Top Tigers #32: Magglio Ordonez
By Blake VandeBunte • Feb 13th, 2009 • Category: Magglio Ordonez, Top 100 Tigers- Rank: 32
- Name: Magglio Jose Ordonez
- Position: Outfield
- Tigers Tenure: 2005-Present
- Awards: All Star (2006 and 2007), Silver Slugger (2007), Received MVP Votes (2006 and 2007)
- Best Season: 2007. Ordonez put up a career season in 2007 at the age of 33. Magglio won the American League batting title as he hit .363 (OPS+ 167). He also hit 28 home runs, the most he has ever hit in a Tiger uniform. His .363 average was the highest by a Tiger since Harry Heilman hit .398 way back in 1927. In addition that average, Magglio drove in 139 runs the highest by a Tiger since Rocky Colavito way back in 1961. Needless to say, Ordonez’s 2007 season was one of the greatest ever by a Tiger. To top it all off, he finished second in MVP voting.
- Good Stuff: Like Ivan Rodriguez, Ordonez came to a Detroit when they were truly awful. Also like Pudge, he probably just came for the cash. Ordonez was injured for most of his first season in Detroit but since then he has been great. He has hit over .300 since joining the Tigers and has driven in at least 100 runs in each full season he has played. While not a great power hitter, Ordonez has clubbed at least 20 homers in each of his full seasons. Also, you would be hard pressed to find a guy go the other way with a pitch in the game. Magglio is money with guys on base. More than likely, Ordonez is going to be remembered for his home run against Oakland that sent the Tigers to their first World Series since 184.
- Bad Stuff: Magglio is not the prototypical power hitter of the 21st century. He just doesn’t hit the home runs that you’ll find from some of the games bigger outfield stars: Carlos Quentin, Jermaine Dye, Adam Dunn, Josh Hamilton, and Vladimir Guerrero just to name a few. Ordonez is also average at best on defense. While Magglio has done a lot of good in Detroit, you could certainly make the argument that he is overpaid. That’s not really his fault, though.
- Place In Tigers History: Dan Dickerson’s call of Magglio’s home run in the 2006 ALCS is one of the top moments in recent Tigers history. His 2007 season will be the benchmark for Tigers stars to reach for the next few decades. His batting average and doubles total for that season were some of the greatest totals in club history. I don’t foresee anyone for getting that hair either.
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