1952 Detroit Tigers season

Regular season

As of 2025, the 1952 Tigers winning percentage ranks third-worst in the Tigers' history, as shown in this chart. The club was managed by Red Rolfe (April 15 through July 4), who compiled a win–loss record of 23–49 (.319), then by pitcher-manager Fred Hutchinson, who had a record of 27–55 (.329) from July 5 through closing day, September 28.

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Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

• June 3, 1952: Dizzy Trout, George Kell, Johnny Lipon, and Hoot Evers were traded by the Tigers to the Boston Red Sox for Walt Dropo, Fred Hatfield, Don Lenhardt, Johnny Pesky, and Bill Wight.
• August 14, 1952: Dick Littlefield, Marlin Stuart, Don Lenhardt and Vic Wertz were traded by the Tigers to the St. Louis Browns for Jim Delsing, Ned Garver, Bud Black and Dave Madison.

Roster

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

Other batters

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

Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included

Pitching

Starting pitchers

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

Other pitchers

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

Relief pitchers

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

Awards and accomplishments

League top five finishers

• Art Houtteman: AL leader in losses (20)
• Virgil Trucks: #2 in AL in losses (19)
• Ted Gray: #3 in AL in losses (17)

Players ranking among top 100 of all time at position

The following members of the 1952 Detroit Tigers are among the Top 100 of all time at their positions, as ranked by The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract in 2001:

• Jerry Priddy: 73rd best second baseman of all time
• Johnny Pesky: 20th best shortstop of all time (played 69 games for 1952 Tigers)
• George Kell: 30th best third baseman of all time (played only 39 games for 1952 Tigers)
• Vic Wertz: 61st best right fielder of all time
• Harvey Kuenn: 62nd best right fielder of all time (played only 19 games for 1952 Tigers)
• Hal Newhouser: 36th best pitcher of all time
• Virgil Trucks: 61st best pitcher of all time

Walt Dropo's consecutive hits streak

• Over a three-game stretch from July 14 to July 15, Walt Dropo had hits in 12 consecutive plate appearances to tie a major league record also held by Johnny Kling (1902).

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Jamestown

Notes

References

• Baseball-Reference.com 1952 Detroit Tigers

References

1. ''Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures'', 2008 Edition, p. 139, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, {{ISBN. 978-0-451-22363-0
2. [https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1952/TDET01952.htm Retrosheet.org]
3. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/d/dropowa01.shtml Walt Dropo] at ''Baseball Reference''
4. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/b/blackbu01.shtml Bud Black] at ''Baseball Reference''
5. McCosky, Chris. (2021-09-11). "Tigers' Miguel Cabrera makes history again, hits in 9 straight plate appearances". The Detroit News.