Top 5 Leaders in Home Runs for the Detroit Tigers

(last updated on December 9, 2025)

After the last two years of postseason excitement, the Detroit Tigers may be regular contenders again. But before we can look forward, we must first look back at this proud franchise with some all-time names. This is the franchise of Cobb, Crawford, Kaline, and Greenberg, and those are just the old timers. Since 1901, the Tigers have made 18 playoff appearances, won 11 American League pennants, and captured 4 World Series titles. We are going to visit Motown to find out who has blasted the most long balls at old Tiger Stadium and Comerica Park. Here are the all-time leaders in home runs for the Detroit Tigers.

Willie Horton

Positions: Leftfielder and Designated Hitter

Bats: Right  •  Throws: Right

5-11, 209lb (180cm, 94kg)

Born: October 18, 1942 (Age: 82-119d) in Arno, VA us

High School: Northwestern HS (Detroit, MI)

Debut: September 10, 1963 (Age 20-327d, 12,160th in major league history)
   vs. WSA 1 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB

Last Game: October 5, 1980 (Age 37-353d)
   vs. TEX 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB

Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1964 season

Full Name: William Wattison Horton

Nicknames: Willie the Wonder or The Ancient Mariner

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• 4x All-Star
• 1968 World Series

+6

SUMMARY

Career

WAR

26.4

AB

7298

H

1993

HR

325

BA

.273

R

873

RBI

1163

SB

20

OBP

.332

SLG

.457

OPS

.789

OPS+

120

Baby Boomers from the Motor City know this name: Willie Horton. With 262 home runs, Horton is fifth on the Detroit Tigers all-time home-run list. Between 1965 and 1976, Horton never hit less than 11 home runs for Detroit. In both ‘65 and ‘66, Willie went for 27+ homers, 100+ RBIs, 20+ doubles, and 250+ total bases. He was a big part of that magical team in 1968 that won the World Series after being down 3-1 in the series to the Cards. That regular season may have been Horton’s best year: 36 homers, 85 ribbies, an .895 OPS, and a 5.4 WAR. In that Fall Classic, this left fielder added a round-tripper, three RBIs, and seven total hits. After being traded in 1977, Willie the Wonder bounced around but continued to produce and ended up with 325 home runs. For parts of 15 seasons, Willie Horton gave Detroit a solid presence in their lineup, and that’s why he is one of the top home-run hitters in Tigers history.

Hank Greenberg

Positions: First Baseman and Leftfielder

Bats: Right  •  Throws: Right

6-3, 210lb (190cm, 95kg)

Born: January 1, 1911 in New York, NY us

Died: September 4, 1986 (Aged 75-246d) in Beverly Hills, CA

Buried: Hillside Memorial Park, Los Angeles, CA

High School: James Monroe HS (New York, NY)

School: New York University (New York, NY)

Debut: September 14, 1930 (Age 19-256d, 7,130th in major league history)
   vs. NYY 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB

Last Game: September 18, 1947 (Age 36-260d)
   vs. BRO 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB

Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1956. (Voted by BBWAA on 164/193 ballots)
   View Hank Greenberg’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).

Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1933 season

Full Name: Henry Benjamin Greenberg

Nicknames: Hammerin’ Hank

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• Hall of Fame
• 2x MVP
• 4x All-Star
• 2x World Series

+2

SUMMARY

Career

WAR

55.5

AB

5193

H

1628

HR

331

BA

.313

R

1046

RBI

1274

SB

58

OBP

.412

SLG

.605

OPS

1.017

OPS+

159

Okay, you youngsters, listen up while I tell you about a baseball all-time great. Sarcasm aside, Hank Greenberg was a phenomenal player of yesteryear who may not get his due at times. Greenberg’s 306 home runs are fourth on the Detroit Tigers all-time list. Some of his offensive feats have an almost mythical feel: 63 doubles in 1934, 184 RBIs in 1937, and 58 homers in 1938. This two-time American League MVP had five seasons of 139+ RBIs … let that marinate for a bit. That goes along with seven seasons of 26+ home runs. He helped the Tigers win four AL pennants and two World championships (1935 and 1945). In 23 Fall Classic games, Hank always produced: 5 home runs, 22 RBIs, 27 total hits, a .420 OBP, and a .624 slugging %. When recounting Hammerin’ Hank’s exploits, it must be noted that he missed about four seasons to military service and another to a fractured wrist. He also battled rampant anti-semitism throughout his career as the first Jewish star in American sports. Hank Greenberg was called to the Hall in 1956 and should be remembered as one of the greatest Detroit Tigers ever.

Norm Cash

Position: First Baseman

Bats: Left  •  Throws: Left

6-0, 185lb (183cm, 83kg)

Born: November 10, 1933 in Justiceburg, TX us

Died: October 11, 1986 (Aged 52-335d) in Beaver Island, MI

Buried: Pine Lake Cemetery, West Bloomfield, MI

High School: Post HS (Post, TX)

Schools: Angelo State University (San Angelo, TX), Sul Ross State University (Alpine, TX)

Debut: June 18, 1958 (Age 24-220d, 11,544th in major league history)
   vs. BOS 0 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB

Last Game: August 6, 1974 (Age 40-269d)
   vs. CLE 1 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB

Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1959 season

Full Name: Norman Dalton Cash

Nicknames: Stormin’ Norman

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• 5x All-Star
• 1968 World Series
• Batting Title

+2

SUMMARY

Career

WAR

52.0

AB

6705

H

1820

HR

377

BA

.271

R

1045

RBI

1104

SB

43

OBP

.374

SLG

.488

OPS

.862

OPS+

139

Tied for second on the Detroit Tigers all-time home-run list with 373, Norm Cash was a productive player for a decade and a half. After a brief stint with the White Sox, Cash became a Tiger in 1960 and spent the rest of his career there. He hit at least 15 home runs every year from 1960 to 1973. Norm’s numbers in 1961 were truly astronomical: a 9.2 WAR, 41 homers, 132 RBIs, an AL-best 193 hits, an AL-best .361 batting average, an AL-best .487 OBP, and an AL-best 1.148 OPS. Those last two stats are still single-season franchise records (better than Cobb and Greenberg). The rest of the 1960s you could pencil this first baseman in for 25 long balls and 85 steaks. In the memorable 1968 World Series win over the Cardinals, Stormin’ Norman added a homer, 10 hits, and a .933 OPS. Many baseball fans may not be familiar with Norm Cash, but people in Detroit hopefully remember him as one of the all-time leaders in home runs for the Tigers.

Miguel Cabrera

Positions: First Baseman, Third Baseman and Leftfielder

Bats: Right  •  Throws: Right

6-4, 267lb (193cm, 121kg)

Born: April 18, 1983 (Age: 41-302d) in Maracay, Venezuela ve

High School: Maracay (Maracay, Venezuela)

Debut: June 20, 2003 (Age 20-063d, 18,292nd in major league history)
   vs. TBD 5 AB, 1 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SB

Last Game: October 1, 2023 (Age 40-166d)
   vs. CLE 3 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB

Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 2003 season

Agents: ISE Baseball • Previously: Andy Mota, Arn Tellem, Fernando Cuza, Scott Boras

Full Name: Jose Miguel Cabrera

Nicknames: Miggy

Pronunciation: \mee-gail kuh-BREH-rah\

Instagram: @miggy24

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• 2x MVP
• Triple Crown
• 12x All-Star
• 2003 World Series
• 7x Silver Slugger
• 4x Batting Title
• 2x ML PoY

+2

SUMMARY

Career

WAR

67.1

AB

10356

H

3174

HR

511

BA

.306

R

1551

RBI

1881

SB

40

OBP

.382

SLG

.518

OPS

.901

OPS+

140

It is a fait accompli that Miguel Cabrera will be elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. This recently retired generational player hit 373 home runs for the Detroit Tigers. He is a two-time AL MVP with eight seasons of 25+ homers and 100+ RBIs in Motown. That goes along with four AL batting titles and a Triple Crown in 2012 (44, 139, & .330). He was the first player to do that since 1967. With Miggy, the Tigers made postseason appearances from 2011-2014, and they reached the Fall Classic in 2012. In 38 playoff games with Detroit, Cabrera had 9 homers, 26 RBIs, and a .931 OPS. In 2013, his second consecutive MVP year, he went for 44 and 137 and led the league in some important stats: batting average (.348), OBP (.442), slugging % (.636), OPS (1.078), and OPS+ (190). When you add up his career totals as both a Tiger and a Marlin, this Venezuelan is one of seven guys in MLB history with 500 home runs and 3,000 hits. I would say that is elite company. It is not an exaggeration to call Miguel Cabrera one of the best hitters in baseball history, and he is certainly one of the top Detroit Tigers of all time.

Al Kaline

Positions: Rightfielder and First Baseman

Bats: Right  •  Throws: Right

6-1, 175lb (185cm, 79kg)

Born: December 19, 1934 in Baltimore, MD us

Died: April 6, 2020 (Aged 85-109d) in Bloomfield Hills, MI

High School: Southern HS (Baltimore, MD)

Debut: June 25, 1953 (Age 18-188d, 11,032nd in major league history)
   vs. PHA 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB

Last Game: October 2, 1974 (Age 39-287d)
   vs. BAL 2 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB

Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1980. (Voted by BBWAA on 340/385 ballots)
   View Al Kaline’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).

Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1954 season

Full Name: Albert William Kaline

Nicknames: Mr. Tiger or Six

Pronunciation: \KAY-line\

View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen

View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject

• Hall of Fame
• 18x All-Star
• 1968 World Series
• 10x Gold Glove
• Batting Title
• Clemente

+2

SUMMARY

Career

WAR

92.8

AB

10116

H

3007

HR

399

BA

.297

R

1622

RBI

1582

SB

137

OBP

.376

SLG

.480

OPS

.855

OPS+

134

The all-time leader in home runs for the Detroit Tigers just happens to be Mr. Tiger: Al Kaline. Mr. Tiger hit 399 home runs for Detroit in his 22-year career from 1953 to 1974. If not for Ty Cobb, Kaline would be the Tigers all-time leader in a few more categories, but besides homers, he did best the Georgia Peach and top the team rankings in games (2,834) and walks (1,277). An outfielder for the majority of his career, this lifetime Tiger debuted in ‘53 at age 18. He broke out in ‘55 with 27 homers, 102 RBIs, and an AL-best .340 batting average. That season started a 20-year streak of 10+ homers for this Hall of Famer. In his illustrious career in Detroit, Six had nine top-10 finishes in the AL MVP race to go along with 18 All-Star selections and 10 Gold Gloves. He helped the Tigers win the 1968 World Series with a phenomenal performance: 2 homers, 8 RBIs, 11 hits, a .379 batting average, and a 1.055 OPS. In his last season of 1974, Kaline culminated his career by reaching the 3,000-hit mark. Al Kaline has maybe the best resume of any Motor City athlete ever: member of the 3,000-hit club, World Series champion, Hall of Famer, and the all-time leader in home runs for the Detroit Tigers.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, February 27th, 2025 at 11:10 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.