Introducing: Hooker Field at Lou Whitaker Park

In conjunction with the Martinsville Mustangs, NEXT P.L.A.N. Athletics and the City of Martinsville – the Mustangs longtime home will now be known as “Hooker Field at Lou Whitaker Park”.

Whitaker, a Martinsville native, spent 19 seasons (1977-1995) in Major League Baseball, all with the Detroit Tigers. The second baseman was a five-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove Award winner, 1978 American League Rookie of the Year and 1984 World Series champion.

Whitaker appeared in 2,390 games for the Tigers, third most in franchise history – trailing only Ty Cobb and Al Kaline. He also ranks fourth in major-league history with 2,308 games played at second base and remains the franchise leader in double plays (1,527), as well as second in walks (1,197) and third in runs scored (1,386).

Whitaker attended and played baseball at Martinsville High School, before committing to play at nearby Ferrum College. After being selected by the Tigers with the 99th overall pick in MLB’s 1975 Draft, Whitaker decided to sign with Detroit rather than attend college and shortly after began his professional career in the Rookie-level Appalachian League.

On September 9, 1977, Whitaker made his MLB debut at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox. The four-time Silver Slugger Award winner went on to finish his career with a .276 batting average, 244 home runs, 2,369 hits and 1,084 runs batted in.

In August of 2022, Whitaker’s No. 1 jersey was retired by the Tigers during an on-field ceremony at Comerica Park in Detroit. Whitaker was also inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

The Mustangs would like to thank Les Bowers, Brad Bowers and Roy Stevens of Time Technologies for the installation of a brand new billboard in left field, recognizing the newly named “Hooker Field at Lou Whitaker Park”.