Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Robert Leigh Higginson (born August 18, 1970 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Detroit Tigers. He has a career batting average of .272. He attended Temple University.
Higginson was drafted by the Tigers in the 12th round of the 1992 draft. His rookie year was 1995 when he played 130 games for the Tigers. Higginson batted .300 in 1996 and 2000, scored over 100 runs in 2000 and drove in over 100 runs in 1997 and 2000. In 2000 he became one of eight players in baseball history to hit .300, score over 100 runs, hit 30 home runs, hit 44 doubles, drive in over 100 RBI and steal 15 bases in one year. His career high of 30 home-runs came also in 2000. At his best, he was considered one of the better-fielding outfielders in baseball. He twice led the majors in outfield assists.
As of 2006, Higginson's baseball career has ended. After injury limited him to 10 games in 2005, he was removed from the Tigers' 40-man roster before the season ended. At age 35 and with his best years far behind him, he was unsigned by another team. He ended his career never having played on a team that had a winning season. He was a member of three of the worst teams in the history of major-league baseball: the woeful Detroit Tigers of 1996, 2002, and 2003.
Higginson is now a partner in a limousine company in Oakland County, Michigan and divides his time between Michigan and Florida.
Detroit Tigers (1995-2005)
Spent entire career with the Tigers