November 22, 1978: Tiger Lou Whittaker wins Rookie of the Year

On this day in 1978, Lou Whitaker, Detroit Tigers second baseman, wins the American League Rookie of the Year crown.

The 21- year-old Brooklyn, New York native finishes the ’78 campaign hitting .285 with 3 home runs, 58 runs batted in, and a .361 on-base percentage.

He and shortstop Alan Trammell made their Major League Baseball debut with the Tigers in September 1977.

  Alan Trammell, American League, Detroit Tigers, On this day, Rookie of the Year, Tigers

Ken Coleman

Ken Coleman, the author of On this Day: African-American Life in Detroit, is a native Detroiter and former news reporter. He served on the Detroit Charter Revision Commission. He lives in Detroit with his wife, Kim Trent, and their son, Jackson Coleman.

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