of the 1925 World Series

1925 World Series

In the 1925 World Series, the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the defending champion Washington Senators in seven games.In a reversal of fortune on all counts from the previous 1924 World Series, when Washington's Walter Johnson had come back from two losses to win the seventh and deciding game, Johnson...

for the Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...

pitching a masterful 1-2-3 inning against three future Hall of Famers: Sam Rice

Sam Rice

Edgar Charles "Sam" Rice was an American pitcher and right fielder in Major League Baseball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963....

(strikeout), Bucky Harris

Bucky Harris

Stanley Raymond "Bucky" Harris was a Major League Baseball player, manager and executive. In 1975, the Veterans Committee elected Harris, as a manager, to the Baseball Hall of Fame.-Biography:...

, and Goose Goslin

Goose Goslin

Leon Allen "Goose" Goslin was a left fielder in Major League Baseball known for his powerful left-handed swing and dependable clutch hitting. He played 18 seasons with the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and Detroit Tigers, from until...

(strikeout). The Pirates won the game and the World Series with Oldham on the mound.

Suds Sutherland
Suds Sutherland
Harvey Scott "Suds" Sutherland was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers in 1921. Born in Beaverton, Oregon, Sutherland started playing in the Pacific Coast League. In 1919, he pitched an 11-0 no-hitter against the San Francisco Seals. In 1921, he got his shot at...

was one of the most interesting stories of the Tigers' 1921 season. Sutherland had pitched a no-hitter in the Pacific Coast League

Pacific Coast League

The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...

and made the Tigers' team in 1921. One month into the season, he had a record of 5-0. He was 6-2 in his first eight starts. On top of his fine pitching, Sutherland was batting .407 in the first two months of the season. However, Sutherland's career came to an abrupt end in June 1921, as Sutherland found himself in the middle of the Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth

George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...

-Ty Cobb

Ty Cobb

Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...

feud. In a game against the Yankees, Babe Ruth reportedly hit a 3-0 pitch off Sutherland into the upper deck. Cobb ran in from center field and took out his anger on the rookie pitcher. Though he had the best record on the pitching staff, Cobb never forgave Sutherland for giving up a mammoth blast to the Babe. As a result, Sutherland did not pitch for the Tigers (or for any major league team) after June 1921.

Roster

1921 Detroit Tigers
Roster
Pitchers		Catchers Infielders		Outfielders Other batters		Manager Coaches

Season summary

The 1921 Tigers were one of the best hitting teams in baseball history. Their team batting average

Batting average

of .316 is the highest in American League

American League

history and the second highest in modern major league history, trailing only the 1930

1930 in baseball

-Champions:*World Series: Philadelphia Athletics over St. Louis Cardinals -Statistical leaders:1Single season record for RBIs-American League final standings:-National League final standings:-Negro National League final standings:...

New York Giants

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....

, who had a team batting average of .319. (The American League batting average in 1921 was .302, and the National League

National League

The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...

batting average in 1930 was .309. So measured against the league batting average for their respective seasons, the 1921 Tigers were 14 points above average, and the 1930 Giants were ten points above league average.)

The Tigers also amassed 1724 hits

Hit (baseball)

in 1921—the highest single season total by any team in American League history. Only one other American League team and four National League teams (all during an aberrant 1930

1930 in baseball

season when the National League batting average was .309) have had 1700 hits in a single season. They are:

1930 Philadelphia Phillies
1930 Philadelphia Phillies season
- Roster :- Starters by position :Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in- Other batters :Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg...

- 1783 hits (.315 batting average)
1930 New York Giants
1930 New York Giants season
The 1930 New York Giants season was the sixth season for the club in the National Football League.-Schedule:-Standings:-External links:*...

- 1769 hits (.319 batting average)
1930 St. Louis Cardinals
1930 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 49th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 39th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 92-62 during the season and finished first in the National League...

- 1732 hits (.314 batting average)
1921 Detroit Tigers - 1724 hits (.316 batting average)
1930 Chicago Cubs
1930 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs went 90-64 and finished in second place in the National League.In the peak year of the lively ball era, the Cubs scored 998 runs, third most in the majors. Future Hall of Famers Kiki Cuyler, Gabby Hartnett, and Hack Wilson led the offense....

- 1722 hits (.309 batting average)
1936 Cleveland Indians
1936 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fifth in the American League with a record of 80-74, 22½ games behind the New York Yankees.- Roster :- Starters by position :...

- 1715 hits (.305 batting average)

The 1921 Tigers had six starters with batting averages of .300 or higher:

Right fielder Harry Heilmann
Harry Heilmann
Harry Edwin Heilmann , nicknamed “Slug,” was a Major League Baseball player who played 17 seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1952.Heilmann was a line drive hitter who won four American League batting crowns: in 1921, 1923, 1925 and...

led the American League with a .394 average.
Center fielder Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...

was second in the American League with a .389 average.
Right fielder Bobby Veach
Bobby Veach
Robert Hayes "Bobby" Veach was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played fourteen seasons for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees and Washington Senators ....

was ninth in the American League with a .338 average.
First baseman Lu Blue
Lu Blue
Luzerne Atwell "Lu" Blue was a Major League Baseball first baseman. He played in the major leagues from 1921 to 1932 with the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, and Chicago White Sox. Blue was a switch-hitter who had a career on base percentage of .402 and was one of the best fielding 1st basemen...

hit .308 in his rookie season with a .416 on base percentage.
Catcher Johnny Bassler
Johnny Bassler
John Landis Bassler was a Major League Baseball catcher. Born in Mechanics Grove, Pennsylvania. Bassler played professional baseball from 1913 to 1937, including 9 seasons in the major leagues with the Cleveland Naps and Detroit Tigers...

hit .307 with a .401 on base percentage.
Third baseman Bob Jones hit .303.

All three Tigers outfielders were among the league leaders in RBIs in 1921.

Right fielder Harry Heilmann was second in the league behind Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...

with 139 RBIs.
Left fielder Bobby Veach was fourth in the league with 128 RBIs.
Center fielder Ty Cobb was ninth in the league with 101 RBIs.

Despite having one of the best batting lineups

Batting order (baseball)

in baseball history, the 1921 Tigers finished in sixth place with a losing record. As early proof of the baseball adage that "Good Pitching Beats Good Hitting," the downfall of the 1921 Tigers was the absence of good pitching. The team ERA was 4.40, no Detroit pitcher won more than 13 games, and only one pitcher (Dutch Leonard

Dutch Leonard (left-handed pitcher)

) had an ERA

Earned run average

below 4.24.

Season chronology

April 14: First baseman Lu Blue
Lu Blue
Luzerne Atwell "Lu" Blue was a Major League Baseball first baseman. He played in the major leagues from 1921 to 1932 with the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, and Chicago White Sox. Blue was a switch-hitter who had a career on base percentage of .402 and was one of the best fielding 1st basemen...

made his major league debut for the Tigers, as they beat the White Sox, 6-5, on Opening Day at Navin Field. Dutch Leonard
Dutch Leonard (left-handed pitcher)
Hubert Benjamin "Dutch" Leonard, was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who had an 11-year career from 1913–1921, 1924-1925. He played for the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers, and holds the major league modern-era record for the lowest single-season ERA of all time — 0.96...

started the game, and relief pitcher Suds Sutherland
Suds Sutherland
Harvey Scott "Suds" Sutherland was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers in 1921. Born in Beaverton, Oregon, Sutherland started playing in the Pacific Coast League. In 1919, he pitched an 11-0 no-hitter against the San Francisco Seals. In 1921, he got his shot at...

got the win.
May 11: Detroit pitcher Suds Sutherland got off to a hot start, winning his fifth game in the first month of the season, a 2-1 victory over Waite Hoyt
Waite Hoyt
Waite Charles Hoyt was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, one of the dominant pitchers of the 1920s, and the winningest pitcher for the New York Yankees during that decade...

and the New York Yankees
1921 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 19th season for the Yankees in New York and their 21st overall. The team finished with a record of 98-55, winning their first pennant in franchise history, winning the American League by 4½ games over the previous year's champion, the Cleveland Indians. New York...

.
May 20: The Tigers beat the Red Sox, 12-2. At that point, the Tigers were 2½ games out of first place.
June 11–14: Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...

hit six home runs off Detroit pitching during a four-game series in Detroit. Even though the Tigers scored 28 runs and picked up 47 hits in the four-game series, the Yankees scores 41 runs, picked up 57 hits, and swept the series. Howard Ehmke
Howard Ehmke
Howard Jonathan Ehmke was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He is best known for being the surprise starter who won Game 1 of the 1929 World Series for the Philadelphia Athletics at the age of 35...

and Hooks Dauss
Hooks Dauss
George August "Hooks" Dauss was a Major League pitcher who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. Nicknamed 'Hooks' or 'Hookey' because of his hard-to-hit curveball...

each gave up two home runs to Ruth, but rookie Suds Sutherland (who gave up a long home run to Ruth) took the brunt of manager Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...

's anger. Sutherland had the team's best win-loss record at 6-2, but Cobb never forgave Sutherland for giving up a mammoth blast to the Babe. As a result, Sutherland did not pitch for the Tigers after June 21, 1921.
June 18: The Tigers lost 11-7 to the Red Sox. AFter being swept by the Yankees, the Tigers were swept by the Bosox in a four-game series. The team's nine-game skid in mid-June marked the turning point for the team. The team trailed by four-and-a-half games on June 10; by June 19 they were 10 games out of first.
June 24: The Tigers won, 12-0, as Dutch Leonard shut out the Browns. The Tigers' pitching staff had only four shutouts in the 1921 season, a 9-0 win by Red Oldham
Red Oldham
John Cyrus "Red" Oldham was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played five years with the Detroit Tigers and two years with the Pittsburgh Pirates...

on May 5, Leonard's win on June 24, a 10-0 win by Bert Cole
Bert Cole
Albert George Cole was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played 6 seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians , and Chicago White Sox . He finished his career with a record of 28-32 in 605-2/3 innings. His best season was 1923 when he had a record of 13-5 with a...

on August 19, and a 5-0 win by Howard Ehmke on August 21.
July 19: The Tigers lost to Waite Hoyt and the Yankees, 6-5. At that point, the Tigers had lost six straight games to dropped 15 games out of first place.
July 29: The Tigers scored a season-high 18 runs in a 18-6 win over the Senators. Howard Ehmke got the win for the Tigers, who scored 10 or more runs 24 times during the 1921 season.
August 20: After the Tigers released shortstop Donie Bush
Donie Bush
Owen Joseph "Donie" Bush , was a Major League Baseball shortstop in the American League for the Detroit Tigers and the Washington Senators...

, he was selected off waivers by the Washington Senators. Before his release, Bush had been the Tigers starting shortstop for thirteen years—since the close of the 1908 season.
August 24: After beating the Senators, 12-3, the previous day, the Tigers beat the Senators again, this time by a score of 15-1, with Bert Cole
Bert Cole
Albert George Cole was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played 6 seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians , and Chicago White Sox . He finished his career with a record of 28-32 in 605-2/3 innings. His best season was 1923 when he had a record of 13-5 with a...

getting the win. The win marked the team's sixth straight win—their longest win streak of the 1921 season.
September 9: The Tigers lost a slugfest to the White Sox, 20-15, as the two teams combined for 42 hits and 35 runs. The team dropped to 21½ games out of first place.
September 24: Tigers' shortstop Jackie Tavener
Jackie Tavener
John Adam "Jackie" Tavener , nicknamed "Rabbit," was a baseball player who played shortstop for six seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians ....

made his major league debut. The Tigers lost, 5-1, to Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson
Walter Perry Johnson , nicknamed "Barney" and "The Big Train", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Washington Senators...

and the Washington Senators. At that point, they were 23 games out of first place.
October 2: The Tigers closed the 1921 season on a seven-game losing streak. They lost the final two games to the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...

, by scores of 11-6 and 12-3. Detroit pitching gave up nine or more runs in 28 games during the 1921 season. They held opponents to less than two runs in only 18 games.

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
C	119	388	119	.307	0	56
1B	153	585	180	.308	5	75
2B	107	401	120	.299	0	29
3B	141	554	168	.303	1	72
SS	104	402	113	.281	0	27
OF	150	612	207	.338	16	128
OF	128	507	197	.389	12	101
OF	149	602	237	.394	19	139

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
85	259	79	.305	0	31
92	217	59	.272	0	23
66	178	45	.253	2	22
35	98	27	.276	0	12
46	80	29	.363	0	14
20	46	17	.370	0	6
2	4	0	.000	0	0
1	0	0	----	0	0

Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
36	245	11	13	3.75	120
32	233	10	15	4.33	68
40	229.1	11	14	4.24	67
30	196.1	13	14	4.54	68

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
38	121.2	6	11	5.03	31
35	136	3	7	4.30	38
20	109.2	7	4	4.27	22
13	58	6	2	4.97	18
2	4	0	0	9.00	0

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
	10	3	2	0	5.68	10
	1	0	0	0	0.00	0

League leaders

Hooks Dauss
Hooks Dauss
George August "Hooks" Dauss was a Major League pitcher who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. Nicknamed 'Hooks' or 'Hookey' because of his hard-to-hit curveball...

: American League leader in hit batsmen (13) (tied with Ehmke
Howard Ehmke
Howard Jonathan Ehmke was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He is best known for being the surprise starter who won Game 1 of the 1929 World Series for the Philadelphia Athletics at the age of 35...

)
Howard Ehmke
Howard Ehmke
Howard Jonathan Ehmke was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He is best known for being the surprise starter who won Game 1 of the 1929 World Series for the Philadelphia Athletics at the age of 35...

: American League leader in hit batsmen (13) (tied with Dauss
Hooks Dauss
George August "Hooks" Dauss was a Major League pitcher who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. Nicknamed 'Hooks' or 'Hookey' because of his hard-to-hit curveball...

)
Harry Heilmann
Harry Heilmann
Harry Edwin Heilmann , nicknamed “Slug,” was a Major League Baseball player who played 17 seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1952.Heilmann was a line drive hitter who won four American League batting crowns: in 1921, 1923, 1925 and...

: American League batting champion (.394)
Harry Heilmann
Harry Heilmann
Harry Edwin Heilmann , nicknamed “Slug,” was a Major League Baseball player who played 17 seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1952.Heilmann was a line drive hitter who won four American League batting crowns: in 1921, 1923, 1925 and...

: Major League Baseball hits leader (237)
Bob Jones: American League leader in errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...

by a third baseman (27)
Dutch Leonard
Dutch Leonard (left-handed pitcher)
Hubert Benjamin "Dutch" Leonard, was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who had an 11-year career from 1913–1921, 1924-1925. He played for the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers, and holds the major league modern-era record for the lowest single-season ERA of all time — 0.96...

: American League leader in strikeout to walk ratio (1.90)
Bobby Veach
Bobby Veach
Robert Hayes "Bobby" Veach was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played fourteen seasons for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees and Washington Senators ....

: American League leader in putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...

s by an outfielder (384)

Players ranking among top 100 of all time at position

The following members of the 1921 Detroit Tigers are among the Top 100 players of all time at their position, as ranked in The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract

The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract

The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract is a reference-type book written by Bill James featuring an overview of baseball decade by decade, along with rankings of the top 100 players at each position. The original edition was published in 1985 by Villard Books, followed by The New Bill James...

in 2001:

Johnny Bassler
Johnny Bassler
John Landis Bassler was a Major League Baseball catcher. Born in Mechanics Grove, Pennsylvania. Bassler played professional baseball from 1913 to 1937, including 9 seasons in the major leagues with the Cleveland Naps and Detroit Tigers...

: 47th best catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...

of all time
Lu Blue
Lu Blue
Luzerne Atwell "Lu" Blue was a Major League Baseball first baseman. He played in the major leagues from 1921 to 1932 with the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, and Chicago White Sox. Blue was a switch-hitter who had a career on base percentage of .402 and was one of the best fielding 1st basemen...

: 77th best first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...

of all time
Donie Bush
Donie Bush
Owen Joseph "Donie" Bush , was a Major League Baseball shortstop in the American League for the Detroit Tigers and the Washington Senators...

: 51st best shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...

of all time
Bobby Veach
Bobby Veach
Robert Hayes "Bobby" Veach was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played fourteen seasons for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees and Washington Senators ....

: 33rd best left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...

of all time
Ty Cobb
Ty Cobb
Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb , nicknamed "The Georgia Peach," was an American Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born in Narrows, Georgia...

: 2nd best center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...

of all time
Harry Heilmann
Harry Heilmann
Harry Edwin Heilmann , nicknamed “Slug,” was a Major League Baseball player who played 17 seasons with the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1952.Heilmann was a line drive hitter who won four American League batting crowns: in 1921, 1923, 1925 and...

: 16th best right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...

of all time

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Fort Worth

External links

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