1937 Detroit Tigers season
Encyclopedia
The 1937
Detroit Tigers
finished in second place in the American League
with a record of 89-65. The team finished 13 games behind the New York Yankees
. Their winning percentage of .578 ranks as the 15th best season in Detroit Tigers history.
that scored 958 runs. The 1937 Tigers led the major leagues with a .292 batting average
—nine points higher than the Yankees. The 1937 Tigers also had power, belting twice as many home runs (150 to 74) as the 1934 team.
Second baseman Charlie Gehringer
won both the American League batting title and the AL Most Valuable Player Award. First baseman Hank Greenberg
led the major leagues with 183 RBIs—still the third highest single season total in major league history. Rookie catcher Rudy York
did not make it into the starting lineup until early August and promptly broke the AL record with 18 home runs in the month. York finished as the AL leader in at bats per home run (10.7) and with the third highest slugging percentage (.651) in the major leagues.
While the team had the bats, it lacked the pitching to compete with the Yankees. In contrast to its league-best batting average, the Tigers pitching staff had an ERA of 4.87—ranking seventh among the eight American League teams. Elden Auker
(17-9; 3.88) was the only pitcher on the staff with an ERA below 4.00. Former ace Schoolboy Rowe
was suspended at the beginning of the year for poor conditioning, pitched only 31-1/3 innings for the year, and compiled a staggering 7.59 ERA.
The team continued to have strong support from Detroit fans, finishing the 1937 season with a team record 1,072,276 fans attending the team's home games at Briggs Stadium. The only American League team to draw more fans up to that time was the 1930 Yankees' team
that drew 1,169,230.
as the team's player/manager. However, Cochrane's playing career came to a sudden end on May 25, 1937. After hitting a home run in the third inning, Cochrane was hit in the head by a pitch from Yankees pitcher Bump Hadley
when he next came to bat. Hospitalized for seven days, the injury nearly killed him. Ordered by doctors not to play baseball again (he was just 34 years old), Cochrane returned to the dugout but never played again.
Backup catcher
Ray Hayworth
had his arm broken by a pitched ball shortly after Cochrane's injury, and Birdie Tebbetts
took over the catching duties for most of June and July.
At the beginning of August, rookie Rudy York
took over as the team's catcher and set the league on fire with his home run hitting. In August 1937, his first full month in the major leagues, York broke Babe Ruth
's major league record for most home runs in a single month, slugging 18 home runs (and 44 RBIs). For the year, York hit .307 with a .651 slugging percentage, 35 home runs, and 103 RBIs. Defensively, York was a liability at catcher, leading the AL in passed balls in 1937 despite playing only two months. In 1940, the Tigers persuaded Hank Greenberg
to move to left field, allowing York to take over at first base. York was among the American League
leaders in home runs for 11 consecutive seasons from 1937–1947, and his .503 slugging percentage as a Tiger ranks #4 in franchise history.
at first, Charlie Gehringer
at second, Billy Rogell
at shortstop, and Marv Owen
at third. They were a solid group both at the bat and defensively. In 1937, Greenberg led the AL in putouts with 1477, and Gehringer, Rogell, and Owen all led the league in fielding percentage at their position.
"Hammerin' Hank" Greenberg led the major leagues with 183 RBIs in 1937—a total that still ranks as the third highest in major league history. Greenberg also led the major leagues with 103 extra base hits and 172 runs created, and was second in the major leagues with 40 home runs, a .668 slugging percentage, 102 walks, 397 total bases, and 305 times on base. He also hit for average, with a .337 batting average and .375 on base percentage. Greenberg had already won the AL MVP award in 1935 and finished third in the 1937 voting behind Gehringer and Joe DiMaggio
.
Charlie Gehringer had the best season of his career winning the American League batting title (.371) and the American League Most Valuable Player award. Gehringer also lead AL second basemen in fielding percentage and was among the major league leaders with a .473 on base percentage (2nd in MLB), 300 times on base (3rd in MLB), 135 runs created (3rd in MLB), 133 runs (4th in MLB), and 209 hits (5th in the AL). Known for his consistency as a hitter and fielder, Gehringer was given the nickname "The Mechanical Man" by Yankee pitcher Lefty Gomez
. Mickey Cochrane joked that "Charlie says `hello' on Opening Day, `goodbye' on closing day, and in between hits .350." http://www.answers.com/topic/charlie-gehringer
Shortstop Billy Rogell led all AL shortstops in fielding percentage each year from 1935–1937 and in 1937 he hit .276 and scored 85 runs. Rogell and Gehringer played over 1,000 games together as the Tigers' double play combination. Rogell's fiery demeanor was a stark contrast to the calm, quiet demeanor of Gehringer. After retiring from baseball, Rogell served on the Detroit City Council from 1942-1980 . He was chairman of the city planning committee that built Detroit Metropolitan Airport
, and the road entering the airport from the north, Merriman Road, changes its name to William G. Rogell Drive as it enters the airport.
Marv Owen hit .288 with 22 doubles and 45 RBIs. Owen is remembered for his role in the 1934
and 1935 World Series
. In Game 7 of the 1934 Series, Joe Medwick
tripled in the 6th inning with the Cardinals ahead by 7 runs. He slid hard into Owen at third, knocking Owen down. The two fought, and Detroit fans pelted Medwick with fruit and garbage when he returned to left field. As the fan reaction escalated, Commissioner Landis
ordered Medwick removed from the game. Owen also owns one record that still stands: 31 consecutive World Series plate appearances without a hit.
, Pete Fox
, and Jo-Jo White
.
Right fielder Pete Fox was a mainstay in the Detroit outfield for eight seasons (1933–1940). He played on three AL pennant champion teams, and he was the Tigers' leading hitter in the 1935 World Series
. Though a native of Indiana, Detroit became his adopted home, and he died there in 1966. In 1937, Fox hit .331 and was among the league leaders with 149 singles (3rd), 208 hits (6th), 116 runs scored (8th), and 12 stolen bases (10th).
Gee Walker played in the Tigers' outfield from 1931-1937. Known as "The Madman from Mississippi," Walker was a fiery competitor and a clown. In 1937, he played 151 games in the outfield, including 88 games in left, 54 in right, and 11 in center. Walker began the season on fire. On Opening Day, he hit for the cycle—the only player to accomplish that feat on Opening Day. Walker hit the cycle in reverse order—starting with a home run, followed by triple, then a double, and a single. Walker continued his hot hitting in the spring of 1937 with a 27-game hit streak in April and May 1937. Walker's fast start earned him a spot on the AL All-Star team. He finished among the AL leaders with 213 hits (3rd), 23 stolen bases (3rd), 149 singles (3rd), 42 doubles (6th), 113 RBIs (9th), and a .335 average (8th). His Power/Speed Number in 1937 was 20.2—tops in both leagues. Despite Walker's strong performance in 1937, the Tigers (reportedly unhappy with Walker's antics) traded him and Marv Owen to the Red Sox on December 2, 1937. The trade caused an uproar among Detroit fans, and owner Walter Briggs was forced to issue an announcement from his Miami home that "the deal was made with my approval."
Center fielder Jo-Jo White
played in the Tigers' outfield from 1932-1938. He hit .313 in 1934, but his average fell off after that year. In 1937, Jo-Jo hit .246 and played only 94 games. White's real first name was Joyner, but he was called "Jo-Jo" because of the way he pronounced his native state of Georgia.
Rookie Chet Laabs
also played 62 games in the outfield for the 1937 Tigers. Labs hit .240 with a .434 slugging percentage. In 1938, Laabs struck out five times in one game against Bob Feller
, helping Feller set the all-time record with 18 strikeouts in a nine-inning game. Laabs later hit 27 home runs with 99 RBIs for the 1943 St. Louis Browns.
Hall of Famer Goose Goslin
also played in 39 games, but his batting average fell to .238 with 43 hits and 35 RBIs. The Tigers released Goslin on October 3, 1937, and Goslin later recounted (in "The Glory of Their Times") that he received a call from his old boss, Clark Griffith
, asking him if he'd be interested in ending his career back where it began in Washington. Goslin jumped at the opportunity and batted .158 in 38 games for the Senators in the 1938 season. The Senators played in only three World Series in their history (1924, 1925, and 1933), and Goslin played for the Senators in every game of those Series.
was the team's best pitcher in 1937. An underhand pitcher out of Kansas A&M, Auker had a record of 17-9 with 19 complete games and an ERA of 3.88 (Adjusted ERA+
of 120). During the 1935 World Series
, Auker was interviewed by a young Cubs broadcaster, Ronald Reagan
. When they met after Reagan had been elected Governor of California, Reagan told him, "You probably won't remember me, but I'll remember you as long as I live." The 1935 radio interview, Reagan said, "was my first big break."
After three consecutive 20+ win seasons, Tommy Bridges
dropped to a 15-12 season with a 4.07 ERA. He continued, however, to be among the league leaders with 138 strikeouts (5th in the AL). Bridges played in four World Series and six All-Star Games with the Tigers. One of the hardest throwers of the 1930s, Bridges was among the AL leaders in strikeouts 12 times and led the league in strikeouts in 1935 and 1936.
Roxie Lawson
had his best season was 1937, with a record of 18-7, despite a 5.26 ERA in 217-1/3 innings. His 18 wins was 3rd best in the AL, and his winning percentage of .720 was 6th best. Lawson also threw 15 complete games (10th best in the AL) and had a .259 batting average with six RBIs. His performance garnered him enough votes to finish 19th in the 1937 AL MVP voting.
Rookie Boots Poffenberger
was called up to the Tigers mid-season and went 10-5. His won-loss percentage of .667 in 1937 was seventh best in the AL. Boots was only 21 years old when he debuted with the Tigers, and his career spun out of control within two years. Stories about Poffenberger's late night drinking and poor training practices caused him to fall out of favor with the team. After a night of heavy drinking while on the road in 1937, Poffenberger called room service and said, "I'll have the breakfast of champions." When asked if he wanted cereal, Poffenberge replied, "Hell, no. Two fried eggs and a bottle of beer." ’
George Gill
made his debut with the Tigers at age 28 on May 4, 1937. On May 30, 1937, led by fellow Mississippian Gee Walker‚ the Tigers collected 20 hits in an 18-3 victory for Gill. In his rookie season, Gill went 11-4 in 31 games (10 as a starter). His 1937 record ranked 5th in the AL in winning percentage (.733). He was also 7th in the league in games finished with 18.
Pitcher "Whistling Jake" Wade
also had his most productive season in 1937, posting career highs in wins (7), starts (25), complete games (7), strikeouts (69) and innings pitched (165-1/3). Wade pitched a one-hit shutout in the last game of the 1937 regular season, preventing Cleveland pitcher Johnny Allen
from tying the AL record of 16 straight wins. However, Wade struggled with control and was among the AL leaders in 1937 with 107 walks allowed (7th) and five wild pitches (8th). Wade was nicknamed "Whistling Jake" not for his fastball but because of his tendency to whistle whenever he was nervous.
Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included
1937 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
Tommy Bridges
Pete Fox
Charlie Gehringer
George Gill
: #5 in AL in win percentage (.733)
Hank Greenberg
Roxie Lawson
Marv Owen
: AL leader in fielding percentage by a third baseman (.970)
Billy Rogell
: AL leader in fielding percentage by a shortstop (.967)
"Whistling Jake" Wade
: #8 in MLB in bases on balls allowed (107)
Gee Walker
Rudy York
in 2001:
1937 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over New York Giants *All-Star Game, July 7 at Griffith Stadium: American League, 8-3-Awards and honors:*MLB Most Valuable Player Award**American League: Charlie Gehringer, Detroit Tigers, 2B...
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 second 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...
with a record of 89-65. The team finished 13 games behind the New York Yankees
1937 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was their 35th season. The team finished with a record of 102-52, winning their 9th pennant, finishing 13 games ahead of the Detroit Tigers. New York was managed by Joe McCarthy. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium. In the World Series, they beat the New York Giants...
. Their winning percentage of .578 ranks as the 15th best season in Detroit Tigers history.
Regular season
The strength of the 1937 Tigers was hitting. The Tigers had scored 900 or more runs each season from 1934 to 1937. The 1937 total of 935 runs is the second highest in franchise history, trailing only the 1934 Tigers team1934 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers season was a season in American baseball. The season was the team's 34th since entering the American League in . The Tigers won the American League pennant with a record of 101-53, the best winning percentage in team history. The team made its fourth World Series appearance, but...
that scored 958 runs. The 1937 Tigers led the major leagues with a .292 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 :...
—nine points higher than the Yankees. The 1937 Tigers also had power, belting twice as many home runs (150 to 74) as the 1934 team.
Second baseman Charlie Gehringer
Charlie Gehringer
Charles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
won both the American League batting title and the AL Most Valuable Player Award. First baseman Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
led the major leagues with 183 RBIs—still the third highest single season total in major league history. Rookie catcher Rudy York
Rudy York
Preston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
did not make it into the starting lineup until early August and promptly broke the AL record with 18 home runs in the month. York finished as the AL leader in at bats per home run (10.7) and with the third highest slugging percentage (.651) in the major leagues.
While the team had the bats, it lacked the pitching to compete with the Yankees. In contrast to its league-best batting average, the Tigers pitching staff had an ERA of 4.87—ranking seventh among the eight American League teams. Elden Auker
Elden Auker
Elden le Roy Auker was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball noted for his submarine pitching style....
(17-9; 3.88) was the only pitcher on the staff with an ERA below 4.00. Former ace Schoolboy Rowe
Schoolboy Rowe
Lynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies...
was suspended at the beginning of the year for poor conditioning, pitched only 31-1/3 innings for the year, and compiled a staggering 7.59 ERA.
The team continued to have strong support from Detroit fans, finishing the 1937 season with a team record 1,072,276 fans attending the team's home games at Briggs Stadium. The only American League team to draw more fans up to that time was the 1930 Yankees' team
1930 New York Yankees season
The 1930 New York Yankees season was their 28th season. The team finished with a record of 86-68, finishing 16 games behind the Philadelphia Athletics. New York was managed by Bob Shawkey...
that drew 1,169,230.
Catcher: Mickey Cochrane and Rudy York
The 1937 season began with Mickey CochraneMickey Cochrane
Gordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
as the team's player/manager. However, Cochrane's playing career came to a sudden end on May 25, 1937. After hitting a home run in the third inning, Cochrane was hit in the head by a pitch from Yankees pitcher Bump Hadley
Bump Hadley
Irving Darius Hadley was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, he played the major leagues for the Washington Senators , Chicago White Sox , St...
when he next came to bat. Hospitalized for seven days, the injury nearly killed him. Ordered by doctors not to play baseball again (he was just 34 years old), Cochrane returned to the dugout but never played again.
Backup 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...
Ray Hayworth
Ray Hayworth
Raymond Hall Hayworth was a catcher in Major League Baseball. From 1926 through 1945, Hayworth played for the Detroit Tigers, Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants and St. Louis Browns. He batted and threw right-handed....
had his arm broken by a pitched ball shortly after Cochrane's injury, and Birdie Tebbetts
Birdie Tebbetts
George Robert "Birdie" Tebbetts was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and front office executive. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians from to...
took over the catching duties for most of June and July.
At the beginning of August, rookie Rudy York
Rudy York
Preston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
took over as the team's catcher and set the league on fire with his home run hitting. In August 1937, his first full month in the major leagues, York broke 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...
's major league record for most home runs in a single month, slugging 18 home runs (and 44 RBIs). For the year, York hit .307 with a .651 slugging percentage, 35 home runs, and 103 RBIs. Defensively, York was a liability at catcher, leading the AL in passed balls in 1937 despite playing only two months. In 1940, the Tigers persuaded Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
to move to left field, allowing York to take over at first base. York was among 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...
leaders in home runs for 11 consecutive seasons from 1937–1947, and his .503 slugging percentage as a Tiger ranks #4 in franchise history.
Infield: Greenberg, Gehringer, Rogell, and Owen
The Detroit infield remained intact for five years from 1933 through 1937: Hank GreenbergHank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
at first, Charlie Gehringer
Charlie Gehringer
Charles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
at second, Billy Rogell
Billy Rogell
William George "Billy" Rogell was an American baseball player who played 14 years in Major League Baseball, primarily as a shortstop for the Detroit Tigers. He made his major league debut on April 14, 1925 and played his last game August 25, 1940...
at shortstop, and Marv Owen
Marv Owen
Marvin James Owen was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played nine seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , and Boston Red Sox ....
at third. They were a solid group both at the bat and defensively. In 1937, Greenberg led the AL in putouts with 1477, and Gehringer, Rogell, and Owen all led the league in fielding percentage at their position.
Joe DiMaggio
Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
.
Charlie Gehringer had the best season of his career winning the American League batting title (.371) and the American League Most Valuable Player award. Gehringer also lead AL second basemen in fielding percentage and was among the major league leaders with a .473 on base percentage (2nd in MLB), 300 times on base (3rd in MLB), 135 runs created (3rd in MLB), 133 runs (4th in MLB), and 209 hits (5th in the AL). Known for his consistency as a hitter and fielder, Gehringer was given the nickname "The Mechanical Man" by Yankee pitcher Lefty Gomez
Lefty Gómez
Vernon Louis "Lefty" Gomez was an American left-handed major league pitcher who played in the American League for the New York Yankees between 1930 and 1942. Considered one of the great pitchers of the day, Gomez was a seven-time All-Star and a five-time World Series Champion with the Yankees...
. Mickey Cochrane joked that "Charlie says `hello' on Opening Day, `goodbye' on closing day, and in between hits .350." http://www.answers.com/topic/charlie-gehringer
Shortstop Billy Rogell led all AL shortstops in fielding percentage each year from 1935–1937 and in 1937 he hit .276 and scored 85 runs. Rogell and Gehringer played over 1,000 games together as the Tigers' double play combination. Rogell's fiery demeanor was a stark contrast to the calm, quiet demeanor of Gehringer. After retiring from baseball, Rogell served on the Detroit City Council from 1942-1980 . He was chairman of the city planning committee that built Detroit Metropolitan Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport , usually called Detroit Metro Airport, Metro Airport locally, or simply DTW, is a major international airport covering in Romulus, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It is Michigan's busiest airport....
, and the road entering the airport from the north, Merriman Road, changes its name to William G. Rogell Drive as it enters the airport.
Marv Owen hit .288 with 22 doubles and 45 RBIs. Owen is remembered for his role in the 1934
1934 World Series
The 1934 World Series matched the St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Cardinals' "Gashouse Gang" winning in seven games for their third championship in nine years....
and 1935 World Series
1935 World Series
The 1935 World Series featured the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago Cubs, with the Tigers winning in six games for their first championship in five Series appearances. They had lost in , , , and ....
. In Game 7 of the 1934 Series, Joe Medwick
Joe Medwick
Joseph Michael Medwick , nicknamed "Ducky", was an American Major League Baseball player. A left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals during the "Gashouse Gang" era of the 1930s, he also played for the Brooklyn Dodgers , New York Giants , and Boston Braves...
tripled in the 6th inning with the Cardinals ahead by 7 runs. He slid hard into Owen at third, knocking Owen down. The two fought, and Detroit fans pelted Medwick with fruit and garbage when he returned to left field. As the fan reaction escalated, Commissioner 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...
ordered Medwick removed from the game. Owen also owns one record that still stands: 31 consecutive World Series plate appearances without a hit.
Outfield: Fox, White and Walker
In the outfield, the Tigers had Gee WalkerGee Walker
Gerald Holmes "Gee" Walker was a Major League Baseball outfielder. During his fifteen year career, he played with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, and Cincinnati Reds...
, Pete Fox
Pete Fox
Ervin "Pete" Fox was a Major League Baseball right fielder. He played thirteen seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox ....
, and Jo-Jo White
Jo-Jo White
Joyner Clifford "Jo-Jo" White was an American center fielder in professional baseball. He played nine seasons with the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Athletics , and Cincinnati Reds...
.
Right fielder Pete Fox was a mainstay in the Detroit outfield for eight seasons (1933–1940). He played on three AL pennant champion teams, and he was the Tigers' leading hitter in the 1935 World Series
1935 World Series
The 1935 World Series featured the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago Cubs, with the Tigers winning in six games for their first championship in five Series appearances. They had lost in , , , and ....
. Though a native of Indiana, Detroit became his adopted home, and he died there in 1966. In 1937, Fox hit .331 and was among the league leaders with 149 singles (3rd), 208 hits (6th), 116 runs scored (8th), and 12 stolen bases (10th).
Gee Walker played in the Tigers' outfield from 1931-1937. Known as "The Madman from Mississippi," Walker was a fiery competitor and a clown. In 1937, he played 151 games in the outfield, including 88 games in left, 54 in right, and 11 in center. Walker began the season on fire. On Opening Day, he hit for the cycle—the only player to accomplish that feat on Opening Day. Walker hit the cycle in reverse order—starting with a home run, followed by triple, then a double, and a single. Walker continued his hot hitting in the spring of 1937 with a 27-game hit streak in April and May 1937. Walker's fast start earned him a spot on the AL All-Star team. He finished among the AL leaders with 213 hits (3rd), 23 stolen bases (3rd), 149 singles (3rd), 42 doubles (6th), 113 RBIs (9th), and a .335 average (8th). His Power/Speed Number in 1937 was 20.2—tops in both leagues. Despite Walker's strong performance in 1937, the Tigers (reportedly unhappy with Walker's antics) traded him and Marv Owen to the Red Sox on December 2, 1937. The trade caused an uproar among Detroit fans, and owner Walter Briggs was forced to issue an announcement from his Miami home that "the deal was made with my approval."
Center fielder Jo-Jo White
Jo-Jo White
Joyner Clifford "Jo-Jo" White was an American center fielder in professional baseball. He played nine seasons with the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Athletics , and Cincinnati Reds...
played in the Tigers' outfield from 1932-1938. He hit .313 in 1934, but his average fell off after that year. In 1937, Jo-Jo hit .246 and played only 94 games. White's real first name was Joyner, but he was called "Jo-Jo" because of the way he pronounced his native state of Georgia.
Rookie Chet Laabs
Chet Laabs
Chester Peter Laabs was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns and Philadelphia Athletics...
also played 62 games in the outfield for the 1937 Tigers. Labs hit .240 with a .434 slugging percentage. In 1938, Laabs struck out five times in one game against Bob Feller
Bob Feller
On December 8, 1941, Feller enlisted in the Navy, volunteering immediately for combat service, becoming the first Major League Baseball player to do so following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. Feller served as Gun Captain aboard the USS Alabama, and missed four seasons during his service...
, helping Feller set the all-time record with 18 strikeouts in a nine-inning game. Laabs later hit 27 home runs with 99 RBIs for the 1943 St. Louis Browns.
Hall of Famer 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...
also played in 39 games, but his batting average fell to .238 with 43 hits and 35 RBIs. The Tigers released Goslin on October 3, 1937, and Goslin later recounted (in "The Glory of Their Times") that he received a call from his old boss, Clark Griffith
Clark Griffith
Clark Calvin Griffith , nicknamed "the Old Fox", was a Major League Baseball pitcher, manager and team owner.-Biography:...
, asking him if he'd be interested in ending his career back where it began in Washington. Goslin jumped at the opportunity and batted .158 in 38 games for the Senators in the 1938 season. The Senators played in only three World Series in their history (1924, 1925, and 1933), and Goslin played for the Senators in every game of those Series.
Pitching: Auker, Bridges, Lawson, Wade, Gill and Poffenberger
Elden AukerElden Auker
Elden le Roy Auker was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball noted for his submarine pitching style....
was the team's best pitcher in 1937. An underhand pitcher out of Kansas A&M, Auker had a record of 17-9 with 19 complete games and an ERA of 3.88 (Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
of 120). During the 1935 World Series
1935 World Series
The 1935 World Series featured the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago Cubs, with the Tigers winning in six games for their first championship in five Series appearances. They had lost in , , , and ....
, Auker was interviewed by a young Cubs broadcaster, Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
. When they met after Reagan had been elected Governor of California, Reagan told him, "You probably won't remember me, but I'll remember you as long as I live." The 1935 radio interview, Reagan said, "was my first big break."
After three consecutive 20+ win seasons, Tommy Bridges
Tommy Bridges
Thomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946...
dropped to a 15-12 season with a 4.07 ERA. He continued, however, to be among the league leaders with 138 strikeouts (5th in the AL). Bridges played in four World Series and six All-Star Games with the Tigers. One of the hardest throwers of the 1930s, Bridges was among the AL leaders in strikeouts 12 times and led the league in strikeouts in 1935 and 1936.
Roxie Lawson
Roxie Lawson
Alfred Voyle "Roxie" Lawson was a Major League Baseball player.After attending Iowa Wesleyan College, Roxie Lawson played nine Major League seasons as a right-handed pitcher with the Cleveland Indians , Detroit Tigers , and St. Louis Browns...
had his best season was 1937, with a record of 18-7, despite a 5.26 ERA in 217-1/3 innings. His 18 wins was 3rd best in the AL, and his winning percentage of .720 was 6th best. Lawson also threw 15 complete games (10th best in the AL) and had a .259 batting average with six RBIs. His performance garnered him enough votes to finish 19th in the 1937 AL MVP voting.
Rookie Boots Poffenberger
Boots Poffenberger
Cletus Elwood "Boots" Poffenberger was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers and Brooklyn Dodgers .-Promising rookie year in 1937:...
was called up to the Tigers mid-season and went 10-5. His won-loss percentage of .667 in 1937 was seventh best in the AL. Boots was only 21 years old when he debuted with the Tigers, and his career spun out of control within two years. Stories about Poffenberger's late night drinking and poor training practices caused him to fall out of favor with the team. After a night of heavy drinking while on the road in 1937, Poffenberger called room service and said, "I'll have the breakfast of champions." When asked if he wanted cereal, Poffenberge replied, "Hell, no. Two fried eggs and a bottle of beer." ’
George Gill
George Gill
George Lloyd Gill was a professional baseball pitcher. He played three seasons in Major League Baseball, for the Detroit Tigers from 1937–39 and for the St. Louis Browns in 1939....
made his debut with the Tigers at age 28 on May 4, 1937. On May 30, 1937, led by fellow Mississippian Gee Walker‚ the Tigers collected 20 hits in an 18-3 victory for Gill. In his rookie season, Gill went 11-4 in 31 games (10 as a starter). His 1937 record ranked 5th in the AL in winning percentage (.733). He was also 7th in the league in games finished with 18.
Pitcher "Whistling Jake" Wade
Jake Wade (baseball)
Jacob Fields Wade was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , St. Louis Browns , Chicago White Sox, , New York Yankees and Washington Senators . Wade batted and threw left-handed. He was nicknamed "Whistlin' Jake"...
also had his most productive season in 1937, posting career highs in wins (7), starts (25), complete games (7), strikeouts (69) and innings pitched (165-1/3). Wade pitched a one-hit shutout in the last game of the 1937 regular season, preventing Cleveland pitcher Johnny Allen
Johnny Allen (baseball)
John Thomas Allen was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, Brooklyn Dodgers, and New York Giants....
from tying the AL record of 16 straight wins. However, Wade struggled with control and was among the AL leaders in 1937 with 107 walks allowed (7th) and five wild pitches (8th). Wade was nicknamed "Whistling Jake" not for his fastball but because of his tendency to whistle whenever he was nervous.
Season chronology
- April 4: The Tigers sold future Hall of Fame left fielder Al SimmonsAl SimmonsAloysius Harry Simmons , born Aloisius Szymanski in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was an American baseball player. He played for two decades in the major leagues as an outfielder, and had his best years as a member of Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics during the 1930's...
to the Washington SenatorsMinnesota TwinsThe 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...
for $15,000. After hitting .327 with 112 RBIs for the 1936 Tigers, Simmons hit .279 with 84 RBIs for the 1937 Senators. - April 19: The Tigers purchased Babe HermanBabe HermanFloyd Caves "Babe" Herman was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball who was best known for his several seasons with the Brooklyn Robins ....
from the Cincinnati Reds. Herman was released two months later on June 15. Herman had six hits in 20 at bats for the Tigers. - April 20: Elden AukerElden AukerElden le Roy Auker was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball noted for his submarine pitching style....
and the Tigers beat the Indians, 4-3, on Opening Day in Detroit. Gee WalkerGee WalkerGerald Holmes "Gee" Walker was a Major League Baseball outfielder. During his fifteen year career, he played with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, and Cincinnati Reds...
hit for the cycle, becoming the only batter to hit for the cycle on Opening Day. Walker achieved the cycle starting with a home run, followed by a triple‚ double‚ and single. Detroit won the opener, 4-3, over the Indians. - April 23: The Tigers beat the White Sox, 10-2, as Roxie LawsonRoxie LawsonAlfred Voyle "Roxie" Lawson was a Major League Baseball player.After attending Iowa Wesleyan College, Roxie Lawson played nine Major League seasons as a right-handed pitcher with the Cleveland Indians , Detroit Tigers , and St. Louis Browns...
won his first start. - May 3: The Tigers completed a three-game sweep of the White Sox, 12-9, as Clyde HatterClyde HatterClyde Melno Hatter was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played two seasons with the Detroit Tigers in 1935 and 1937....
got the win in relief. The Tigers were 7-2 after nine games. - May 7: The Tigers beat the Senators, 4-2, as Roxie Lawson got his fourth win in four starts.
- May 8: The Tigers lost to the Washington Senators, 8-3. Bobo NewsomBobo NewsomLouis Norman Newsom was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Also known as "Buck", Newsom played for a number of teams from 1929 through 1953...
got the win over Schoolboy RoweSchoolboy RoweLynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies...
. Newsom hit the only home run of his career in the game. - May 11: The Tigers were swept by the Senators, having lost six of their last eight games. After starting 7-2 they were 9-8.
- May 13: After making his major league debut on May 4, Detroit pitcher George GillGeorge GillGeorge Lloyd Gill was a professional baseball pitcher. He played three seasons in Major League Baseball, for the Detroit Tigers from 1937–39 and for the St. Louis Browns in 1939....
got his first start and shut out the Red Sox‚ 4-0. Gill allowed only five hits‚ three by Joe CroninJoe CroninJoseph Edward Cronin was a Major League Baseball shortstop and manager.During a 20-year playing career, he played from 1926–45 for three different teams, primarily for the Boston Red Sox. Cronin was a major league manager from 1933–47...
. AL MVP Charlie GehringerCharlie GehringerCharles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
had a double and a home run in the game. - May 16: The Tigers beat the St. Louis Browns, 5-4, as Gee Walker extended his hit streak to 21 games.
- May 22: Hank GreenbergHank GreenbergHenry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
hit a home run out of Fenway ParkFenway ParkFenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
. The blast was called the longest home run ever hit at Fenway Park, passing to the right of the flag pole on its way out of the stadium. Gee Walker added three hits to extend his hit streak to 26 games. The Red Sox won anyway, 11-9. - May 24: The Tigers beat the Senators, 3-1, and Roxie Lawson logged his seventh win just one month into the season. Gee Walker failed to get a hit, and his hit streak came to an end at 27 games.
- May 25: This was the day that Mickey CochraneMickey CochraneGordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
's playing career came to an end. Cochrane hit a home run off Yankees pitcher, Bump HadleyBump HadleyIrving Darius Hadley was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, he played the major leagues for the Washington Senators , Chicago White Sox , St...
, in the third inning. When he came to bat in the fifth inning, Hadley's pitch hit Cochrane in the head. Cochrane's skull was fractured in three places. Cochrane never played another game. Del BakerDel BakerDelmer David Baker was an American catcher, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. As a manager, he led the 1940 Detroit Tigers to the American League pennant...
took over as manager while Cochrane was hospitalized. The Yankees won the game‚ 4-3. Schoolboy Rowe was the losing pitcher. - May 30: The Tigers beat the St. Louis Browns, 18-3. Rookie George Gill got the win, and Hank Greenberg was 5-for-5 with two home runs. Gee Walker also hit two home runs and seven RBIs.
- June 5: The Yankees beat the Tigers, 6-5, as Lou GehrigLou GehrigHenry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
hit two home runs. Gee Walker had three hits in the game but was failed to hit in the ninth inning with the winning run on second base. - June 8: Elden Auker shut out the A's, 6-0. The win was Auker's only shutout in 1937 and his third win in seven starts.
- June 9: After his May 25 beaning, the Tigers removed Mickey Cochrane from the active roster. Rookie catcher Rudy YorkRudy YorkPreston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
was called up from Toledo. - June 12: The Tigers split a doubleheader with the Red Sox. After losing their starting catcher to a beaning incident on May 25, Detroit's #2 catcher Ray HayworthRay HayworthRaymond Hall Hayworth was a catcher in Major League Baseball. From 1926 through 1945, Hayworth played for the Detroit Tigers, Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants and St. Louis Browns. He batted and threw right-handed....
was hit by a Bobo Newsom pitch and fractured his arm. Birdie TebbettsBirdie TebbettsGeorge Robert "Birdie" Tebbetts was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and front office executive. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians from to...
took over as catcher, but would soon give way to rookie Rudy York. - July 5: The Tigers swept the White Sox in a doubleheader in Chicago. In the first game, rookie Boots PoffenbergerBoots PoffenbergerCletus Elwood "Boots" Poffenberger was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers and Brooklyn Dodgers .-Promising rookie year in 1937:...
got his third win and his first as a starter. The Tigers scored eight in support of Poffenberger, and beat the Sox, 8-4. - July 7: The AL beat the NL in the All-Star Game, 8-3. Charlie Gehringer went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run. Tommy BridgesTommy BridgesThomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946...
pitched three innings and gave up all three NL runs. Gee Walker was selected as a starter but did not play. Despite having 103 RBIs at the All-Star break (still a major league record for RBIs at the All-Star break), Hank Greenberg also did not play, as Lou Gehrig played the entire game. - July 10: The Tigers and Indians split a doubleheader. The two teams combined for 25 extra base hits. Schoolboy Rowe got his first win of the year in the opener, pitching in relief in Detroit's 12-11 win.
- July 11: In a matchup of rookie pitching sensations, Detroit's Boots Poffenberger won his fourth game, beating Cleveland's Bob FellerBob FellerOn December 8, 1941, Feller enlisted in the Navy, volunteering immediately for combat service, becoming the first Major League Baseball player to do so following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. Feller served as Gun Captain aboard the USS Alabama, and missed four seasons during his service...
, 3-2. Feller gave up only two hits, but he also gave up six walks and a wild pitch. Poffenberger gave up home runs to Hal TroskyHal TroskyHarold Arthur Trosky, Sr., born Harold Arthur Trojovsky , was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox . Trosky was born in Norway, Iowa. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.Trosky had a career .302 batting average, with a...
and Moose SoltersMoose SoltersJulius Joseph "Moose" Solters was a major league outfielder between 1934 and 1943.-Career:...
. - July 11, 1937: Ralph BirkoferRalph BirkoferRalph Joseph Birkofer was an American Major League Baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Brooklyn Dodgers. His two main pitches were a sinking fastball and a curve.-External links:...
was traded by the Brooklyn DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
to the Tigers for Lindsay BrownLindsay BrownJohn Lindsay Brown , is a former professional baseball player who played shortstop in the major leagues for the 1937 Brooklyn Dodgers.-External links:...
and cash. - July 16: Rookie phenom Boots Poffenberger won his fifth game, a 14-7 victory over the Yankees. The Tigers scored seven runs in the sixth inning on only one hit, as the Yankees committed two errors and walked six Detroit batters in the inning.
- July 17: Tommy Bridges pitched his second shutout of the year, beating the Senators, 6-0.
- July 26: Two months after having his skull fractured, Mickey Cochrane returned to the dugout as the team's manager, but he did not return as a player.
- August 4: After six straight losses‚ Mickey Cochrane put rookie Rudy York into the starting lineup. The Tigers beat the A's, 11-8, as York hit a three-run home run.
- August 8: Boots Poffenberger won his seventh game, 5-1, over the Senators.
- August 14: The Tigers bats exploded for an AL record 36 runs in a double header sweep over the Browns. Elden Auker held the Browns to four hits in the first game and added two home runs and five RBIs in a 16-1 decision. Boots Poffenberger got the win in the second game, 20-7. Pete FoxPete FoxErvin "Pete" Fox was a Major League Baseball right fielder. He played thirteen seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox ....
scored seven runs in the double header, and the Tigers scored in every inning of each game except the 8th. Charlie GehringerCharlie GehringerCharles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
added two home runs and five hits in the second game. The Tigers moved into second place‚ ten games behind the Yankees. - August 17: The Tigers beat the White Sox‚ 11-7. Rudy York narrowly missed hitting for the cycle, with a home run, a triple, and two singles.
- August 19: The Tigers beat the White Sox, 12-4, as Tommy Bridges got the win. Rudy York hit two home runs, including a grand slam. Gee Walker also hit two home runs for Detroit.
- August 20: Mickey Cochrane, still suffering from the effects of his fractured skull, did not travel with the team to St. Louis. The Tigers won three of the four games against the Browns despite Cochrane's absence.
- August 22: The Tigers swept the Browns in a double header, as Rudy York hit his ninth and tenth home runs of the month.
- August 24: Rudy York hit three home runs in a double header against the A's. The Tigers won the first game‚ 6-3‚ but lost the second‚ 9-8.
- August 25: Roxie Lawson won his 16th game for the Tigers, a 10-4 win over the A's. Lawson drove in the winning run with a bunt single in the ninth inning. Third baseman Marv OwenMarv OwenMarvin James Owen was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played nine seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , and Boston Red Sox ....
tied a major league record with nine assists in the game. - August 27: The Tigers lost to the Red Sox, 8-5, but Rudy York hit his seventh home run in seven games. Gee Walker added a home run.
- August 30: The Tigers beat the Yankees, 5-4, as Rudy York hit his 16th home run of the month. Hank Greenberg added a home run, and Elden Auker got the win.
- August 31: Rudy York hit two home runs to break Babe RuthBabe RuthGeorge 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...
's major league record for most home runs in a month. York finished the month of August with 18 home runs. York had seven RBIs in the game and 44 for the month. Roxie Lawson got the win, as Detroit beat the Senators, 12-3. - September 3: The Tigers beat the White Sox, 4-3. Elden Auker got the win, Charlie Gehringer went 3-for-3, and the defense contributed 21 assistsAssist (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...
. - September 6: The Tigers swept the Browns in a doubleheader, 10-9 and 5-2. Rookie Boots Poffenberger held the Browns to two runs for his tenth win.
- September 12: The Tigers swept the White Sox in a three-game series. Tommy Bridges shut out the Sox in the final game, 4-0. Detroit pitchers had only six shutouts in 1937, three of them by Bridges, and one each by George Gill, Elden Auker, and Jake WadeJake Wade (baseball)Jacob Fields Wade was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , St. Louis Browns , Chicago White Sox, , New York Yankees and Washington Senators . Wade batted and threw left-handed. He was nicknamed "Whistlin' Jake"...
. - September 19: Elden Auker and the Tigers beat the Yankees, 8-1, to keep their pennant hopes alive. Hank Greenberg hit a home run into the center field stands at Yankee Stadium, becoming the first player ever to do so. Auker had 3 RBIs and won his third straight game over the Yankees.
- September 23: The Yankees clinched the AL pennant as the Tigers lost to the Red Sox, 4-3.
- October 2: Rudy York hit his 35th home run‚ tying the AL record for rookies. York collected 103 RBIs for the year, in 375 at bats. York's performance was the major league record for fewest at bats with 100 RBIs until the record was surpassed by Barry BondsBarry BondsBarry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
in 2004 (101 RBIs in 373 at bats). - October 3: Detroit pitcher Jake Wade beat the Indians, 1-0, in the last game of the regular season. Johnny AllenJohnny Allen (baseball)John Thomas Allen was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, Brooklyn Dodgers, and New York Giants....
, pitching for Cleveland on two days' rest, had a chance to tie the AL record of 16 straight wins. Allen gave up only one hit, but the Tigers scored in the first inning when Cleveland third baseman Sammy HaleSammy HaleSamuel Douglas Hale was a Major League Baseball third baseman for 10 seasons with the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Athletics , and St. Louis Browns . Hale had a lifetime batting average of .302 and won a World Series ring with the Athletics in 1929.Born in Glen Rose, Texas, Hale debuted with the...
missed a ground ball, allowing Pete Fox to score the game's only run. Hank Greenberg was credited with a hit and collected his 183rd RBI. - October 16: Five months after playing his last major league game for the Tigers on May 10, pitcher Clyde Hatter died in Yosemite, KentuckyYosemite, KentuckyYosemite is an unincorporated rural community in eastern Casey County, Kentucky, United States. Local pronunciation is "Yo-seh-mite". It was established in the 1870s for logging facilities owned by Cincinnati businessman Eugene Zimmerman. It was named by his daughter, who said the hilly area...
at age 29. While officially listed as a heart attack, teammate Marv Owen recalled that Hatter had a serious drinking problem and was sent to the minor leagues in during the regular season. Owen reported Hatter's death this way: "He went home that winter and they found him dead in the back of his father's car. From booze." - November 2: Charlie Gehringer was named the AL MVP receiving 78 out of a possible 80 points. Joe DiMaggioJoe DiMaggioJoseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
finished second, and Hank Greenberg was third. Gehringer was the third Tiger to win the award in four years. Mickey Cochrane won it in 1934 and Hank Greenberg in 1935.
Roster
| 1937 Detroit Tigers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders | Manager Coaches |
||||||
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 | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 104 | 375 | 115 | .307 | 35 | 103 | |
| 1B | 154 | 594 | 200 | .337 | 40 | 183 | |
| 2B | 144 | 564 | 209 | .371 | 14 | 96 | |
| 3B | 107 | 396 | 114 | .288 | 1 | 45 | |
| SS | 146 | 536 | 148 | .276 | 8 | 64 | |
| OF | 151 | 635 | 213 | .335 | 18 | 113 | |
| OF | 148 | 628 | 208 | .331 | 12 | 82 | |
| OF | 94 | 305 | 75 | .246 | 0 | 21 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 242 | 58 | .240 | 8 | 37 | |
| 79 | 181 | 43 | .238 | 4 | 35 | |
| 50 | 162 | 31 | .191 | 2 | 16 | |
| 27 | 98 | 30 | .306 | 2 | 12 | |
| 30 | 78 | 21 | .269 | 1 | 8 | |
| 17 | 20 | 6 | .300 | 0 | 3 |
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| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | 252.2 | 17 | 9 | 3.88 | 73 | |
| 34 | 245.1 | 15 | 12 | 4.07 | 138 | |
| 37 | 217.1 | 18 | 7 | 5.26 | 68 | |
| 33 | 165.1 | 7 | 10 | 5.39 | 69 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 137.1 | 10 | 5 | 4.65 | 35 | |
| 31 | 127.2 | 11 | 4 | 4.51 | 40 | |
| 28 | 101 | 7 | 5 | 4.37 | 22 | |
| 10 | 32.2 | 0 | 2 | 6.34 | 8 | |
| 10 | 31.1 | 1 | 4 | 8.62 | 6 | |
| 7 | 17 | 0 | 2 | 9.00 | 11 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; GF = Games finished; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | GF | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 7.59 | 10 | |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11.57 | 4 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 |
Awards and honors
- Charlie GehringerCharlie GehringerCharles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
, AL Most Valuable Player Award
1937 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
1937 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1937 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the fifth playing of the mid-summer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 7, 1937, at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C., the home of...
- Charlie GehringerCharlie GehringerCharles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
, 2B, Starter - Gee WalkerGee WalkerGerald Holmes "Gee" Walker was a Major League Baseball outfielder. During his fifteen year career, he played with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, and Cincinnati Reds...
, OF, Starter - Hank GreenbergHank GreenbergHenry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
, 1B - Tommy BridgesTommy BridgesThomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946...
, P
Major league records
Rudy YorkRudy York
Preston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
- Set MLB record for most home runs in a single month (18 in August)
League top ten finishers
Elden AukerElden Auker
Elden le Roy Auker was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball noted for his submarine pitching style....
- #4 in AL in wins (17)
- #2 in AL in hit batsmen (6)
- #6 in AL in complete games (19)
Tommy Bridges
Tommy Bridges
Thomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946...
- #5 in AL in strikeouts (138)
- #5 in AL in strikeouts per 9 innings (5.06)
- #5 in AL in strikeout to walk ratio (1.52)
Pete Fox
Pete Fox
Ervin "Pete" Fox was a Major League Baseball right fielder. He played thirteen seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox ....
- #3 in AL in singles (149)
- #8 in AL in runs (116)
Charlie Gehringer
Charlie Gehringer
Charles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
- AL batting champion (.371)
- AL leader in fielding percentage by a second baseman (.986)
- #2 in MLB in on base percentage (.473)
- #2 in AL in singles (154)
- #3 in MLB in times on base (300)
- #4 in MLB in runs created (135)
- #5 in MLB in runs (133)
- #5 in AL in hits (209)
George Gill
George Gill
George Lloyd Gill was a professional baseball pitcher. He played three seasons in Major League Baseball, for the Detroit Tigers from 1937–39 and for the St. Louis Browns in 1939....
: #5 in AL in win percentage (.733)
Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
- MLB leader in RBIs (183)
- MLB leader in extra base hits (103)
- MLB leader in runs created (172)
- AL leader in putouts (1477)
- #2 in MLB in home runs (40)
- #2 in MLB in slugging percentage (.668)
- #2 in MLB in walks (102)
- #2 in AL in doubles (49)
- #2 in MLB in OPS (1.105)
- #2 in AL in total bases (397)
- #2 in MLB in times on base (305)
- #2 in AL in strikeouts (101)
- #4 in MLB in runs (137)
- #3 in AL in on base percentage (.436)
- #3 in AL in at bats per home run (15.4)
- #5 in AL in triples (14)
- #3 in AL in wins (18)
- #4 in AL in earned runs allowed (127)
Roxie Lawson
Roxie Lawson
Alfred Voyle "Roxie" Lawson was a Major League Baseball player.After attending Iowa Wesleyan College, Roxie Lawson played nine Major League seasons as a right-handed pitcher with the Cleveland Indians , Detroit Tigers , and St. Louis Browns...
- #4 in AL in wild pitches (6)(127)
- #6 in AL in win percentage (.720)
- #6 in MLB in bases on balls allowed (115)
Marv Owen
Marv Owen
Marvin James Owen was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball. He played nine seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , and Boston Red Sox ....
: AL leader in fielding percentage by a third baseman (.970)
Billy Rogell
Billy Rogell
William George "Billy" Rogell was an American baseball player who played 14 years in Major League Baseball, primarily as a shortstop for the Detroit Tigers. He made his major league debut on April 14, 1925 and played his last game August 25, 1940...
: AL leader in fielding percentage by a shortstop (.967)
"Whistling Jake" Wade
Jake Wade (baseball)
Jacob Fields Wade was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , St. Louis Browns , Chicago White Sox, , New York Yankees and Washington Senators . Wade batted and threw left-handed. He was nicknamed "Whistlin' Jake"...
: #8 in MLB in bases on balls allowed (107)
Gee Walker
Gee Walker
Gerald Holmes "Gee" Walker was a Major League Baseball outfielder. During his fifteen year career, he played with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, and Cincinnati Reds...
- MLB leader in power/speed number (20.2)
- #3 in AL in hits (213)
- #3 in AL in stolen bases (23)
- #3 in AL in singles (149)
Rudy York
Rudy York
Preston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
- AL leader in at bats per home run (10.7)
- AL leader in passed balls (12)
- #3 in MLB in slugging percentage (.651)
- #4 in AL in OPS (1.026)
- #5 in AL in home runs (35)
Players ranking among top 100 all time at position
The following members of the 1937 Detroit Tigers are among the Top 100 of all time at their position, as ranked by The New Bill James Historical Baseball AbstractThe 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:
- Mickey CochraneMickey CochraneGordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
: 4th best catcher of all time - Birdie TebbettsBirdie TebbettsGeorge Robert "Birdie" Tebbetts was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and front office executive. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians from to...
: 64th best catcher of all time - Rudy YorkRudy YorkPreston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
: 56th best first baseman of all time - Hank GreenbergHank GreenbergHenry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
: 8th best first baseman of all time - Charlie GehringerCharlie GehringerCharles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
: 8th best second baseman of all time - Billy RogellBilly RogellWilliam George "Billy" Rogell was an American baseball player who played 14 years in Major League Baseball, primarily as a shortstop for the Detroit Tigers. He made his major league debut on April 14, 1925 and played his last game August 25, 1940...
: 49th best shortstop of all time - Goose GoslinGoose GoslinLeon 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...
: 16th best left fielder of all time - Gee WalkerGee WalkerGerald Holmes "Gee" Walker was a Major League Baseball outfielder. During his fifteen year career, he played with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians, and Cincinnati Reds...
: 92nd best left fielder of all time - Pete FoxPete FoxErvin "Pete" Fox was a Major League Baseball right fielder. He played thirteen seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox ....
: 96th best right fielder of all time - Tommy BridgesTommy BridgesThomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946...
: 77th best pitcher of all time