Table 1 shows that Alan Trammell is the all-time Tigers leader at shortstop with 66.9 WAR. He is followed by Donie Bush (36.7 WAR from 1908-1921) and Billy Rogell (24.4 WAR from 1930-1939). Current Tiger Carlos Guillen, who has played more games at shortstop than any other position, is fifth (18.7).
Table 2 tells us that Trammell also leads in WAR/600 plate appearances (WAR600) with 4.37. Some readers may not have heard of the second man on the list. Kid Elberfeld (4.10 WAR600) was one of the original Tigers playing 286 games from 1901-1903. Elberfeld played for six different teams over 14 years from 1898-1911 and posted an OPS+ of 105 in 1,292 games.
Table 1: Tigers Top Ten Shortstops by WAR
Player | PA | WAR |
Alan Trammell | 9,175 | 66.9 |
Donie Bush | 8.124 | 36.7 |
Billy Rogell | 5,025 | 24.4 |
Harvey Kuenn | 4,702 | 19.3 |
Carlos Guillen | 2,936 | 18.7 |
Topper Rigney | 1,901 | 9.2 |
Kid Elberfeld | 1,198 | 8.2 |
Johnny Lipon | 2,580 | 5.1 |
Deivi Cruz | 2,489 | 4.0 |
Eddie Lake | 1,981 | 3.6 |
Table 2: Tigers Top Five Shortstops by WAR per 600 PA
Player | PA | WAR600 |
Alan Trammell | 9,175 | 4.37 |
Kid Elberfeld | 1,198 | 4.10 |
Carlos Guillen | 2,936 | 3.82 |
Topper Rigney | 1,901 | 2.90 |
Donie Bush | 8,124 | 2.71 |
How sad is the history of Tiger shortstops in their 109 year history that Deivi Cruz makes the top 10.
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