Cecil Fielder
| Birthdate | 9/21/1963 |
| Death Date | |
| Debut Year | 1985 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Angels, Blue Jays, Indians, Tigers, Yankees |
| Positions | Designated Hitter, First Base |
In 1990, Cecil Fielder became the first to hit 50 homers since George Foster in 1977 and the first in the AL since Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris.
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Cecil Fielder led the American League in homers twice and RBI three times
Cecil Fielder led the American League in homers twice and RBI three times
Cecil Fielder broke in with the Blue Jays in 1985 and couldn’t find his place in the lineup. As part-time player for four seasons, Fielder combined to hit 31 homers and drive in 84 runs in 220 games in Toronto.
On December 22, 1988 Japan’s Hanshin Fighters offered him $1M and a job as their everyday first baseman. Fielder jumped at the chance.
Playing full-time, Fielder blossomed. The hulking 6’3″, 230-pounder slammed 38 home runs in just 106 games and quickly became a fan-favorite. In addition to showing power, Fielder slashed .302/.403/.628.
His performance enticed the Tigers to offer him two-year, $3M contract. With new-found confidence and a spot as the Detroit first baseman, Fielder returned to America with high hopes.
His first season in Motown was memorable. Fielder slammed 51 home runs with 132 RBI, a .592 slugging percentage, and 339 total bases – all league-leading numbers. The following season he repeated as the AL’s homer and RBI champion. Both years he earned Silver Slugger Awards and finished as the runner up as MVP.
Fielder maintained his power throughout his stay in Detroit. Each of his Tiger campaigns featured at least 25 homers. That made Fielder the first player in franchise history to reach the figure in 7 straight seasons.
At the trade deadline in 1996 Detroit dealt him to New York. In 53 games with the Yankees he slammed 13 homers to help them reach the Fall Classic. Playing on baseball’s biggest stage, Fielder was outstanding. He hit .391 with a .440 on-base percentage to help the team win their first World Series title since 1978.
At the end of the 1998 season the Fielder was granted free agency and signed with the California Angels. He played 103 games with the Angels before getting released in August. Three days later Fielder signed with Cleveland and played the final 13 games of his career with the Indians.
He retired with 319 big league homers, and 1,008 RBI.
Shown here is a signed book photo of Fielder walking on the Tiger Stadium roof with a bat in his hand and a cigar in his mouth.
Cecil's 1990 campaign was MLB's first 50-homer season since George Foster in 1977
Cecil's 1990 campaign was MLB's first 50-homer season since George Foster in 1977
Before the Steroid Era, 50 home runs in a season was a benchmark of excellence seldom reached. When Cecil Fielder slugged 51 in 199o, it marked baseball’s first 50-homer season since Cincinnati’s George Foster hit 52 in 1977.
By reaching the half-century mark, Cecil joined quite an exclusive circle. Only 10 men accomplished it before the Tigers slugger. The list of those who met the plateau previous to Fielder is a who’s who of the game’s greats: Babe Ruth, Hack Wilson, Jimmie Foxx, Hank Greenberg, Johnny Mize, Ralph Kiner, Willie Mays, Roger Maris, and Foster.
In 2007 Cecil’s son Prince joined his father in the club when he 50 for the Milwaukee Brewers. Prince’s feat remains the only 50-dinger season in team history. The Fielders are the only father/son combination to achieve the accomplishment.
In the collection is this note handwritten and signed by 52-home run hitting George Foster. He writes, “Good luck always especially in pursuing your hobby of collecting autographs. World Champion Cincinnati Reds 1975”.
In 1990 Cecil Fielder joined Hank Greenberg as the only Tigers to hit 50 homers in a single season
In 1990 Cecil Fielder joined Hank Greenberg as the only Tigers to hit 50 homers in a single season
The Detroit Tigers began played in the American League’s inaugural year of 1901. The first man to slug 50 homers in a season for the Motor City franchise was Hank Greenberg in 1938. During that campaign Hammerin’ Hebrew smashed 58 dingers a figure previously surpassed by only Babe Ruth.
Greenberg remained the only Tiger to top the half-century mark in home runs for than 50 years. In 1990 the Tigers signed Cecil Fielder to a two-year contract. His first year in Detroit was one for the ages. By clouting 51 round trippers he joined fellow first-baseman Greenberg to become the second member of Motown’s 50-home run club.
Shown here is Greenberg’s response to a 1977 request to be a part of the Babe Ruth Advisory Board. Greenberg agreed to this, writing, “Please send me a formal application as I would like to make a contribution”.
Cecil was the first Tigers to hit 25+ homers in 7 staright years; Miguel Cabera was the second
Cecil was the first Tigers to hit 25+ homers in 7 staright years; Miguel Cabera was the second
Cecil Fielder played for the Detroit Tigers from 1990-1996 and hit at least 25 homers each season. His 7-year Motown run was the first of its kind in the long and proud tradition of the Tiger franchise.
Cecil’s streak of seven 25-homer seasons has since been matched by only one Motor City man – Miguel Cabrera. Acquired by the Tigers in December of 2007, Cabrera immediately began his streak that lasted until 2014.
The two men remain in the top-10 for career homers for the Detroit franchise that began as a charter member of the AL in 1901. Fielder slugged 245 dingers with the Tigers, good for 5th when he left Detroit. Cabrera passed him in 2014, in the seventh year of his streak.
By the time Miggy retired in 2023 he had 373 homers in a Tigers uniform. That total puts him tied with Norm Cash at second on the team’s all-time list behind only Al Kaline.
In the collection is a ticket to the 2015 contest in which Cabrera hit his 400th career home run. That season he earned the last of his four batting crowns. The campaign also marked the end of his 25+ homer streak. The ticket puts you in the Right Field Box in section 133, row 28, seat 13, the perfect place to witness history. Cabrera has signed the ticket which comes with JSA Authentication.
When it comes to father/son combos, only the Bonds and the Griffeys hit more homers
When it comes to father/son combos, only the Bonds and the Griffeys hit more homers
Cecil and Prince Fielder hit the third-most home runs of any MLB father/son duo. Both Fielder sluggers ended their careers with 319 long balls.
Bobby and Barry Bonds stand at #1 on the list with 1,094 homers. Ken Griffey and his namesake son are second with 782.
As good as Cecil was, his son was better. Prince finished with a 134 OPS+ in his 13 seasons compared to his father’s 119 mark. The younger Fielder tallied 23.8 WAR compared to his father’s 17.8.
Though he played one less season than his dad, Prince’s counting numbers are likewise superior. He finished with 1,645 hits, 321 doubles, and 1,028 RBI. Cecil had 1,313 hits, 200 doubles, and 1,008 RBI. Prince’s .283/.382/.506 slash line also compared favorably to his dad’s .255/.345/.482.
Cecil finished as runner up for the MVP twice, made three All Star teams, led the league in homers twice, and RBI three times. A six-time All Star, Prince finished in the top-5 in MVP voting three times and was named the 2011 All Star Game MVP. He led the league once each in homers, RBI, and walks.
The two men go down as one of the most-formidable father/son duos in the game’s history.
In the collection is the receipt Fielder signed for his 2011 All Star ring. The game and the ring are meaningful to Fielder. In that Midsummer Classic, Fielder was the star among stars, getting the NL on the board with a three-run bomb to put the Senior Circuit ahead to stay. Writers voted him the game’s MVP.
