Detroit Tigers

Rocky Colavito (1933–2024), Cleveland’s great MLB slugger

Rocky Colavito was a popular Major League Baseball player with the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers in the 1950s and ‘60s, a six-time all-star who was one of the great sluggers of his era.

Don Wert (1938–2024), World Series-winning Detroit Tiger

Don Wert was a third baseman for the Detroit Tigers throughout the 1960s, going to the All-Star Game and winning the World Series in 1968.

Billy Bean (1964–2024), baseball player and LGBTQ+ advocate

Billy Bean was a baseball player for the Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Diego Padres who became the second Major League Baseball player to come out as gay.

Whitey Herzog (1931–2024), Hall of Fame MLB manager

Whitey Herzog was a baseball player and manager best known for his time leading the St. Louis Cardinals.

Willie Hernández (1954–2023), Detroit Tigers MVP relief pitcher

Guillermo “Willie” Hernández was a relief pitcher who helped the Detroit Tigers to victory in the 1984 World Series.

Roger Craig (1930–2023), former MLB pitcher and coach 

Roger Craig was a former MLB pitcher, coach, and manager who was part of four World Championship teams and whose advocacy for the split-finger fastball helped popularize the pitch.

Nate Colbert (1946–2023), San Diego Padres all-time home run leader

Nate Colbert was a three-time All-Star for the San Diego Padres in the 1960s and ‘70s and remains the franchise’s home run leader.

Eddie Robinson (1920–2021), oldest living former MLB player

Eddie Robinson was the oldest living former Major League Baseball (MLB) player and the last surviving member of the 1948 World Series winning Cleveland Indians.

Bill Freehan (1941–2021), All-Star catcher with the Detroit Tigers

Bill Freehan was a catcher for the Detroit Tigers in the 1960s and ‘70s, who helped lead the team to a 1968 World Series win against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Mike Marshall (1943–2021), Cy Young Award-winning pitcher

Mike Marshall was an MLB pitcher who was the first relief pitcher to win the Cy Young Award.

Tony Taylor (1935–2020), MLB All-Star with the Philadelphia Phillies

Tony Taylor was a Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and Detroit Tigers.

Al Kaline (1934–2020), Detroit Tigers legend

Al Kaline was the beloved Detroit Tiger Hall of Fame outfielder known as "Mr. Tiger."

Rusty Staub (1944–2018), orange-haired baseball All-Star

Rusty Staub, the orange-haired outfielder who became a huge hit with baseball fans in two countries during an All-Star career that spanned 23 major league seasons, died Thursday, March 29, 2018, according to the Associated Press. He was 73.

Frank Lary (1930 – 2017), Detroit Tigers pitcher dubbed the “Yankee Killer”

Frank Lary, former All-Star Detroit Tigers pitcher, died Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, after being hospitalized with pneumonia, according to The Associated Press. He was 87.

Dean Chance (1941-2015), Cy Young Award-winning pitcher

Dean Chance, the Cy Young Award-winning pitcher who palled around with the Hollywood jet set, died Sunday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the Associated Press reported. He was 74.