The 2000s saw many changes in baseball. The Yankee dynasty hit a championship drought, The Curse of The Bambino finally broke, and new dynasties in St. Louis and San Francisco came to life. Sadly, not much changed in Detroit. The Tigers posted 12 consecutive losing seasons from 1994 to 2005. It was tough being a Tigers fan, it felt destined that success would elude the team. Then came the magical year in 2006, when the Tigers roared their way to the World Series. In the next ten years, Detroit would experience just two losing seasons while making two trips to the summit of baseball.
Superstars such as Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera played pivotal roles in the Tigers’ run, those two players are headed to Cooperstown one day. However, it wasn’t just them; there were many brilliant role players in the Tigers clubhouse. Detroit built a deep roster full of top players who played a crucial role in the Tigers’ success. It’s time to acknowledge them.
Curtis Granderson
Granderson spent his early years in the bigs with Detroit. The outfielder excelled in the 2007 season with a stat line of .302/.361/.552, an excellent season. The outfielder hit 23 homers and his OPS was a fantastic .913. In his fourth year, Granderson finished tenth in MVP voting.
The Blue Island, IL native was also featured at all three outfield positions. Comerica Park can be tricky at the best of times, with the field opening up a lot near the bullpen wall. Granderson acquitted himself well as he moved around in the outfield.
In addition to the on-field play, Granderson brought a spark to the Tigers’ clubhouse. He was the fun, loveable guy that infused Detroit with youthful exuberance. Granderson gave the Tigers swagger and left Detroit far too early. Regardless, he was a crucial element in the early Tigers success of the mid-2000s. He enjoyed a superb career in New York, though no Tigers fan will ever forget his contributions in Detroit.
Bobby Higginson
Everyone underrates Higginson. The lefty missed out on the Tigers’ contender years, which should not diminish what he did for the team. Higginson kept the Tigers afloat during the lean, losing years. His 2000 season was the best of his career, when he hit 30 home runs, had 102 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. Higginson embodied Detroit grit during the 2000 season. On a bad team, Higginson kept exhibiting fight and determination. The slugging percentage was a brilliant .538.
Higginson wasn’t known for massive pop off his bat, yet he extracted everything he could. The same goes for his base running, as well. While he never tasted success in Detroit, Higginson won the hearts of Tigers fans everywhere.
Iván ‘Pudge’ Rodríguez
No fan can ignore Rodriguez’s time in Detroit. The legendary catcher changed the Tigers forever. Rodriguez signaled a mentality change at Comerica Park, providing excellence on the field.
His 2004 season was incredible. The batting average was an absurd .334. while All-Star, Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards all followed at the end of that season. The veteran catcher displayed near-perfection behind the plate and brought outstanding leadership to the team. Rodriguez taught the Tigers what it took to be successful, while Detroit gave him a new home where he felt loved. The team would not have made the World Series without Pudge nor would the Tigers have become winners without him.
Plácido Polanco
The Dominican-American infielder came to Detroit by way of trade from the Philadelphia Phillies. Polanco was 29 at the time; he had already experienced several big-league years in St. Louis and Philadelphia. Many Tigers fans felt the trade was a lateral move; it didn’t make the team better, nor did it make them worse. The deal gave Detroiters the same feeling a bag of plain potato chips does… it was all a bit too bland. How wrong they were.
Polanco became an instant hit in the second half of the 2005 season. After playing a pivotal role in the Tigers’ march to the World Series in 2006, Polanco then enjoyed his best season in 2007.
The righty’s slash line of .341/.388/.458/.846 in the Motor City that season was the best of his career. Fans marveled at Polanco’s patience in the box as he became one of the most consistent hitters in the lineup. It suited him; the Tigers lineup featured Cabrera, Granderson and Magglio Ordonez. They were the power hitters while Polanco set the table.
Adding to his consistent batting production was fantastic fielding at second. Tigers fans went from feeling ambivalent towards Polanco to downright loving him. He would win a Gold Glove award and a Silver Slugger award in 2007, and the season demonstrated that the Tigers won the trade.
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