1951 Detroit Tigers season

1951 Detroit Tigers
Major League affiliations
American League (since 1901)
Location
Briggs Stadium (since 1912)
Detroit, Michigan (since 1901)
Other information
Owner(s)	Walter Briggs, Sr.
General manager(s)	Billy Evans
Manager(s)	Red Rolfe
Local television	WWJ (Harry Heilmann, Paul Williams, Ty Tyson)
Local radio	WJBK/WXYZ (Paul Williams, Ty Tyson)
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The 1951 Detroit Tigers season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fifth in the American League with a record of 73–81, 25 games behind the New York Yankees.

Offseason

• January 20, 1951: Marv Grissom and George Vico were traded by the Tigers to the Seattle Rainiers for Wayne McLeland.^[1]

Regular season

On August 19, the Tigers played a doubleheader in St. Louis against the Browns. In the second game, after the Tigers had batted in the top of the first inning, the Browns sent midget Eddie Gaedel up to pinch-hit for leadoff batter Frank Saucier. Gaedel, at a height of 3'7", is to date the shortest player to appear in a Major League Baseball game. Umpire Ed Hurley challenged the decision to allow Gaedel to participate in an at-bat. Browns manager Zack Taylor produced a contract.^[2] Tigers pitcher Bob Cain walked him.^[3] Jim Delsing pinch ran for Gaedel,^[3] but failed to score. The Tigers won the game, 6–2.

Season standings

American League	W	L	Pct.	GB
New York Yankees	98	56	.636	--
Cleveland Indians	93	61	.604	5
Boston Red Sox	87	67	.565	11
Chicago White Sox	81	73	.526	17
Detroit Tigers	73	81	.474	25
Philadelphia Athletics	70	84	.455	28
Washington Senators	62	92	.403	36
St. Louis Browns	52	102	.338	46

Record vs. opponents

1951 American League Records Sources:
Team	BOS	CWS	CLE	DET	NYY	PHI	STL	WSH
Boston	—	11–11	8–14	12–10	11–11	15–7	15–7	15–7
Chicago	11–11	—	12–10–1	12–10	8–14	9–13	15–7	14–8
Cleveland	14–8	10–12–1	—	17–5	7–15	16–6	16–6	13–9
Detroit	10–12	10–12	5–17	—	10–12	13–9	12–10	13–9
New York	11–11	14–8	15–7	12–10	—	13–9	17–5	16–6
Philadelphia	7–15	13–9	6–16	9–13	9–13	—	14–8	12–10
St. Louis	7–15	7–15	6–16	10–12	5–17	8–14	—	9–13
Washington	7–15	8–14	9–13	9–13	6–16	10–12	13–9	—

All-Star Game

The 1951 All-Star Game was originally awarded to the Philadelphia Phillies. The City of Detroit was celebrating the 250th anniversary of its founding in 1701 and requested to host the year's All-Star Game. Although the National League was scheduled to host the game in '51, the game was moved to Detroit's Briggs Stadium to coincide with the city's celebration. The Phillies instead hosted the 1952 All-Star Game at Shibe Park.^[4]

Roster

1951 Detroit Tigers
Roster
Pitchers 37 Gene Bearden 15 Hank Borowy 21,23,31 Bob Cain 31 Paul Calvert 34 Ted Gray 20 Ray Herbert 29 Fred Hutchinson 18 Earl Johnson 37 Dick Marlowe 19 Wayne McLeland 16 Hal Newhouser 23 Saul Rogovin 24,42 Marlin Stuart 11 Dizzy Trout 22 Virgil Trucks 25 Hal White		Catchers 26 Joe Ginsberg 35 Frank House  1 Aaron Robinson  9 Bob Swift Infielders  8 Neil Berry 46 Al Federoff  7 George Kell 17 Don Kolloway 30 Dick Kryhoski  2 Johnny Lipon  4 Jerry Priddy		Outfielders 14 Hoot Evers  3 Johnny Groth 27 Charlie Keller  6 Pat Mullin 12 Steve Souchock 18 Russ Sullivan  5 Vic Wertz Other batters 21 Doc Daugherty		Manager 10 Red Rolfe Coaches 28 Dick Bartell 36 Rick Ferrell 33 Ted Lyons

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
SS	Lipon, JohnnyJohnny Lipon	129	487	129	.265	0	38

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Cain, BobBob Cain	35	149.1	11	10	4.70	58
McLeland, WayneWayne McLeland	6	11	0	1	8.18	0

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Bearden, GeneGene Bearden	37	3	4	0	4.33	38

Farm system

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Toledo Mud Hens	American Association	Jack Tighe
AA	Little Rock Travelers	Southern Association	Gene Desautels
A	Williamsport Tigers	Eastern League	Schoolboy Rowe
B	Durham Bulls	Carolina League	Ace Parker
B	Davenport Tigers	Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League	Marv Olson
D	Richmond Tigers	Ohio–Indiana League	Ralph DiLullo
D	Jamestown Falcons	PONY League	Tony Lupien
D	Wausau Lumberjacks	Wisconsin State League	Bob Benish

Notes

1. Marv Grissom at Baseball Reference
2. Numbelivable!, p. 92, Michael X. Ferraro and John Veneziano, Triumph Books, Chicago, Illinois, 2007, ISBN 978-1-57243-990-0
3. Numbelivable!, p. 93
4. Vincent, David; Lyle Spatz; David W. Smith (2001). The Midsummer Classic: The Complete History of Baseball's All-Star Game. University of Nebraska Press. p. 111. ISBN 0-8032-9273-2.

References

• Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (1997). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (2nd ed.). Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America. ISBN 978-0-9637189-8-3.
• 1951 Detroit Tigers season at Baseball Reference