Detroit Tigers award winners and league leaders
# Detroit Tigers award winners and league leaders

This is a list of award winners and league leaders for the Detroit Tigers professional baseball team.

## Awards and achievements

### American League Most Valuable Player Award (12)

* 1911 – Ty Cobb
* 1934 – Mickey Cochrane
* 1935 – Hank Greenberg
* 1937 – Charlie Gehringer
* 1940 – Hank Greenberg
* 1944 – Hal Newhouser
* 1945 – Hal Newhouser
* 1968 – Denny McLain
* 1984 – Willie Hernández
* 2011 – Justin Verlander
* 2012 – Miguel Cabrera
* 2013 – Miguel Cabrera

### American League Cy Young Award (5)

* 1968 – Denny McLain
* 1969 – Denny McLain
* 1984 – Willie Hernández
* 2011 – Justin Verlander
* 2013 – Max Scherzer

### American League Triple Crown (4)

* 1909 – Ty Cobb, batting
* 1945 – Hal Newhouser, pitching
* 2011 – Justin Verlander, pitching
* 2012 – Miguel Cabrera, batting

### American League Rookie of the Year award (5)

* 1953 – Harvey Kuenn
* 1976 – Mark Fidrych
* 1978 – Lou Whitaker
* 2006 – Justin Verlander
* 2016 – Michael Fulmer

### American League Manager of the Year (3)

    See footnote
* 1984 – Sparky Anderson
* 1987 – Sparky Anderson
* 2006 – Jim Leyland

### Fielding Bible Award (2)

| Center field 2011 – Austin Jackson | Second base 2015 – Ian Kinsler |
| - | - |

### Gold Glove Award (43)

Key :

| † | Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame |
| - | - |
| Player | Position | Times Won | Years |
| Frank Bolling | 2B | 1 | 1958 |
| Ed Brinkman | SS | 1 | 1972 |
| Yoenis Céspedes | OF | 1 | 2015 |
| Bill Freehan | C | 5 | 1965–1969 |
| Al $Kaline^†$ | OF | 10 | 1957–1959, 1961–1967 |
| Ian Kinsler | 2B | 1 | 2016 |
| Frank Lary | P | 1 | 1961 |
| Lance Parrish | C | 3 | 1983–1985 |
| Gary Pettis | OF | 2 | 1988, 1989 |
| Plácido Polanco | 2B | 2 | 2007, 2009 |
| Aurelio Rodríguez | 3B | 1 | 1976 |
| Iván $Rodríguez^†$ | C | 3 | 2004, 2006, 2007 |
| Kenny Rogers | P | 1 | 2006 |
| Mickey Stanley | OF | 4 | 1968–1970, 1973 |
| Alan $Trammell^†$ | SS | 4 | 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984 |
| Lou Whitaker | 2B | 3 | 1983–1985 |

### Silver Slugger Award (33)

Key :

| † | Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame |
| - | - |
| Player | Position | Times Won | Years |
| Alex Avila | C | 1 | 2011 |
| Miguel Cabrera | 1B, 3B | 5 | 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 |
| Damion Easley | 2B | 1 | 1998 |
| Cecil Fielder | 1B | 2 | 1990, 1991 |
| Prince Fielder | 1B | 1 | 2012 |
| Travis Fryman | SS | 1 | 1992 |
| Torii Hunter | OF | 1 | 2013 |
| J. D. Martinez | OF | 1 | 2015 |
| Víctor Martínez | DH | 1 | 2014 |
| Matt Nokes | C | 1 | 1987 |
| Magglio Ordóñez | OF | 1 | 2007 |
| Dean Palmer | 3B | 1 | 1999 |
| Lance Parrish | C | 5 | 1980, 1982–1984, 1986 |
| Plácido Polanco | 2B | 1 | 2007 |
| Iván $Rodríguez^†$ | C | 1 | 2004 |
| Mickey Tettleton | C | 2 | 1991, 1992 |
| Alan $Trammell^†$ | SS | 3 | 1987, 1988, 1990 |
| Lou Whitaker | 2B | 4 | 1983–1985, 1987 |

### Edgar Martínez Award

* 1975 – Willie Horton
* 1978 – Rusty Staub
* 2014 – Víctor Martínez

### Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award (3)

**Team (at all positions)**

* 2012 – Austin Jackson
* 2013 – Austin Jackson

**Second base (in MLB)**

* 2014 – Ian Kinsler

### American League Championship Series MVP Award (3)

* 1984 – Kirk Gibson
* 2006 – Plácido Polanco
* 2012 – Delmon Young

### World Series MVP Award (2)

* 1968 – Mickey Lolich
* 1984 – Alan Trammell

### MLB "This Year in Baseball Awards"

    See: This Year in Baseball Awards#Award winners
    Note: Voted by fans as the best in all of Major League Baseball (i.e., not two awards, one for each league).

**"This Year in Baseball Awards" MLB MVP**

* 2012 – Miguel Cabrera
* 2013 – Miguel Cabrera

**"This Year in Baseball Awards" Defensive Player of the Year**

* 2007 – Plácido Polanco

**"This Year in Baseball Awards" Play of the Year**

* 2007 – Curtis Granderson

**"This Year in Baseball Awards" Performance of the Year**

* 2010 – Armando Galarraga

**"Greatness in Baseball Yearly (GIBBY)" Starting Pitcher**

* 2011 – Justin Verlander

**"Greatness in Baseball Yearly (GIBBY)" Closer**

* 2011 – José Valverde

### Players Choice Awards

**Player of the Year**

* 2011 – Justin Verlander
* 2012 – Miguel Cabrera
* 2013 – Miguel Cabrera (2)

**Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award**

* 2009 – Curtis Granderson
* 2010 – Brandon Inge

**Outstanding Player**

* 2012 – Miguel Cabrera
* 2013 – Miguel Cabrera (2)

**Outstanding Pitcher**

* 2011 – Justin Verlander
* 2013 – Max Scherzer

**Outstanding Rookie**

* 2006 – Justin Verlander
* 2010 – Austin Jackson
* 2016 – Michael Fulmer

### MLB All-Century Team (1999)

    See: Major League Baseball All-Century Team
* Ty Cobb (1 of 10 outfielders)

### MLB All-Time Team (BBWAA) (1997)

    See: Major League Baseball All-Time Team
* Ty Cobb (CF; runner-up)

### DHL Hometown Heroes (2006)

* Ty Cobb — voted by MLB fans as the most outstanding player in the history of the franchise, based on on-field performance, leadership quality and character value

### USA Today AL MVP

* 2011 – Miguel Cabrera

### USA Today AL Top Pitcher

* 2011 – Justin Verlander

### American League Rolaids Relief Man Award

    See footnote
* 2000 – Todd Jones
* 2011 – José Valverde

### Sporting News AL Reliever of the Year Award

    See footnote

**The Sporting News AL Fireman of the Year Award (1960–2000; for closers)**

* 1973 – John Hiller
* 2000 – Todd Jones

### Sporting News AL Rookie of the Year Award

* 2016 – Michael Fulmer

### Topps All-Star Rookie teams

* 1961 – Jake Wood (2B)
* 1970 – Les Cain (LHP)
* 1975 – Tom Veryzer (SS)
* 1976 – Jason Thompson (1B) & Mark Fidrych (RHP)
* 1977 – Dave Rozema (RHP)
* 1980 – Rick Peters (OF)
* 1987 – Matt Nokes (C)
* 1988 – Paul Gibson (LHP)
* 1991 – Milt Cuyler (OF) & Mark Leiter (LHP)
* 1992 – Scott Livingstone (3B)
* 1994 – Chris Gomez (SS)
* 1996 – Tony Clark (1B)
* 2002 – Ramon Santiago (SS)
* 2006 – Justin Verlander (RHP)
* 2010 – Austin Jackson (OF)
* 2013 – José Iglesias (SS)

### Sporting News American League Comeback Player of the Year

* 1965 – Norm Cash
* 1971 – Norm Cash
* 1973 – John Hiller
* 1983 – Alan Trammell

### Hutch Award

* 1969 – Al Kaline
* 1973 – John Hiller

### Ford C. Frick Award (broadcasters)

* 1981 – Ernie Harwell

### BBWAA Career Excellence Award (baseball writers)

* 1968 – H. G. Salsinger
* 2001 – Joe Falls
* 2015 – Tom Gage
* 2022 – John Lowe

## Team award

* 1907 – American League pennant
* 1908 – American League pennant
* 1909 – American League pennant
* 1934 – American League pennant
* 1935 – American League pennant
* 1935 – World Series championship
* 1940 – American League pennant
* 1945 – American League pennant
* 1945 – World Series championship
* 1968 – American League pennant
* 1968 – World Series Trophy
* 1984 – William Harridge Trophy (American League champion)
* 1984 – World Series Trophy
* 1997 – Baseball America Organization of the Year
* 2006 – William Harridge Trophy (American League champion)
* 2012 – William Harridge Trophy (American League champion)
* 2013 – Commissioner's Award for Philanthropic Excellence

## Minor-league system

### USA Today Minor League Player of the Year Award

* 1998 – Gabe Kapler (OF)

## Other achievements

### National Baseball Hall of Fame

    See: Detroit Tigers#Baseball Hall of Famers

### Retired numbers

    See: Detroit Tigers#Retired numbers and honorees

### Tiger of the Year

The following players were selected as "Tiger of the Year" by the Detroit chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

* 2022 – Riley Greene: .253 batting average; 18 doubles; 5 home runs; 52 RBIs; .707 OPS
* 2021 – Jeimer Candelario: .271 batting average; 42 doubles (T-1st in MLB); 16 home runs; 67 RBIs; .795 OPS
* 2020 – Jeimer Candelario: .297 batting average; 3 triples (T-2nd in AL); 7 home runs; 29 RBIs; .872 OPS
* 2019 – Matthew Boyd: 9-12 record; 4.56 ERA; 238 strikeouts (6th in AL); 7.46 K/BB ratio (4th in AL) ;1.23 WHIP (9th in AL)
* 2018 - Nicholas Castellanos: .298 batting average; 23 home runs; 46 doubles; 89 RBIs; .854 OPS; .500 slugging
* 2017 – Justin Upton: .279 batting average; 28 home runs; 37 doubles; 94 RBIs; .904 OPS; .542 slugging
* 2016 – Justin Verlander: 16–9 record; 3.04 ERA (2nd in AL); Led AL with 254 strikeouts and 1.00 WHIP; 6.61 WAR (1st in AL among pitchers)
* 2015 – J. D. Martinez: .282 batting average; 33 doubles; 38 home runs (8th in AL); 102 RBIs (7th in AL); .879 OPS (9th in AL); .993 fielding percentage; 15 outfield assists (2nd in AL)
* 2014 – Víctor Martínez: .335 batting average (2nd in AL); 103 RBIs; .409 on-base percentage (1st in AL); .974 OPS (1st in MLB)
* 2013 – Miguel Cabrera: AL MVP; .348 batting average (1st in MLB); 44 home runs (2nd in MLB); 137 RBIs (2nd in MLB)
* 2012 – Miguel Cabrera: AL MVP; Triple Crown winner; .330 batting average (1st in MLB); 44 home runs (1st in MLB); 139 RBIs (1st in MLB)
* 2011 – Justin Verlander: AL MVP; Triple Crown winner; 24–5 record; 2.40 ERA
* 2010 – Miguel Cabrera: .328 batting average; 38 home runs; 45 doubles; 126 RBIs; .622 slugging
* 2009 – Justin Verlander: 19–9 record; 3.45 ERA; Led AL with 35 games started, 240.0 innings pitched, 269 strikeouts and 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings.
* 2008 – Miguel Cabrera: .292 batting average; 37 home runs (1st in AL); 36 doubles; 127 RBIs (3rd in AL); .537 slugging (7th in AL)
* 2007 – Magglio Ordóñez: .363 average (led Major League Baseball); 54 doubles (led MLB); 139 RBIs (2nd in American League), .434 on base (2nd in AL), .595 slugging (4th in AL)
* 2006 – Carlos Guillén: .320 average; .400 on base; .519 slugging; 41 doubles; 100 runs; No. 10 in AL MVP voting
* 2005 – Plácido Polanco: 338 average and .461 slugging in 86 games
* 2004 – Iván Rodríguez: Gold Glove at catcher; .334 average; .510 slugging; 33 doubles; No. 10 in AL MVP voting
* 2003 – Dmitri Young: 29 home runs; .297 average; .372 on base; .537 slugging
* 2002 – Randall Simon: 19 home runs; .301 average
* 2001 – Steve Sparks: Led AL in complete games (8)
* 2000 – Bobby Higginson: .300 average; .538 slugging; 40 doubles; 30 home runs; 102 RBIs; 104 runs; 19 OF assists
* 1999 – Dean Palmer: 38 home runs; 100 RBIs; .518 slugging
* 1998 – Damion Easley: 38 doubles; 27 home runs; 100 RBIs
* 1997 – Tony Clark: 32 home runs; 117 RBIs; 105 runs; .500 slugging
* 1997 – Bobby Higginson: .299 average; .379 on base; .520 slugging; 27 home runs; 20 OF assists
* 1996 – Travis Fryman: 22 home runs; 100 RBIs
* 1995 – Travis Fryman: .275 average; 81 RBIs
* 1994 – Kirk Gibson: 23 home runs; .548 slugging
* 1993 – Tony Phillips: .313 average; .443 on base; 113 runs
* 1992 – Cecil Fielder: 35 home runs; 124 RBIs; No. 9 in AL MVP voting
* 1991 – Cecil Fielder: 44 home runs: 133 RBIs; 102 runs; No. 2 in AL MVP voting
* 1990 – Cecil Fielder: 51 home runs; 132 RBIs; 104 runs; .592 slugging; No. 2 in AL MVP voting
* 1989 – Lou Whitaker: 28 home runs; .361 on base pct; .462 slugging
* 1988 – Alan Trammell: .311 average; No. 7 in AL MVP voting
* 1987 – Alan Trammell: .343 average; .402 on base; .551 slugging; 28 home runs; 105 RBIs; No. 2 in AL MVP voting
* 1986 – Jack Morris: 21–8 record; .724 win percentage; No. 5 in AL Cy Young voting
* 1985 – Darrell Evans: AL HR leader at age 38 with 40 HRs; .518 slugging; No. 14 in AL MVP voting
* 1984 – Willie Hernández: AL MVP and Cy Young Awards; 1.92 ERA; 68 games finished
* 1983 – Lou Whitaker: Gold Glove at 2nd base; .320 average; 205 hits; No. 8 in AL MVP voting
* 1982 – Lance Parrish: 32 home runs; .529 slugging; No. 13 in AL MVP voting
* 1981 – Kirk Gibson: .328 average; No. 12 in AL MVP voting
* 1980 – Alan Trammell: Gold Glove at shortstop; .300 average; .376 on base pct.
* 1979 – Steve Kemp: 318 average; .543 slugging; 26 home runs; 105 RBIs
* 1978 – Ron LeFlore: Led AL in stolen bases (68) and runs (126)
* 1977 – Ron LeFlore: .325 average; 212 hits; 100 runs
* 1976 – Mark Fidrych: Year of the Bird; 19 wins; 2.34 ERA; Rookie of the Year Award; No. 2 in AL Cy Young voting
* 1975 – Willie Horton: 25 home runs; 92 RBIs
* 1974 – Al Kaline: Kaline's final season; 3,000th hit
* 1973 – John Hiller: 1.44 ERA; 65 games; No. 4 in AL MVP voting; AL Hutch Award
* 1972 – Ed Brinkman: Gold Glove award at shortstop; .990 fielding percentage; No. 9 in AL MVP and CY Young voting
* 1971 – Mickey Lolich: Led AL in wins (25) and strikeouts (308); No. 2 in Cy Young voting; No. 5 in AL MVP voting
* 1970 – Tom Timmermann: 61 games; 43 games finished; 27 saves
* 1969 – Denny McLain: 24 wins; 2.80 ERA; .727 win percentage
* 1968 – Denny McLain: 31 wins; 1.96 ERA; .280 strikeouts; 838 win pct.; Cy Young and AL MVP awards
* 1967 – Bill Freehan: Gold Glove award at catcher; .389 on-base percentage; No. 3 in AL MVP voting
* 1966 – Denny McLain: 20 wins; .727 win percentage; No. 15 in AL MVP voting
* 1965 – Don Wert: .341 on-base percentage; 331 assists at third base; No. 10 in AL MVP voting

### King Tiger Award

    See: King Tiger Award

### Sporting News Sportsman of the Year

    See: Sporting News#Sportsman of the Year
* 1968 – Denny McLain
