1952 Detroit Tigers season
Encyclopedia
The Detroit Tigers
had a record of 50–104 (.325) — the worst record in Tigers' history until the 2003 Tigers
lost 119 games. Virgil Trucks
became the third pitcher in major league history to throw two no-hitters in one season.
(April 15 through July 4), who compiled a win-loss record of 23–49 (.319), then by pitcher-manager Fred Hutchinson
, who had a record of 27–55 (.329) from July 5 through closing day, September 28.
Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included
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...
had a record of 50–104 (.325) — the worst record in Tigers' history until the 2003 Tigers
2003 Detroit Tigers season
The 2003 Detroit Tigers lost more games than any other team in American League history and came within one loss of tying the 1962 New York Mets for the most losses in modern major league history. The team’s record was 43-119, giving them a .265 winning percentage...
lost 119 games. Virgil Trucks
Virgil Trucks
Virgil Oliver Trucks is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1941 through 1958, Trucks played for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns , Chicago White Sox , Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees . He batted and threw right-handed...
became the third pitcher in major league history to throw two no-hitters in one season.
Regular season
The 1952 Tigers winning percentage ranks as the second worst in the Tigers' history, as shown in this chart. The club was managed by Red RolfeRed Rolfe
Robert Abial "Red" Rolfe was an American third baseman, manager and front-office executive in Major League Baseball. A native of Penacook, New Hampshire, he is one of the most prominent players to come from the Granite State...
(April 15 through July 4), who compiled a win-loss record of 23–49 (.319), then by pitcher-manager Fred Hutchinson
Fred Hutchinson
Frederick Charles Hutchinson was an American professional baseball player, a major league pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. He also was a manager for three major league teams...
, who had a record of 27–55 (.329) from July 5 through closing day, September 28.
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Notable transactions
- June 3, 1952: Dizzy TroutDizzy TroutPaul Howard "Dizzy" Trout was a Major League Baseball pitcher primarily for the Detroit Tigers. Born in Sandcut, Indiana, he first played professionally in 1935 with the Terre Haute Tots in the Three-I League before signing with Detroit in 1939.Trout played for the Tigers for fourteen seasons,...
, George KellGeorge KellGeorge Clyde Kell was an American baseball third baseman who played for the Philadelphia Athletics , Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox , and Baltimore Orioles in the American League, who went on to become a baseball broadcaster for 40 years.-Playing career:In college, Kell...
, Johnny LiponJohnny LiponJohn Joseph Lipon was an American Major League Baseball shortstop for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns and Cincinnati Reds over the course of 12 seasons . He was born in Martins Ferry, Ohio....
, and Hoot EversHoot EversWalter Arthur "Hoot" Evers was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played twelve seasons in the major leagues with the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , New York Giants , Baltimore Orioles , and Cleveland Indians ....
were traded by the Tigers to the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe 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"...
for Walt DropoWalt DropoWalter Dropo , nicknamed "Moose", was an American college basketball standout and a professional baseball first baseman...
, Fred HatfieldFred HatfieldFred James Hatfield , nicknamed "Scrap Iron", was a Major League Baseball infielder who played 9 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Boston Red Sox , Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians , and Cincinnati Redlegs .Born in Lanett, Alabama, Hatfield signed by the Boston Red Sox as an...
, Don LenhardtDon LenhardtDonald Eugene Lenhardt is a retired outfielder, first baseman, third baseman, scout and coach in American Major League Baseball. In his playing days, he stood , weighed , and threw and batted right-handed...
, Johnny PeskyJohnny PeskyJohn Michael Pesky , nicknamed "The Needle" and "Mr. Red Sox", was a Major League Baseball shortstop, third baseman, and manager. During a 10-year career, he played in 1942 and from 1946-1954 for three different teams. He missed all of the 1943, 1944, and 1945 seasons while serving in World War...
, and Bill WightBill WightWilliam Robert Wight was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox , Boston Red Sox , Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians , Baltimore Orioles , Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals . Listed at 6' 1", 180 lb...
. - August 14, 1952: Dick LittlefieldDick LittlefieldRichard Bernard "Dick" Littlefield was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for nine teams between 1950 and 1958.Born in Detroit, Michigan, he died there at age 71....
, Marlin StuartMarlin StuartMarlin Henry Stuart was an American Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He was born in Paragould, Arkansas....
, Don LenhardtDon LenhardtDonald Eugene Lenhardt is a retired outfielder, first baseman, third baseman, scout and coach in American Major League Baseball. In his playing days, he stood , weighed , and threw and batted right-handed...
and Vic WertzVic WertzVictor Woodrow Wertz was a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder. He had a seventeen year career from 1947 to 1963. He was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Tigers in 1942 and played for the Tigers, St...
were traded by the Tigers to the St. Louis BrownsBaltimore OriolesThe 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...
for Jim DelsingJim DelsingJames Henry Delsing was an American Major League Baseball outfielder who is most remembered for having been the pinch runner for -tall Eddie Gaedel on August 19,...
, Ned GarverNed GarverNed Franklin Garver was an American League pitcher playing from 1948 to 1961 winning 129 games in his major league career. Most of his career was spent playing for perennial second-division teams like the St. Louis Browns and Kansas City Athletics.In 1951, Garver fashioned an outstanding season....
, Bud Black and Dave MadisonDave MadisonDavid Pledger Madison was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played from , and with the New York Yankees, St. Louis Browns, and the Detroit Tigers. He batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Brooksville, Mississippi and died in Macon, Mississippi.Madison was an alumnus of Louisiana State...
.
Roster
| 1952 Detroit Tigers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
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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 | 113 | 307 | 68 | .221 | 6 | 36 | |
| 1B | 115 | 459 | 128 | .279 | 23 | 70 | |
| 2B | 75 | 279 | 79 | .283 | 4 | 20 | |
| 3B | 112 | 441 | 104 | .236 | 2 | 25 | |
| SS | 73 | 189 | 43 | .228 | 0 | 13 | |
| OF | 141 | 524 | 149 | .284 | 4 | 51 | |
| OF | 85 | 285 | 70 | .246 | 17 | 51 | |
| OF | 97 | 255 | 64 | .251 | 7 | 35 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | 265 | 66 | .249 | 13 | 45 | |
| 74 | 231 | 56 | .242 | 0 | 14 | |
| 86 | 193 | 26 | .197 | 9 | 23 | |
| 69 | 177 | 45 | .254 | 1 | 9 | |
| 56 | 173 | 41 | .237 | 3 | 13 | |
| 39 | 152 | 45 | .296 | 1 | 17 | |
| 45 | 144 | 27 | .188 | 3 | 13 | |
| 39 | 136 | 30 | .221 | 0 | 12 | |
| 19 | 80 | 26 | .325 | 0 | 8 | |
| 7 | 18 | 3 | .167 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 |
Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 224 | 12 | 17 | 4.14 | 138 | |
| 35 | 221 | 8 | 20 | 4.36 | 109 | |
| 35 | 197 | 5 | 19 | 3.97 | 129 | |
| 25 | 154 | 9 | 9 | 3.74 | 57 | |
| 23 | 143.7 | 5 | 9 | 3.88 | 57 | |
| 1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 2.00 | 3 | |
| 2 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 10.13 | 0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 125 | 2 | 7 | 4.32 | 65 | |
| 10 | 27 | 1 | 5 | 5.33 | 20 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4.34 | 32 | |
| 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3.38 | 12 | |
League top five finishers
- Art HouttemanArt HouttemanArthur Joseph Houtteman was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for 12 seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles...
: AL leader in losses (20) - Virgil TrucksVirgil TrucksVirgil Oliver Trucks is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1941 through 1958, Trucks played for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns , Chicago White Sox , Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees . He batted and threw right-handed...
: #2 in AL in losses (19) - Ted GrayTed GrayTed Glenn Gray was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played eight seasons with the Detroit Tigers , and then had short stints during the season with the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, and Baltimore Orioles.A native Detroiter, Gray was a star pitcher at Highland Park...
: #3 in AL in losses (17)
Players ranking among top 100 of all time at position
The following members of the 1952 Detroit Tigers are among the Top 100 of all time at their positions, as ranked by The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract in 2001:- Jerry PriddyJerry PriddyGerald Edward "Jerry" Priddy , was a second baseman in Major League Baseball for 11 years. He played for the New York Yankees , Washington Senators , St. Louis Browns , and Detroit Tigers .-Career overview:Priddy appeared in 1,296 major league baseball games...
: 73rd best second baseman of all time - Johnny PeskyJohnny PeskyJohn Michael Pesky , nicknamed "The Needle" and "Mr. Red Sox", was a Major League Baseball shortstop, third baseman, and manager. During a 10-year career, he played in 1942 and from 1946-1954 for three different teams. He missed all of the 1943, 1944, and 1945 seasons while serving in World War...
: 20th best shortstop of all time (played 69 games for 1952 Tigers) - George KellGeorge KellGeorge Clyde Kell was an American baseball third baseman who played for the Philadelphia Athletics , Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox , and Baltimore Orioles in the American League, who went on to become a baseball broadcaster for 40 years.-Playing career:In college, Kell...
: 30th best third baseman of all time (played only 39 games for 1952 Tigers) - Vic WertzVic WertzVictor Woodrow Wertz was a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder. He had a seventeen year career from 1947 to 1963. He was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Tigers in 1942 and played for the Tigers, St...
: 61st best right fielder of all time - Harvey KuennHarvey KuennHarvey Edward Kuenn was an American player, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. As a shortstop and outfielder, he played with the Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians , San Francisco Giants , Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies . He batted and threw right-handed...
: 62nd best right fielder of all time (played only 19 games for 1952 Tigers) - Hal NewhouserHal NewhouserHarold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
: 36th best pitcher of all time - Virgil TrucksVirgil TrucksVirgil Oliver Trucks is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1941 through 1958, Trucks played for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns , Chicago White Sox , Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees . He batted and threw right-handed...
: 61st best pitcher of all time