Retire Leyand's Number and put him on the wall...but add the other Stars (and Wolverines) too.

This past weekend Jim Leyland was inducted into Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. Leyland managed the Pittsburgh Pirates (1986-96), the Florida Marlins (1997-98), Colorado Rockies (1999), and Detroit Tigers (2006-2023). He is one of only eleven managers in MLB history to lead three different teams to the postseason (Pirates, Marlins & Tigers). He won the World Series in 1997 with the Marlins.

With his induction into the Hall of Fame the Tigers will retire Leyland's number (#10) and add his name to the wall in center field at Comerica Park. Leyalnd will join:

Charlie Gehringer, 2B: No. 2
Alan Trammell, SS: No. 3
Hank Greenberg, 1B: No. 5
Al Kaline, OF: No. 6
Sparky Anderson, MGR: No. 11
Hal Newhouser, P: No. 16
Willie Horton, OF: No. 23
Jack Morris, P: No. 47
along with No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. which every team has retired.

Also on the wall are Tiger greats and Hall of Famers Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, Mickey Cochrane, Harry Heilmann, Hughie Jennings and Heinie Manush - who all played in an era where players didn't wear numbers - as well as George Kell, who wore three different numbers while a Tiger, and longtime broadcaster Ernie Harwell. It will be exciting and well deserved to add Leyland's name and number to the wall, but the wall, in my opinion remains incomplete.

Back in the late 1800's the first Major League team to play in Detroit was the National League Detroit Wolverines (1881-1888). The team won the 1887 National League pennant and the World Series. On that team were four Hall of Famers: Deacon White (3B, C, RF), Ned Hanlon (CF - who, as a manager some say is the architect of modern baseball), Sam Thompson (RF - who ended his career with the Tigers in 1906) & Dan Brouthers (1B).

There is another professional team that also played in Detroit. That team is the Negro League Detroit Stars (1919 independent; 1920-31 & 1933 Negro National League; 1937 & 1954-61 Negro American League) . Four Stars greats are enshrined in the Hall of Fame: Andy Cooper (P), Pete Hill (OF, 1B), Cristóbal Torriente (OF, P) and the legendary Turkey Stearnes (CF).

In light of the long history of baseball in Detroit and with the legacy of Major League baseball in that city resting on the Tiger's and being housed in Comerica Park. I would like to see the outfield wall reflect the greats of both the Wolverines and the Stars. Come on Tigers add these great players from Detroit's past to the list of Tigers greats and let's celebrate all of Detroit's baseball history in one place.

Joel K