Detroit Tigers All-Time Lineup

2004: .334, 19 HR, 86 RBI, .893 OPS

Backup: Mickey Cochrane (1934, .320, 2 HR, 76 RBI, .840 OPS)

The Tigers have one Hall of Fame catcher in Mickey Cochrane, but he was toward the end of his career when he was in Detroit. So we'll go with a future Hall of Famer in Rodriguez, who was an All-Star, Gold Glove winner and Silver Slugger winner in 2004. Cochrane, the MVP in 1934, is the backup.

1937: .315, 58 HR, 146 RBI, 1.122 OPS

Backup: Norm Cash (1961, .361, 41 HR, 132 RBI, 1.148 OPS)

This is a hard one to cut down to two. Greenberg is the Hall of Famer on the list, and the two-time MVP made a run at Babe Ruth's single-season home run record in 1938. Miguel Cabrera got some consideration as the backup, but you can't go wrong with Cash, who won the batting title and hit 41 homers the year that Ruth's record was broken.

1937: .371, 14 HR, 96 RBI, .978 OPS

Backup: Lou Whitaker (1983, .320, 12 HR, 72 RBI, .837 OPS)

As Greenberg was starring at first base, Gehringer was at his best just one position over as the Tigers had a successful run through the late 1930s. Gehringer was the MVP in 1937. The backup was a key player on the Tigers' 1984 championship team in Whitaker.

1987: .343, 28 HR, 105 RBI, 21 SB, .953 OPS

Backup: Travis Fryman (1993, .300, 22 HR, 97 RBI, .865 OPS)

Trammell probably isn't going to make the Hall of Fame, but he was a star for a long time in Detroit. He finished second in MVP voting as the Tigers won the AL East in 1987. The backup is the man who substituted in his place in Fryman, who found a home at third base a year later.

1956: .340, 8 HR, 101 RBI, .886 OPS

A Hall of Famer, Kell fourth in the MVP voting in 1950, when he had a career-high in RBI. The backup is Boone (the father of major leaguer Bob Boone and grandfather of Bret and Aaron Boone), who was a solid pro for 13 seasons. He was an all-star in 1956, when he hit a career-best .308 with 25 homers.

Backup: Ray Boone (1956, .308, 25 HR, 81 RBI, .920 OPS)

1961: .290, 45 HR, 140 RBI, .982 OPS

Backup: Willie Horton (1968, .285, 36 HR, 85 RBI, .895 OPS)

The best to play the position was Hank Greenberg in 1940, but he's already at first base based in his 1937 season. So it falls to Colavito, who was pulled out of Cleveland in a trade and put up MVP-caliber numbers during the same season as Norm Cash's big year. The backup is Horton, who hit 36 homers in the Year of the Pitcher, which was pretty remarkable.

1911: .420, 8 HR, 127 RBI, 83 SB, 1.088 OPS

Backup: Heinie Manush (1926, .378, 14 HR, 86 RBI, .985 OPS)

A position in which there are three Hall of Famers for two spots, but there's no doubt who the starter should be in Cobb, baseball's all-time leading hitter with a .367 career average. He went 53 points above that in 1911, an absurd .420 with 83 stolen bases to boot. The backup is Manush, who barely sneaks past fellow Hall of Famer Al Simmons for the spot.

1923: .403, 18 HR, 115 RBI, 1.113 OPS

Backup: Magglio Ordonez (2007, .363, 28 HR, 139 RBI, 1.029 OPS)

Putting a second .400 hitter with some power in the lineup would make this team pretty formidable, huh? And yes, it seems really unfair that one of the great Tigers doesn't make this team. But Hall of Famer Al Kaline finishes third in this race as his 1955 (.340, 27 HR) isn't as good as Ordonez's monster season in 2007. Two different eras, and you can make an argument for Kaline. Remember, it's just a one-season race.

2011: .330, 12 HR, 103 RBI, .850 OPS

Backup: Dmitri Young (2003, .297, 29 HR, 85 RBI, .909 OPS)

Kaline played DH at the end of his career, but statistically he didn't make it here, either. Martinez had a fabulous 2011, as the Tigers won the AL Central. The backup is Young, who somehiow drove in 89 runs on a team that went 43-119.

1984: 9-3, 1.92 ERA, 140.1 IP, 96 H, 112 Ks, 0.941 WHIP

Backup: Jose Valverde (2011, 2-4, 2.24 ERA, 49 saves, 72.1 IP, 52 H, 69 Ks, 1.189 WHIP)

Hard to go against yet another pitcher who won the MVP and Cy Young, as McLain and Verlander did. Hernandez was the dual honoree during a year the Tigers won the World Series. The backup is Valverde, the team's a lights-out closer in 2011.