Lou Whitaker
Louis Rodman Whitaker Jr., nicknamed "Sweet Lou", is an American former professional baseball second baseman. Whitaker spent his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. From 1977 to 1995, he appeared in 2,390 games for the Tigers, third most in franchise history behind Ty Cobb and Al Kaline. He helped the Tigers win the 1984 World Series, was selected as an American League All-Star five consecutive years and won four Silver Slugger Awards and three Gold Glove Awards. The Tigers retired his No. 1 jersey in August 2022.
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Virginia, Whitaker was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1975. He spent three years in the minor leagues and was selected in 1976 as the most valuable player in the Florida State League. He made his Major League Baseball debut in September 1977 and won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1978. Whitaker won the Tiger of the Year award in 1983 after hitting.320 and tallying 206 hits. He repeated as Tiger of the Year in 1989 when he hit a career-high 28 home runs.
Whitaker and shortstop Alan Trammell played beside each other for 19 seasons and are the longest-running double play combination in major-league history. Whitaker was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.
Early life
Whitaker was born in Brooklyn, New York City, in 1957. In the late 1950s, his mother, Marion Arlene Williams, moved to Martinsville, Virginia. Whitaker was raised in Martinsville by his mother and grandmother. Asked in 1979 about his father, Whitaker said, "He's never done anything for me. I don't hate him. I haven't got time to hate anybody. I just don't care to meet him. There's nothing emotionally happening between us."Whitaker attended Martinsville High School. He played for the school's baseball team as a middle infielder and pitcher. Whitaker graduated in 1975 and committed to play college baseball for Ferrum College.
Professional baseball player
Minor leagues
The Detroit Tigers selected Whitaker in the fifth round, with the 99th overall selection, of the 1975 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Tigers rather than attend college. He made his professional debut in 1975 for the Bristol Tigers of the Rookie-level Appalachian League.Whitaker was the starting third baseman in 1976 for the Lakeland Tigers of the Class A Florida State League. Whitaker batted.297, had 48 stolen bases, and 62 runs batted in, and was named the league's most valuable player. In one game with Lakeland, he stole five bases, including three steals of home. Because of his "sweet swing" with the bat, Whitaker was given the nickname "Sweet Lou" while playing for Lakeland. Lakeland manager Jim Leyland said at the time: "For a youngster he's got a lot of poise and self-assurance. He's confident of his ability to play and nothing seems to bother him."
After the 1976 season, the Tigers sent Whitaker to instructional camp to convert him into a second baseman. Whitaker said at the time: "Detroit needs a second baseman. And even though I've never played that position I'm ready to try. I've got Eddie Brinkman teaching me and he's good. I hope that I can do as well." Brinkman later recalled, "Whitaker is such a natural athlete that he took to second base right away."
During winter ball before the 1977 season, the Tigers also paired Whitaker with shortstop Alan Trammell. In 1977, they both played for the Montgomery Rebels of the Double-A Southern League. Whitaker and Trammell were both named to the Southern League all-star team. Whitaker compiled a.280 batting average with 38 stolen bases, 58 bases on balls, and a.374 on-base percentage.
Rookie of the Year
In September 1977, the Tigers called up Whitaker and Trammell. Both made their major league debuts on September 9 against the Boston Red Sox. Whitaker went three-for-five with a stolen base, hit a double off the Green Monster at Fenway Park, and registered his first run batted in against the Baltimore Orioles. He appeared in 11 games at the end of the 1977 season, compiling a.250 batting average and.333 on-base percentage.In 1978, manager Ralph Houk started the season with Whitaker and Trammell platooning with Steve Dillard and Mark Wagner. By May, Whitaker and Trammell had established themselves as every day starters. Houk noted at the time, "Those two kids have just been great. They have played absolutely outstanding defensive ball. You saw Whitaker make a play very few second basemen in the league would have made." By August, Houk was effusive in his praise: "They're the best I've ever seen for their age. On the double plays, knowing where the ball is going to be, that's something you can't teach."
In his first full season, Whitaker appeared in 139 games, 123 of them as the Tigers' starting second baseman. He turned 95 double plays, scored 71 runs, stole 20 bases, and compiled a.285 batting average with a.361 on-base percentage. Detroit fans also began a long tradition in 1978, chanting, "Loooooooou" when Whitaker came to the plate. Whitaker recalled that he initially thought the crowd was booing him.
In November 1978, he was voted by the baseball writers as the winner of the American League Rookie of the Year Award. Whitaker received 21 of the 28 first-place votes, easily defeating Paul Molitor, Carney Lansford, Trammell, and Rich Gale. At the time, Whitaker said, "This is the biggest moment of my career. Winning the award makes me proud of myself for the things I have done."
1979 to 1982
Whitaker had another strong season in 1979. He compiled a.286 batting average, drew 78 bases on balls, and stole 20 bases.In 1980, Whitaker slumped at the plate, his batting average dropping 53 points from the previous season to.233.
In the strike-shortened 1981 season, Whitaker led the American League with 109 games played. His 354 assists led the league's second basemen and ranked third among all players in the league.
After hitting no more than five home runs in any of his previous seasons, Whitaker began to hit for power in 1982, tallying 15 home runs, eight triples, and a.286 batting average. He also had one of his best defensive seasons in 1982, leading the league's second basemen with 470 assists, 120 double plays turned, and a.988 fielding percentage. His 1.9 defensive wins above replacement rating ranked fourth highest in the American League among players at all positions.
All-Star in 1983
Whitaker enjoyed perhaps his finest overall season in 1983. He appeared in a career-high 161 games and compiled a.320 batting average and 206 hits, both of which were career highs and ranked third highest in the American League. He also had 40 doubles, six triples, 12 home runs, 72 runs batted in, 94 runs scored, and a.380 on-base percentage. His 1983 wins above replacement rating of 6.7 was the sixth best in the American League.He was selected for the first of five times to the American League All-Star team. He was selected as a reserve and entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning. He hit a triple that landed at the base of the 401-foot marker in Chicago's Comiskey Park and collected a run batted in as Ron Kittle scored on the play. At the end of the 1983 season, Whitaker won the following awards:
- On October 18, The Sporing News selected Whitaker as the second baseman on its annual post-season all-star team.
- On October 28, the Detroit chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America selected Whitaker for its "Tiger of the Year" award. Whitaker received 29 of 44 first-place votes, well ahead of Jack Morris who received seven first-place votes.
- On November 16, Whitaker was selected by The Sporting News for the American League Silver Slugger Award, as the best offensive player at second base.
- On December 6, Whitaker was selected as the Gold Glove Award winner as the best defensive second baseman in the American League. It was the first time in the history of the award that three players from a single team won Gold Gloves, as Alan Trammell and Lance Parrish also won the award at their positions.
World champion in 1984
In 1984, the Tigers opened the season with a 35–5 record and went on to defeat the Kansas City Royals in the 1984 American League Championship Series and the San Diego Padres in the 1984 World Series. Whitaker was the team's leadoff hitter and starting second baseman. He appeared in 142 games at second base and compiled a.289 batting average and 13 home runs. For the second consecutive year, he was selected as an American League All-Star and won Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards.Whitaker hit a double and scored in the first inning of Game 1 of the World Series. He hit.278 in the Series with a.409 on-base percentage, scoring six runs in the five games.
Whitaker's second daughter, Sarah, was born on October 14, 1984, the same day Detroit won the fifth and final game of the World Series.
Power surge in 1985
In 1985, Whitaker set a record for Detroit second basemen with 21 home runs, while topping 100 runs scored for the first time in his career.Whitaker was selected to play in the All-Star game for the third consecutive year, but forgot to pack his uniform. Making the discovery just before the game, he had to make do with replica merchandise available for purchase at the park. He obtained an adjustable mesh hat and a blank jersey. He finished off his outfit by scrawling his number on the back in magic marker. The Smithsonian requested the jersey and it remains a part of their collection.
1986 to 1992
In 1986, Whitaker hit another 20 homers and was part of a Tigers infield in which all four members hit at least 20 home runs. During the 1986 All-Star Game, he was one of the five players struck out consecutively by National League pitcher Fernando Valenzuela, tying Carl Hubbell's mark. Whitaker earlier hit a two-run homer in the game, which the American League won 3–2.In 1987, Whitaker scored a career-high 110 runs and won his final Silver Slugger award at second base as the Tigers edged out the Toronto Blue Jays on the final day of the regular season to win the AL East Division title.
Whitaker reached career highs with 28 homers and 85 RBI in 1989, one of four times he reached the 20-HR plateau, upping his record for the most homers in a season by a Tiger second baseman. Whitaker now shares the season record with Ian Kinsler, who hit 28 homers in 2016 as the Tigers regular second baseman.
Although 1990 saw Whitaker post his lowest batting average in ten years, he didn't let it affect his defense. On the season, Whitaker handled 664 chances and committed only 6 errors, for a career-best.991 fielding percentage. His 1990 range factor was 5.71, well above the league average of 5.23.
In 1991, Whitaker's 23 home runs and career-high 90 walks helped him to an.881 OPS, the highest of his career to that point. Whitaker reached three career milestones in 1992, recording his 2,000th game, 2,000th hit, and his 200th home run.