by Lance Callihan
17. May 2009 17:52
This week we profile Charlie Gehringer. Gehringer played baseball, basketball and football for the University of Michigan in 1922. In 1923, Gehringer was discovered by Detroit Tigers LF Bobby Veach who invited him to a week long tryout to show current player-manager Ty Cobb what he could do.
Gehringer was called up in 1926, and Cobb, who was like a father to him, made him use his bat. Although Gehringer preferred a bigger bat, he said “I didn’t dare use another one.” Charlie would go on to win the American League MVP award and the batting championship in 1937. Gehringer is recognized as the fourth player in MLB history to hit for a natural cycle. His number 2 was retired by the Detroit Tigers in 1983 and he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1949.
Charlie Gehringer passed away in 1993 at age 89. A statue of him resides at Comerica Park to honor his time as a Detroit Tiger.
