Detroit Tigers and New York Mets players: who played for both
Who played for both the Tigers and Mets?
130 players played for both the Detroit Tigers and the New York Mets between 1962 and 2025, including Rusty Staub, Howard Johnson, Curtis Granderson and Damion Easley. 74 of them played for the Tigers first and 54 for the Mets first; 2 played for both in the same season.
Did you know?
- Bob Miller is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Tigers first, then the Mets from 1962.
- Tomas Nido is the most recent: Mets first, then the Tigers from 2025.
- Rusty Staub played the most games across the two: 549 for the Tigers and 942 for the Mets.
- 17 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Rusty Staub.
- Most common positions on this list: P (65), OF (29), C (12), SS (8).
How many can you name?
Name players who played for both the Tigers and the Mets. The surname is enough. 0 / 130
All 130 players, most games for the two first
| Player | Pos | Tigers | Mets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rusty Staub | OF | 1976–1979 (549 g) | 1972–1975, 1981–1985 (942 g) |
| Howard Johnson | 3B | 1982–1984 (197 g) | 1985–1993 (1154 g) |
| Curtis Granderson | OF | 2004–2009 (674 g) | 2014–2017 (573 g) |
| Damion Easley | 2B | 1996–2002 (841 g) | 2007–2008 (189 g) |
| Tony Clark | 1B | 1995–2001 (772 g) | 2003 (125 g) |
| Tony Phillips | OF | 1990–1994 (722 g) | 1998 (52 g) |
| Austin Jackson | OF | 2010–2014 (670 g) | 2018 (57 g) |
| Doug Flynn | 2B | 1985 (32 g) | 1977–1981 (636 g) |
| Jose Iglesias | SS | 2013, 2015–2018 (558 g) | 2024 (85 g) |
| James McCann | C | 2014–2018 (452 g) | 2021–2022 (182 g) |
| Roger Cedeno | OF | 2001 (131 g) | 1999, 2002–2003 (452 g) |
| J. D. Martinez | OF | 2014–2017 (458 g) | 2024 (120 g) |
| Gregg Jefferies | 1B | 1999–2000 (111 g) | 1987–1991 (465 g) |
| Mickey Lolich | P | 1963–1975 (514 g) | 1976 (31 g) |
| Javier Baez | SS | 2022–2025 (485 g) | 2021 (47 g) |
| Shane Halter | 3B | 2000–2003 (477 g) | 1999 (7 g) |
| Chico Fernandez | SS | 1960–1963 (422 g) | 1963 (58 g) |
| Elliott Maddox | OF | 1970 (109 g) | 1978–1980 (335 g) |
| Tom Veryzer | SS | 1973–1977 (390 g) | 1982 (40 g) |
| Duffy Dyer | C | 1980–1981 (50 g) | 1968–1974 (375 g) |
| Yoenis Cespedes | OF | 2015 (102 g) | 2015–2018, 2020 (316 g) |
| Vance Wilson | C | 2005–2006 (117 g) | 1999–2004 (286 g) |
| Timo Perez | OF | 2007 (29 g) | 2000–2003 (372 g) |
| Justin Verlander | P | 2005–2017 (380 g) | 2023 (16 g) |
| Richie Hebner | 3B | 1980–1982 (250 g) | 1979 (136 g) |
| Mark Carreon | OF | 1992 (101 g) | 1987–1991 (272 g) |
| Ray Knight | 3B | 1988 (105 g) | 1984–1986 (254 g) |
| Gary Sheffield | OF | 2007–2008 (247 g) | 2009 (100 g) |
| Frank Lary | P | 1954–1964 (316 g) | 1964–1965 (27 g) |
| Bobby Parnell | P | 2016 (6 g) | 2008–2015 (329 g) |
| Mark Canha | OF | 2024 (93 g) | 2022–2023 (229 g) |
| Tomas Nido | C | 2025 (11 g) | 2017–2024 (306 g) |
| Joe Ginsberg | C | 1948, 1950–1953 (280 g) | 1962 (2 g) |
| Frank Tanana | P | 1985–1992 (250 g) | 1993 (29 g) |
| Tim Corcoran | 1B | 1977–1980 (273 g) | 1986 (6 g) |
| Rajai Davis | OF | 2014–2015 (246 g) | 2019 (29 g) |
| Walt Terrell | P | 1985–1988, 1990–1992 (216 g) | 1982–1984 (57 g) |
| Phil Mankowski | 3B | 1976–1979 (248 g) | 1980, 1982 (21 g) |
| Paul Gibson | P | 1988–1991 (214 g) | 1992–1993 (51 g) |
| Francisco Rodriguez | P | 2016–2017 (89 g) | 2009–2011 (165 g) |
| Jose Valverde | P | 2010–2013 (226 g) | 2014 (21 g) |
| Vince Coleman | OF | 1997 (6 g) | 1991–1993 (235 g) |
| Rico Brogna | 1B | 1992 (9 g) | 1994–1996 (228 g) |
| Frank Catalanotto | OF | 1997–1999 (202 g) | 2010 (25 g) |
| Jerry Morales | OF | 1979 (129 g) | 1980 (94 g) |
| Juan Samuel | 2B | 1994–1995 (135 g) | 1989 (86 g) |
| Wilson Ramos | C | 2021 (35 g) | 2019–2020 (186 g) |
| C. J. Nitkowski | P | 1995–1996, 1999–2001 (214 g) | 2001 (5 g) |
| Andres Torres | OF | 2002–2004 (81 g) | 2012 (132 g) |
| Gregory Soto | P | 2019–2022 (186 g) | 2025 (25 g) |
| Max Scherzer | P | 2010–2014 (161 g) | 2022–2023 (42 g) |
| Rick Porcello | P | 2009–2014 (184 g) | 2020 (12 g) |
| Dave Mlicki | P | 1999–2001 (70 g) | 1995–1998 (123 g) |
| Zack Short | SS | 2021–2023 (179 g) | 2024 (10 g) |
| Mike Pelfrey | P | 2016 (24 g) | 2006–2012 (153 g) |
| Justin Wilson | P | 2016–2017 (108 g) | 2019–2020 (68 g) |
| Tim Byrdak | P | 2007 (39 g) | 2011–2013 (136 g) |
| Carlos Torres | P | 2019 (4 g) | 2013–2015 (165 g) |
| Karim Garcia | OF | 1999–2000 (104 g) | 2004 (62 g) |
| Raul Casanova | C | 1996–1998 (142 g) | 2008 (20 g) |
| Kevin Collins | 3B | 1970–1971 (60 g) | 1965, 1967–1969 (89 g) |
| Cameron Maybin | OF | 2007, 2016, 2020 (132 g) | 2021 (9 g) |
| Rich Becker | OF | 2000 (92 g) | 1998 (49 g) |
| Willie Blair | P | 1997, 1999–2001 (124 g) | 1998 (11 g) |
| Reed Garrett | P | 2019 (13 g) | 2023–2025 (120 g) |
| Paul Sewald | P | 2025 (4 g) | 2017–2020 (125 g) |
| Bob Miller | P | 1973 (22 g) | 1962, 1973–1974 (99 g) |
| Juan Berenguer | P | 1982–1985 (101 g) | 1978–1980 (16 g) |
| Ed Glynn | P | 1975–1978 (26 g) | 1979–1980 (84 g) |
| Omir Santos | C | 2011–2012 (14 g) | 2009 (96 g) |
| Fernando Vina | 2B | 2004 (29 g) | 1994 (79 g) |
| John Sullivan | C | 1963–1965 (39 g) | 1967 (65 g) |
| Brandon Lyon | P | 2009 (65 g) | 2013 (37 g) |
| Andy Tomberlin | OF | 1998 (32 g) | 1996–1997 (69 g) |
| Jose Lima | P | 1994–1996, 2001–2002 (95 g) | 2006 (4 g) |
| Brian Bohanon | P | 1995 (52 g) | 1997–1998 (46 g) |
| Matt den Dekker | OF | 2017 (4 g) | 2013–2014, 2018 (88 g) |
| Dennis Ribant | P | 1968 (15 g) | 1964–1966 (76 g) |
| Craig Paquette | 3B | 2002–2003 (83 g) | 1998 (7 g) |
| Juan Acevedo | P | 2002 (65 g) | 1997 (25 g) |
| Chasen Shreve | P | 2023 (47 g) | 2020, 2022 (42 g) |
| Bob Macdonald | P | 1993 (68 g) | 1996 (20 g) |
| Kenny Rogers | P | 2006–2008 (75 g) | 1999 (12 g) |
| Gary Thurman | OF | 1993 (75 g) | 1997 (11 g) |
| Bob Miller | P | 1953–1956 (67 g) | 1962 (17 g) |
| Jack Hamilton | P | 1964–1965 (9 g) | 1966–1967 (74 g) |
| Octavio Dotel | P | 2012–2013 (63 g) | 1999 (19 g) |
| Kyle Farnsworth | P | 2005, 2008 (62 g) | 2014 (19 g) |
| Bubba Trammell | OF | 1997 (44 g) | 2000 (36 g) |
| Ed Nunez | P | 1989–1990 (69 g) | 1988 (10 g) |
| Mel Rojas | P | 1999 (5 g) | 1997–1998 (73 g) |
| Rafael Montero | P | 2025 (20 g) | 2014–2017 (58 g) |
| Josh Smoker | P | 2018 (1 g) | 2016–2017 (74 g) |
| Bob Shaw | P | 1957–1958 (19 g) | 1966–1967 (49 g) |
| Dave Roberts | P | 1976–1977 (58 g) | 1981 (7 g) |
| Jim Lindeman | OF | 1990 (12 g) | 1994 (52 g) |
| Mike Hessman | 1B | 2007–2008 (29 g) | 2010 (32 g) |
| Harry Chiti | C | 1960–1961 (42 g) | 1962 (15 g) |
| Mike Marshall | P | 1967 (37 g) | 1981 (20 g) |
| Dan Schatzeder | P | 1980–1981 (49 g) | 1990 (6 g) |
| Mike Difelice | C | 2004 (13 g) | 2005–2007 (42 g) |
| Orlando Mercado | C | 1987 (10 g) | 1990 (42 g) |
| Hideo Nomo | P | 2000 (32 g) | 1998 (17 g) |
| Jake Marisnick | OF | 2023 (33 g) | 2020 (16 g) |
| Bill Denehy | P | 1971 (31 g) | 1967 (15 g) |
| Roger Mason | P | 1984 (5 g) | 1994 (41 g) |
| Shawn Hare | OF | 1991–1992 (24 g) | 1994 (22 g) |
| John Pacella | P | 1986 (5 g) | 1977, 1979–1980 (39 g) |
| Tom Sturdivant | P | 1963 (28 g) | 1964 (16 g) |
| Jacob Barnes | P | 2022 (22 g) | 2021 (19 g) |
| Billy Baldwin | OF | 1975 (30 g) | 1976 (9 g) |
| Ramon Martinez | SS | 2005 (19 g) | 2008–2009 (19 g) |
| Al Pedrique | SS | 1989 (31 g) | 1987 (5 g) |
| Casey Fossum | P | 2008 (31 g) | 2009 (3 g) |
| Dean Chance | P | 1971 (31 g) | 1970 (3 g) |
| Herb Moford | P | 1958 (25 g) | 1962 (7 g) |
| Matt Ginter | P | 2005 (14 g) | 2004 (15 g) |
| Jose Urena | P | 2021 (26 g) | 2025 (1 g) |
| Vic Darensbourg | P | 2005 (22 g) | 2004 (5 g) |
| Erasmo Ramirez | P | 2021 (17 g) | 2020 (6 g) |
| Billy Beane | OF | 1988 (6 g) | 1984–1985 (13 g) |
| Clem Labine | P | 1960 (14 g) | 1962 (3 g) |
| Jeff Kaiser | P | 1991 (10 g) | 1993 (6 g) |
| Joe Grzenda | P | 1961 (4 g) | 1967 (11 g) |
| Adam Wilk | P | 2011–2012 (8 g) | 2017 (1 g) |
| Bill Graham | P | 1966 (1 g) | 1967 (5 g) |
| Geoff Hartlieb | P | 2025 (2 g) | 2021 (3 g) |
| Lino Urdaneta | P | 2004 (1 g) | 2007 (2 g) |
| Luis Alvarado | SS | 1977 (2 g) | 1977 (1 g) |
| Julio Teheran | P | 2021 (1 g) | 2024 (1 g) |
From the SABR Lahman Baseball Database (CC BY-SA 3.0), 1876–2025. A season counts when the player played at least one regular-season game for the franchise.
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Questions
How many players have played for both the Detroit Tigers and the New York Mets?
130 in the Lahman Baseball Database from 1962 to 2025, including Rusty Staub, Howard Johnson, Curtis Granderson and Damion Easley. A player counts when he played at least one regular-season game for each franchise.
Who was the first player on this list to play for both?
Bob Miller: Detroit Tigers first, then the New York Mets from 1962.
Who has played for both recently?
Jose Iglesias, J. D. Martinez, Javier Baez, Mark Canha, Tomas Nido and Gregory Soto and 7 more, with a season for one of the two in 2024 or 2025.
Does a player count if the team has moved or changed its name?
Yes. Seasons count for today's franchise, the way the Lahman database links every team-season to a franchise. Neither of these teams has moved or changed its name.
Careers from the SABR Lahman Baseball Database (CC BY-SA 3.0). Team logos are trademarks of their respective teams (logos via TheSportsDB). Independent and not affiliated with MLB or any team. Credits