Louis Rodman Whitaker Jr. (born May 12, 1957), known as "Sweet Lou," was an American professional baseball player who played as a second baseman. He played for the Detroit Tigers for his entire career. From 1977 to 1995, he played in 2,390 games for the Tigers, the third-highest total in team history after Ty Cobb and Al Kaline. He helped the Tigers win the 1984 World Series. He was chosen as an American League All-Star for five straight years (1983–1987). He also won four Silver Slugger Awards (1983–1985, 1987) and three Gold Glove Awards (1983–1985). The Tigers retired his No. 1 jersey in August 2022.

Whitaker was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Virginia. The Detroit Tigers drafted him in 1975. He spent three years in the minor leagues and was named the most valuable player in the Florida State League in 1976. He made his Major League Baseball debut in September 1977 and won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1978. In 1983, he won the Tiger of the Year award after hitting .320 and recording 206 hits. He won the Tiger of the Year award again in 1989 after hitting a career-high 28 home runs.

Whitaker and shortstop Alan Trammell played together for 19 seasons. They are the longest-lasting double play team in major-league history. He was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

Early life

Whitaker was born in Brooklyn, New York City, in 1957. In the late 1950s, his mother, Marion Arlene Williams, moved to Martinsville, Virginia. Whitaker grew up in Martinsville with his mother and grandmother. In 1979, when asked about his father, Whitaker said, "He's never done anything for me. I don't hate him. I haven't got time to hate anybody. I just don't care to meet him. There's nothing emotionally happening between us."

Whitaker attended Martinsville High School. He played baseball for the school's team as a middle infielder and pitcher. He graduated in 1975 and decided to play college baseball at Ferrum College.

Professional baseball player

The Detroit Tigers chose Whitaker in the fifth round, with the 99th overall pick, in the 1975 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Tigers instead of going to college. He began his professional career in 1975 with the Bristol Tigers of the Rookie-level Appalachian League.

In 1976, Whitaker was the starting third baseman for the Lakeland Tigers of the Class A Florida State League. He batted .297, stole 48 bases, and had 62 runs batted in. He was named the league's most valuable player. In one game, he stole five bases, including three home plate steals. Because of his smooth swing, he earned the nickname "Sweet Lou." Lakeland manager Jim Leyland said, "For a young player, he has a lot of confidence and calmness. He believes in his ability to play, and nothing seems to bother him."

After the 1976 season, the Tigers sent Whitaker to instructional camp to teach him to play second base. Whitaker said, "Detroit needs a second baseman. Even though I’ve never played that position, I’m ready to try. Eddie Brinkman is teaching me, and he’s very good. I hope I can do well." Brinkman later said, "Whitaker is a natural athlete. He learned second base quickly."

Before the 1977 season, the Tigers paired Whitaker with shortstop Alan Trammell for winter ball. In 1977, both played for the Montgomery Rebels of the Double-A Southern League. They were both named to the Southern League all-star team. Whitaker had a .280 batting average, stole 38 bases, and had 58 bases on balls with a .374 on-base percentage.

In September 1977, the Tigers called up Whitaker and Trammell. Both made their major league debuts on September 9 against the Boston Red Sox. Whitaker had three hits in five at-bats, stole a base, hit a double off the Green Monster at Fenway Park, and recorded his first run batted in (RBI) against the Baltimore Orioles. He played in 11 games at the end of the 1977 season, with a .250 batting average and .333 on-base percentage.

In 1978, manager Ralph Houk started the season with Whitaker and Trammell sharing time with Steve Dillard and Mark Wagner. By May, Whitaker and Trammell became everyday starters. Houk said, "Those two players have been great. They’ve played outstanding defensive baseball. You saw Whitaker make a play very few second basemen in the league would have made." By August, Houk said, "They’re the best I’ve ever seen for their age. On double plays, knowing where the ball is going to be, that’s something you can’t teach."

In his first full season, Whitaker played in 139 games, 123 as the Tigers’ starting second baseman. He turned 95 double plays, scored 71 runs, stole 20 bases, and had a .285 batting average with a .361 on-base percentage. Detroit fans began chanting, "Loooooou" when Whitaker came to bat. Whitaker thought the crowd was booing him at first.

In November 1978, Whitaker was voted the American League Rookie of the Year by baseball writers. He received 21 of 28 first-place votes, beating Paul Molitor (3 votes), Carney Lansford (2 votes), Trammell (1 vote), and Rich Gale (1 vote). Whitaker said, "This is the biggest moment of my career. Winning the award makes me proud of myself for the things I have done."

Whitaker had a strong season in 1979, with a .286 batting average, 78 bases on balls (raising his on-base percentage to .395), and 20 stolen bases.

In 1980, Whitaker’s batting average dropped to .233.

In the shortened 1981 season, Whitaker played in 109 games, the most in the American League. His 354 assists led second basemen in the league and ranked third among all players.

In 1982, Whitaker began hitting for power, with 15 home runs, 8 triples, and a .286 batting average. He had one of his best defensive seasons, leading second basemen with 470 assists, 120 double plays, and a .988 fielding percentage. His 1.9 defensive wins above replacement (dWAR) rating ranked fourth in the American League.

Whitaker’s best season came in 1983. He played in 161 games, had a .320 batting average, 206 hits (both career highs), 40 doubles, 6 triples, 12 home runs, 72 runs batted in, 94 runs scored, and a .380 on-base percentage. His 6.7 WAR rating was the sixth best in the American League.

He was selected to the American League All-Star team for the first of five times. He entered the game as a pinch-hitter and hit a triple that landed at the base of the 401-foot marker in Chicago’s Comiskey Park, helping a teammate score. At the end of the 1983 season, Whitaker won the following awards:

• On October 18, The Sporting News named Whitaker the second baseman on its annual post-season all-star team.
• On October 28, the Detroit chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America chose Whitaker for its "Tiger of the Year" award. He received 29 of 44 first-place votes, well ahead of Jack Morris (7 votes).
• On November 16, The Sporting News selected Whitaker for the American League Silver Slugger Award, recognizing him as the best offensive player at second base.
• On December 6, Whitaker won the Gold Glove Award as the best defensive second baseman in the American League. It was the first time three players from the same team won Gold Gloves, with Alan Trammell and Lance Parrish also winning at their positions.

Whitaker finished eighth in voting for the 1983 American League Most Valuable Player Award.

In 1984, the Tigers started the season with a 35–5 record and won the American League Championship Series and the World Series. Whitaker was the team’s leadoff hitter and starting second baseman. He played in 142 games, had a .289 batting average, and

Baseball legacy and honors

Whitaker played in 2,390 games for the Detroit Tigers, the third-highest total in team history behind Ty Cobb and Al Kaline. He also holds the fourth-highest total in major-league history for games played at second base, with 2,308 games. He is still among the Tigers' all-time leaders in several categories, including double plays (first, 1,527), assists (second, 6,653), bases on balls (second, 1,197), runs scored (third, 1,386), strikeouts (third, 1,099), wins above replacement (WAR) by position players (fourth, 75.1), and defensive WAR (second, 16.2). Among second basemen who played at least 50% of their games at the position, Whitaker ranks in the top 15 in hits, runs, and RBIs.

Bill James, in The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, ranked Whitaker as the 13th-best second baseman in baseball history. Craig Calcaterra, a baseball writer, described Whitaker as a player who did not rely on flashy moves but consistently fielded balls, turned double plays smoothly, and made strong, accurate throws that "defined great second base defense."

In 2000, Whitaker was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. In December 2019, the Tigers announced they would retire Whitaker’s No. 1 jersey in 2020. However, the ceremony was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and finally took place in August 2022. Whitaker said, "This will be one of the greatest moments of my life. Knowing my number will be retired and my name will be on the wall with some legends from Tiger history is a great honor." Alan Trammell, whose No. 3 jersey was retired in 2018, said in his speech: "For four years, I’ve been uncomfortable. I’ve been honored to have my number retired. But there wouldn’t be a number 3 on the wall without the number 1."

Whitaker was considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) in 2001 but received only 15 votes (2.9%). Later, in 2020, he was considered by the Modern Baseball Era Committee but did not meet the 75% threshold for induction, receiving six votes (37.5%) from the 16-member committee. Fans have criticized his exclusion from the Hall of Fame, noting that he met several Hall of Fame standards, such as reaching 2,000 hits, playing his entire career with one team, and having 75.1 WAR, the third-highest total among players in the live-ball era before 2000.

Family and later years

Whitaker married Crystal McCreary in November 1979 at Detroit's Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament. They have four daughters named Asia, Angela, Jessica, and Sarah.

While playing for the Tigers, Whitaker met Jehovah's Witnesses through his teammate Chet Lemon. After joining the religion, Whitaker took the Canadian and American flags off his batting helmet. After retiring from baseball, Whitaker spent about 840 hours each year doing missionary work for the church.

In April 1993, Whitaker's pregnant half-sister, Judith Grey, was killed by gunfire from a passing car in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Emergency workers performed chest compressions to keep blood flowing to the baby, which was born alive at the hospital.

After retiring as a player, Whitaker worked as an instructor for the Tigers during their spring training in Lakeland, Florida. He helped teach hitters until the 2009 season. He and the Tigers agreed to part ways in 2010.