AJ Hinch tied Ty Cobb for fifth most games managed in Detroit Tigers history, but their similarities are few and far between.
AJ Hinch has managed 933 games for the Detroit Tigers, tying him with Steve O'Neill and Ty Cobb for fifth most in club history. However, Hinch has nothing in common with the baseball legend when it comes to their playing careers.
Ty Cobb, who played for the Tigers from 1905 to 1926, had a career filled with impressive hitting numbers. He accumulated 3,984 hits in his playing career, just a few more than AJ Hinch's 3,980 hits as a player.
In contrast, Hinch's playing career was marked by his ability to get on base, but his lack of power hitting. He would have been a decent player-manager, Hinch joked, but only if he could avoid getting caught out by a fast fastball like White Sox starter Anthony Kay's.
When asked by Tigers' television broadcaster Jason Benetti what he would be like as a player-manager, Hinch quipped, "I'd play myself against a lefty. Though I don't think I could catch up to Kay's fastball. But that is one thing I would recommend to the manager side of me. I'd also pinch-hit for myself, which shouldn't surprise anybody."
Hinch also joked about how he would be taken out of the game by his own manager, saying, "Oh yeah. I've never met a player who wasn't mad at the manager for being taken out of the game, why would I be different? Idiot manager makes another move."
In terms of wins, Ty Cobb had 479 as a manager, while Hinch has 454 so far. However, Cobb had a slight edge when it came to jersey numbers, as he played in an era where players didn't wear numbers on their jerseys.
At Comerica Park, where the Tigers play their home games, players' jerseys have numbers on them, a stark contrast to the era in which Cobb played. Hinch took a lighthearted jab at Cobb, saying, "But at least I had a number."
As the Tigers continue their season, AJ Hinch will look to add to his win total and move closer to Ty Cobb's managerial record. However, their playing careers and personalities are worlds apart.
Source: Yahoo Sports