Was Mickey Stanley one the best center fielders as a Detroit Tiger player?
Answer Hi, Mary Jule. While I’m not old enough to remember Mickey Stanley playing, from what I’ve heard and read, he was a very good center fielder and definitely one of the Tigers’ best. Stanley won Gold Gloves for his outfield play in 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1973. That award is voted on by managers and coaches. Three outfielders are awarded Gold Gloves each year. The only Tiger outfielder to win more Gold Gloves was Al Kaline (10). Gary Pettis won five Gold Gloves, but only two were as a Tiger. Stanley was a very good athlete, which is why in the 1968 World Series Tigers manager Mayo Smith decided to play Stanley at shortstop instead of the light-hitting Ray Oyler. That move allowed the Tigers to play Willie Horton, Jim Northrup and Al Kaline in the outfield. If Smith and kept Oyler at shortstop, then one of Horton, Northrup, Kaline or Stanley would have not started since there was no designated hitter back then. Stanley was a decent hitter, especially considering he played part of his
