Charlie Gehringer

Charles Leonard Gehringer (May 11, 1903 – January 21, 1993) was an American professional baseball second baseman nicknamed "the Mechanical Man." He played his entire 19-season career with the Detroit Tigers, from 1924 to 1942. He compiled a .320 career batting average with 2,839 hits and 1,427 runs batted in, including seven seasons of more than 200 hits. He was the starting second baseman and played every inning of the first six All-Star Games. In 1937 he won the American League batting title with a .371 average and was named the American League Most Valuable Player. Gehringer helped lead the Tigers to three American League pennants, in 1934, 1935, and 1940, and to the 1935 World Series championship.

He was also among the finest fielding second basemen in history. At the time of his retirement he ranked first in Major League Baseball with 1,444 double plays turned at second base, now seventh all-time. He remains among the all-time leaders with 7,068 assists at second base, second in MLB history, and 5,369 putouts, sixth in MLB history. Gehringer later served as the Tigers general manager during the 1952 and 1953 seasons. After his playing career ended, he operated a company.