Gehringer, Charley (1903-1993), ranks among the greatest second basemen in baseball history. Gehringer’s quiet, unemotional personality, his sure-handed fielding, and his steady hitting earned him the nickname “The Mechanical Man.”
Gehringer played his entire major league career with the Detroit Tigers. He led the American League in batting in 1937 with a .371 average. Gehringer was named the league’s Most Valuable Player that season. He had more than 200 hits in seven seasons, leading the league in 1929 and 1934. He also led the league in doubles twice and in triples and stolen bases once. Gehringer led the American League second basemen in fielding seven times.
Charles Leonard Gehringer was born in Fowlerville, Michigan. After attending the University of Michigan for one year, he signed to play with Detroit in 1924. After two seasons mainly in the minor leagues, he became Detroit’s regular second baseman in 1926 and starred on three pennant-winning teams. From 1951 to 1959, he was an executive with the Tigers. Gehringer was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1949.
