The 1950 Detroit Tigers were a professional baseball team that represented Detroit in the American League (AL) during the 1950 baseball season. The team compiled a record of 95–59 (.617), the second best record in the major leagues, behind the New York Yankees. The Tigers spent most of the season in first place but lost the pennant to the Yankees in the final two weeks of the season. Red Rolfe was the team's manager for the second season and received the Sporting News Manager of the Year Award. The Tigers' home attendance of 1,951,474 was a team record at the time and the second highest in the major leagues during the 1950 season.
The pitching staff was led by Art Houtteman who compiled a 19–12 record and a 3.54 earned run average (ERA) and pitched 21 complete games. Dizzy Trout led the team with a .722 winning percentage (second best in the AL) with a 13–5 record and 3.75 ERA. Fred Hutchinson compiled a 17–8 record. The team's overall ERA of 4.12 was second best in the AL.
The batters were led by third baseman George Kell who led the AL with 218 hits and 56 doubles, ranked second with a .340 batting average, and finished fourth in the American League Most Valuable Player (AL MVP) voting. Right fielder Vic Wertz led the team with 27 home runs and 123 RBIs and finished 10th in the AL MVP voting. Center fielder Hoot Evers had a .323 batting average and 109 RBIs, led the AL with 11 triples, ranked third in slugging percentage (.551), led AL outfielders in fielding percentage (.997) (one error in 336 total chances), and finished 11th in the AL MVP voting. Second baseman Jerry Priddy led AL second basemen with 542 assists and 150 double plays and finished 17th in the AL MVP voting. Shortstop Johnny Lipon compiled a .378 on-base percentage and led AL shortstops with 483 assists and 126 double plays.
Season standings
Roster
Player stats
Batting
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included
Pitching
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Record vs. opponents
Season chronology
Preseason roster changes
December 14: The Tigers acquired second baseman Jerry Priddy from the St. Louis Browns in exchange for pitcher Lou Kretlow and $150,000 in cash. December 17: The Tigers traded outfielder Dick Wakefield to the New York Yankees in exchange for first baseman Dick Kryhoski. December 29: The Tigers signed outfielder Charlie "King Kong" Keller three months after he was unconditionally released by the Yankees. Keller had undergone back surgery three years earlier and appeared in only 41 games in 1949. February 15: The Tigers acquired pitcher Paul Calvert from the Washington Senators for the $10,000 waiver price.