We, here in Detroit, have witnessed some of the greatest individual game performances in the history of sports; we have cherished some of the best athletes in sports play here; and we have been fortunate to watch some of the most spectacular single seasons in sports memory as well. What we are seeing with Miguel Cabrera here in 2012 is, if not the best ever, among the all time greatest in Detroit. With two games remaining, Cabrera leads the American League in average, rbi's and home runs. He might be the 14th player to ever boast a triple crown season (it's happened 15 times to date, but two players won it twice) and the first since 1967. How does his .328 average; 44-homer; 139-rbi season rank among the greatest in Detroit sports history? It's a good debate. Here are some of which his season will be compared (in no particular order):
Hank Greenberg 1935: .328; 170rbi; 36hr; 389tb-MVP
Greenberg 1940: .340; 150rbi; 41hr; .670 slg-MVP
Ty Cobb 1911: .420, 127rbi; 248 hits; 47dbls; 147runs-MVP (the only one he won which is a joke)
Charlie Gehringer 1937: .371; 96rbi; 209hits-MVP
Denny McLain 1968: 31wins; 28cg; 336ip; 280k's; 6shutouts-MVP/Cy Young
Al Kaline 1955: .340; 102rbi; 200hits; 27hr
Justin Verlander 2011: 24-wins; 2.40era; 250k's-MVP/Cy Young
Sergei Fedorov 1994: 56-64-120-Hart Trophy
Gordie Howe 1953: 49-46-95-Hart Trophy (one of six)
Nick Lidstrom 2003: 18-44-62; plu40-Norris Trophy (one of seven)
Isiah Thomas 1985: 21ppg, 14apg; 2.3spg
You can decide which you think might be the greatest in Detroit sports history and there is no way we can come to an agreement, but we can all agree that Cabrera's 2012 campaign is in the discussion and the best we've seen in a long time. Another accomplishment that we here in Detroit can be proud of.
