Louis Rodman (Lou) Whitaker

Louis Rodman (Lou) Whitaker Jr.

Detroit Tigers Player (1977 – 1995)

Lou Whitaker was born in Brooklyn, New York before moving to Martinsville, Virginia and graduating from Martinsville High School. Whitaker had planned on attending Ferrum College but was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the fifth round of the 1975 MLB draft, moving up to the major League level in late 1977. By the start of the 1978 season Whitaker became a fixture in the middle of the Tigers infield through the 1995 season and would team up with Shortstop Alan Trammell to form one of the greatest and longest running (1,918 games) double play combinations in baseball history. Whitaker’s outstanding career started by winning the American League Rookie of the year award in 1978. He was a five-time All-Star, a three-time Gold Glove Award winner, a four-time Silver Slugger Award winner and helped the Tigers win the 1984 World Series. By the time his career was complete, Whitaker had collected 2,369 hits and 244 home runs with a .276 lifetime batting average. Lou Whitaker was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.