Lou Whitaker

Infobox MLB retired
name=Lou Whitaker


position=Second baseman
bats=Left
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1957|5|12
city-state|Brooklyn|New York
debutdate=September 9
debutyear=by|1977
debutteam=Detroit Tigers
finaldate=October 1
finalyear=by|1995
finalteam=Detroit Tigers
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.276
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=244
stat3label=Hits
stat3value=2,369
teams=
* Detroit Tigers (by|1977-by|1995)
highlights=
* 5x All-Star selection (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987)
* World Series champion (1984)
* 3x Gold Glove Award winner (1983, 1984, 1985)
* 4x Silver Slugger Award winner (1983, 1984, 1985, 1987)
* 1978 AL Rookie of the Year

Louis Rodman Whitaker, Jr. (born May 12, 1957 in New York City, New York) nicknamed Sweet Lou, is a former Major League Baseball player. Whitaker was a second baseman for the Detroit Tigers from by|1977 to by|1995. Along with teammate Alan Trammell, Whitaker is perhaps best known as half of the longest running "double play" combination in major league history.

Professional playing career

He first played with shortstop Alan Trammell while with the old Double-A Montgomery Rebels. The two first played together in the major leagues at the beginning of the by|1978 season. By the end of the season's first month, both players had won starting jobs. They would remain teammates until Whitaker retired in 1995. Trammell and Whitaker also made a cameo appearance together on the television show "Magnum, P.I." starring Tom Selleck, a rabid Tigers fan, during the 1983 season. (Magnum PI Season 4 Episode: A Sense of Debt. At minute 27 of the 48 minute episode.) [(Magnum PI Season 4 Episode: A Sense of Debt. At minute 27 of the 48 minute episode.) http://www.tv.com/magnum-p.i./a-sense-of-debt/episode/16065/summary.html]

In by|1978, Whitaker won the American League Rookie of the Year Award, hitting .285 with 71 runs, and a .361 on base percentage.

Whitaker enjoyed what was perhaps his best season in by|1983, hitting for a .320 average with 12 home runs, 72 runs batted in, and 94 runs. That year he made the first of five consecutive All-Star appearances. In by|1984, Whitaker and the Tigers won the World Series. The day Detroit clinched the Series was doubly special for Whitaker: the second eldest of his four daughters was born that day.

In by|1985, Whitaker set a record for Detroit second basemen with 21 home runs and, in by|1986, was a member of a Tigers infield in which every member hit at least twenty home runs. He hit a career-best 28 homers in by|1989, one of four times he reached the 20-HR plateau. Whitaker reached two career milestones in by|1992, recording both his 2,000th hit and his 200th home run. He is ranked in the top 3 of all time for second baseman.

Along with his American League contemporaries Frank White and Willie Randolph, Whitaker set the standard for defensive play at his position throughout the 1980s. Lou Whitaker is also only one of a select handful of players to ever hit a ball over the roof of old Tiger Stadium.

In his 19-year career, Whitaker batted .276 with 244 home runs, 1,084 RBIs, 1,386 runs, 2,369 hits, 420 doubles, 65 triples, and 143 stolen bases in 2,390 games. He also recorded a 1.089 walk-to-strikeout ratio (1197-to-1099). He retired following the 1995 season and has become an instructor with the Tigers during their spring training sessions in Lakeland, where he helps coaching hitters.

Hall of Fame Eligibility

Lou Whitaker is currently ineligible for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame; he did not receive the required five percent of the votes in his first (and only) year of eligibility (in 2001). Despite having statistics comparable to other second basemen in the Hall of Fame (including contemporary Ryne Sandberg, a third-year inductee), Whitaker was dismissed from the ballot after receiving fifteen votes, or 2.9%. This surprised many observers, including Bill James, who named Whitaker the thirteenth-best second baseman of all time in The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract. Many feel his Hall of Fame case is hampered by the fact he played in an unpopular market (Detroit), was quiet and reserved, and even the fact he is an African-American. Others point to his relative lack of honours such as Golden Gloves (three), All-Star appearances (five) and in the MVP balloting (he received votes only once, in 1983, finishing eighth). Whitaker is now ineligible for baseball's highest honor until 2015.

Since 1995, no Detroit Tiger has worn Whitaker's jersey number (#1), although the team has not officially retired it.

Whitaker's Team Records

Whitaker ranks among the Tigers' all time leaders in many categories, including the following:
* 1,099 strikeouts #1 in franchise history.
* 1,527 double plays #1 in franchise history.
* 1,197 bases on balls #2 in franchise history.
* 6,653 assists #2 in franchise history.
* 2,390 games played #3 in franchise history.
* 143 times grounded into a double play #3 in franchise history.
* 11,613 total chances #4 in franchise history
* 1,386 runs scored #4 in franchise history
* 75 time caught stealing #4 in franchise history.
* 412 doubles #5 in franchise history.
* 3,651 total bases #5 in franchise history.
* 2,369 hits #6 in franchise history.
* 244 home runs #6 in franchise history.
* 729 extra base hits #6 in franchise history.
* 1,084 RBIs #8 in franchise history.
* 189 errors #10 in franchise history
* 143 stolen bases #10 in franchise history.

1985 All Star Game

In the 1985 All Star game, Lou forgot to pack his uniform. Making this discovery just before the game, he had to make do with whatever replica merchandise was available for purchase at the park. He obtained an adjustable mesh hat and a blank jersey. He finished off his outfit by scrolling his number on the back in magic marker. The AL lost the game, 6-1. The Smithsonian requested the jersey and it was given to them by Mr. Whitaker and it remains a part of their collection to this day.

ee also

* 1984 Detroit Tigers season
* Top 500 home run hitters of all time
* List of Gold Glove middle infield duos
* List of major league players with 2,000 hits
* List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
* List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
* List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI

References

External links

*baseballstats |mlb= |espn= |br=w/whitalo01 |fangraphs=1013846 |cube=W/lou-whitaker
* [http://www.thebaseballpage.com/players/whitalo01.php The Baseball Page]
* [http://baseballevolution.com/halloffame/whitakerl.html Baseball Evolution Hall of Fame] - Player Profile