Editing Hal Newhouser (section)

=== Detroit Tigers (1939–1953) ===
==== 1939–1943 ====
Newhouser's talent had been noticed by teams across the MLB, most notably the Tigers and the [[Cleveland Indians]]. Soon after returning from a Legion ball tournament on the evening of August 6, 1938, Newhouser signed with the Tigers at the age of 17, thanks to Egan's early scouting efforts and the relationship they had formed. Egan was able to convince Newhouser to sign for the team with a $500 signing bonus. Upon signing, Newhouser, whom Egan deemed the "greatest left-handed pitcher [he] ever saw," gave $400 to his parents while saving the other $100 for himself.<ref name="stewart212">{{Harvnb|Stewart|2014|p=212}}</ref> Ten minutes later,<ref name="obit"/> Indians scout [[Cy Slapnicka]] arrived at the Newhouser house with a $15,000 check and a new car, offering both for Newhouser to sign with the franchise. Crushed, Newhouser told Slapnicka that he had already signed with Detroit.<ref name="stewart212"/>

Newhouser started his career in [[1939 Major League Baseball season|1939]] with the Tigers' Class D affiliate, the [[Alexandria Aces]] of the [[Evangeline Baseball League]]. He won his first professional baseball game there, striking out eighteen batters in the effort, before winning seven more and earning a promotion to the Class A [[Beaumont Exporters]] of the [[Texas League]]. Newhouser started hot in Beaumont, winning his first four games before falling into a slump, losing thirteen straight during one particularly bad stretch. This string of performances, along with his notably poor temper, alarmed the Tigers front office. Egan, however, convinced them to call up Newhouser near the end of the season, in order to keep a better eye on him. He joined a pitching staff with the likes of veteran players [[Schoolboy Rowe]], [[Tommy Bridges]], and [[Bobo Newsom]], along with younger players [[Dizzy Trout]] and [[Fred Hutchinson]]. Manager [[Del Baker]] wanted to include the young prospects in the rotation in the final games of the season and on September 26, 1939, Newhouser made his major league debut in the second game of a doubleheader against the Indians. In the game, Newhouser gave up three hits and four walks in five innings, when the game was called due to darkness.<ref name="stewart212-213">{{Harvnb|Stewart|2014|p=212–213}}</ref> Newhouser was credited with the 0–3 loss.<ref name="debut box score">{{cite web |title=Cleveland Indians vs Detroit Tigers Box Score: September 29, 1939 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET193909292.shtml |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |access-date=March 26, 2025}}</ref>

The [[1940 Major League Baseball season|1940 campaign]] saw Newhouser become a much more active part of the rotation. He started in 20 games and posted a 9–9 record with a 4.86 [[earned run average]] (ERA).<ref name="stewart213">{{Harvnb|Stewart|2014|p=213}}</ref> On May 2, Newhouser recorded his first ever win when he allowed only six hits in a 5–3 victory against the [[Washington Senators (1901–1960)|Washington Senators]] away.<ref name="first mlb win">{{cite news |title=York's Homer, Triple Enables Tigers To Win: Hal Newhouser Hurls Six-Hitter for 5-to-3 Victory |work=[[The Atlanta Constitution]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=May 2, 1940|id={{ProQuest|503664838}}}}</ref> Detroit went on to win the [[American League pennant]], finishing one game over Cleveland and two over the [[New York Yankees]], earning a [[1940 World Series]] appearance against the [[Cincinnati Reds]]. Newhouser, the youngest player on the Tigers roster,<ref name="1940 tigers roster">{{cite web |title=Roster for the 1940 Detroit Tigers |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1940&t=DET |website=[[Baseball Almanac]] |access-date=March 29, 2025}}</ref> did not make an appearance in the Series. He instead watched from the dugout as the Reds won in seven games. Newhouser continued to be an active part of the Tigers rotation in [[1941 Major League Baseball season|1941]], this time posting a 9–11 record with a 4.79 ERA.<ref name="stewart214">{{Harvnb|Stewart|2014|p=214}}</ref>

During the [[1942 Major League Baseball season|1942 season]], Newhouser succeeded against the reduced offensive talent in the league as a result of many players serving in the armed forces during [[World War II]]. He finished the season with a 2.45 ERA with eleven [[complete game]]s and five [[Save (baseball)|save]]s and was an [[1942 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game selection]] for the first time in his career. Despite the positive pitching performance, Newhouser had inaccurate run support from his offensive counterparts and finished the season 8–14.<ref name="stewart214"/> In June,<ref name="army bound">{{cite news |title=Tigers' Tebbetts, Hal Newhouser Both Army Bound |work=[[The Washington Post]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=June 17, 1942|id={{ProQuest|151590969}}}}</ref> Newhouser planned on being sworn into the [[United States Army Air Corps|Army Air Corps]] during a game in order to serve in [[World War II]]. However, due to a [[congenital heart defect]],<ref name="goldstein220">{{Harvnb|Goldstein|1980|p=220}}</ref> he was deemed unfit for service following his physical examination in July.<ref name="fails physical">{{cite news |title=Hal Newhouser Fails to Pass Army Physical |work=[[The Washington Post]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=July 27, 1942|id={{ProQuest|151486102}}}}</ref>

The [[1943 Major League Baseball season|1943 season]] saw a couple of changes in the Tigers lineup. Firstly, former catcher [[Steve O'Neill]] became the new manager of Detroit. Replacing him at the catcher spot would be [[Paul Richards (baseball)|Paul Richards]],<ref name="stewart214"/> who last played for the [[Philadelphia Athletics]] in 1935.<ref name="richards br">{{cite web |title=Paul Richards |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/richapa01.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=March 26, 2025}}</ref> Richards was largely tasked with bringing Newhouser and his young compatriots to their full potential.<ref name="stewart214"/> At the start of the season, he had proven successful in doing this, as Newhouser credited Richards for his hot start. His 14 strikeouts on May 27 against the [[New York Yankees]] were the most a pitcher had put up in a single game since [[Bob Feller]] threw 18 in 1938. Through the beginning of June with 50 innings pitched, his earned run average was 0.90, 0.19 lower than [[Dutch Leonard (left-handed pitcher)|Dutch Leonard]]'s full season record.<ref name="0.90 era">{{cite news |title=Detroit Pitcher Allows.9 Runs Per Tilt So Far: Newhouser Gives O'Neil, Richards Credit for Transformation |work=[[The Atlanta Constitution]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=June 2, 1943|id={{ProQuest|504230978}}}}</ref> Once again, Newhouser was selected for an [[1943 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]], recording a strikeout in three innings of work in the Midsummer Classic.<ref name="1943 all star game">{{cite web |title=1943 All-Star Game Box Score, July 13 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1943-allstar-game.shtml |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |publisher=[[Sports Reference]] |access-date=March 27, 2025}}</ref> Despite the initial success, Newhouser lost nine straight games from late July to September<ref name="1943 losing streak snapped">{{cite news |title=Detroit Beats Brownies in Pair of Games |work=[[The Atlanta Constitution]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=September 2, 1943|id={{ProQuest|504271966}}}}</ref> and finished the season with a dismal 8–17 record<ref name="stewart214"/> and a league-leading 111 walks.<ref name="at 100">{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=Ryan |title=Hal Newhouser at 100: Remembering the Detroit Tigers legend's most epic games |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2021/05/20/hal-newhouser-detroit-tigers-best-games/5160880001/ |access-date=March 26, 2025 |work=[[Detroit Free Press]] |date=May 20, 2021}}</ref> Following a September in which he posted a 5.19 ERA, he likely would have been let go had the wartime league talent not been so thin.<ref name="stewart214"/>

==== 1944–1947 ====
During the offseason prior to the [[1944 Major League Baseball season|1944 season]], Newhouser was offered a full-time job at Chrysler. His family implored him to take the position, as they viewed it as much more secure than a career in baseball, especially with his dismal 34–52 record in his first four years. Newhouser, however, decided to take one more chance at baseball. At that year's wartime [[spring training]] in [[Evansville, Indiana]], Richards told Newhouser: "You've been a thrower. I'm going to make you a pitcher."<ref name="letter to editor">{{cite news |last1=Durrell |first1=Richard |author-link1=Dick Durrell|title=Transformation To Pitcher |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1989/06/11/319789.html?pageNumber=404 |access-date=March 25, 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 11, 1989}}</ref> Originally possessing just a [[fastball]], [[curveball]], and [[changeup]], Richards taught Newhouser how to throw a [[Slider (pitch)|slider]]. He also taught Newhouser to control his emotions, although it remains unknown exactly what teaching method he used.<ref name="stewart215">{{Harvnb|Stewart|2014|p=215}}</ref>

The training worked, as 1944 proved to be Newhouser's breakout year. He posted a 29–9 record with a 2.22 ERA<ref name="james346">{{Harvnb|James|2001|p=346}}</ref> en route to his first [[Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|Most Valuable Player Award]].<ref name="light644">{{Harvnb|Light|2017|p=644}}</ref> His season started shaky, as he gave up five runs in just two innings of work during his first start, causing manager [[Steve O'Neill]] to send him to the bullpen for a week. On April 27 against the [[Chicago White Sox]], Newhouser was given the start, in what O'Neill told him was his "last chance" to remain in the starting rotation. Newhouser made good of his chance, pitching a twelve-inning complete game shutout.<ref name="at 100"/> This success continued and he was selected to his third-straight [[1944 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] on July 11, where he gave up two runs in one and two-thirds innings of work.<ref name="1944 all star game">{{cite web |title=1944 All-Star Game Box Score, July 11 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1944-allstar-game.shtml |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |publisher=[[Sports Reference]] |access-date=March 27, 2025}}</ref> 

The late season pennant race of 1944 was incredibly competitive, with the Tigers, Yankees (whom Newhouser recorded six wins against across the season), and the [[St. Louis Browns]] all in contention within the final week. After the Yankees lost a late-season series to the Browns, they were eliminated from contention. With just two days to go, Detroit and St. Louis were tied at the top of the standings. Newhouser pitched win number 29 against the [[Washington Senators (1901–1960)|Washington Senators]] the following day, but the Browns also won their game, meaning the result of the next game would decide who wins the pennant. Detroit lost their final regular season game to the Senators, while St. Louis defeated the Yankees in a comeback fashion to secure the pennant.<ref name="stewart215"/> The MVP award voting between Newhouser and teammate [[Dizzy Trout]] was extremely tight. In fact, Trout won ten first-place votes compared to Newhouser's seven.<ref name="james869-870">{{Harvnb|James|2001|p=869–870}}</ref> However, Newhouser's 236 votes were four more than Trout's 232 and he took the title, largely due to his league-leading 187 strikeouts.<ref name="1944 mvp vote">{{cite news |last1=Reichler |first1=Joe |author-link1=Joe Reichler|title=Writers Name Hal Newhouser A.L.'s Most Valuable Player |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=November 28, 1944|id={{ProQuest|151718956}}}}</ref> Years later, Newhouser expressed disappointment that he was unable to reach the 30-win mark, which at the time was last achieved in the American League by [[Lefty Grove]] in [[1931 Major League Baseball season|1931]]. He attributed the fact that he didn't reach the mark to two factors: the fact that in his final start prior to the playoffs, the game ended in a 1–1 tie against the Red Sox after getting called off due to weather, and the fact that in the final game of the season, when a win was needed, the Tigers decided to send Trout to the mound rather than Newhouser on short rest.<ref name="among mclains rooters">{{cite news |title=Hal Newhouser Among McLain's Rooters |work=[[The Washington Post]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=August 14, 1968|id={{ProQuest|143421046}}}}</ref>

[[File:Hal Newhouser, Steve O'Neill and Hank Greenberg 1945.jpg|thumb|Newhouser (left) with manager [[Steve O'Neill]] and teammate [[Hank Greenberg]] during the 1945 season]]
He followed that up with a league-leading 25 wins and a 1.81 ERA, with only 9 losses in his [[1945 Major League Baseball season|1945 campaign]],<ref name="james346"/> also leading the league with 313 innings pitched, 29 complete games, 212 strikeouts, and 8 shutouts,<ref name="stewart215"/> en route to his second consecutive MVP award<ref name="light644"/> and the [[Triple Crown (baseball)#Pitching Triple Crown|Pitching Triple Crown]].<ref name="stewart216">{{Harvnb|Stewart|2014|p=216}}</ref> This made him the first ever pitcher to win the MVP award twice in consecutive seasons.<ref name="light597">{{Harvnb|Light|2017|p=597}}</ref> Although [[1945 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|no All-Star Game was held this season]] due to wartime travel restrictions, Newhouser made the hypothetical list of All-Stars compiled by the [[Associated Press]].<ref name="1945 all star game">{{cite web |title=The 1945 MLB All-Star Game |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/asgbox/yr1945as.shtml |website=[[Baseball Almanac]] |access-date=March 27, 2025}}</ref>

Late in the season, Newhouser was suffering from [[back spasms]] and was allowed to stay in Detroit while the team traveled east. During a series against the Yankees, however, Newhouser was asked to travel to New York and pitch by manager [[Jack Zeller]], as the Tigers pitching staff was exhausted. Despite being unable to throw his curveball due to severe pain, Newhouser leaned on his fastball and changeup to shutout the Yankees. His back continued to cause problems for him, however, as he was only able to pitch the first inning of a doubleheader against the Senators, who were just a half-game behind Detroit, before being relieved. The Senators finished the season with 87 wins, a game behind the Tigers, who with four consecutive games rained out, were unable to clinch the pennant right away.<ref name="stewart215-216">{{Harvnb|Stewart|2014|p=215–216}}</ref> When the rain finally let up, the Tigers played their final regular season game against the [[St. Louis Browns]]. [[Virgil Trucks]], who was medically discharged from the [[United States Navy|Navy]] at [[Norman, Oklahoma]] for a knee problem just five days prior, started the game.<ref name="goldstein260">{{Harvnb|Goldstein|1980|p=260}}</ref> After 5 1/3 innings, Trucks was relieved by Newhouser, who inherited a bases loaded situation with only one out and a 2–1 lead. Newhouser was able to escape the inning without allowing a run, but gave up one run in the seventh and eighth innings to allow the Browns a 2–3 lead. In the top of the ninth, however, slugger [[Hank Greenberg]] hit a grand slam to give the Tigers a 6–3 lead, which would hold, giving Newhouser the pitching win and clinching the pennant for Detroit.<ref name="stewart216"/>

Detroit faced off against the [[Chicago Cubs]] in the [[1945 World Series]]. Newhouser pitched the opening game, giving up seven runs before being pulled in the third inning as the Cubs routed Detroit, 9–0. Tied up at two games apiece, Newhouser was given the nod to pitch game five, improving upon his initial start by tossing a complete game in which the Tigers won 8–4. Three days later, Newhouser was chosen to pitch game seven. The Tigers offense gave him a five-run cushion in the first inning, but Newhouser only allowed three runs in nine innings, striking out ten in a 9–3 Tigers win, claiming the world title.<ref name="stewart216"/>

In the offseason prior to the [[1946 Major League Baseball season|1946 season]], [[Mexican League]] president [[Jorge Pasquel]] offered Newhouser, the biggest name in baseball at the time, $200,000 to pitch three seasons in Mexico, with a $300,000 signing bonus. While tempting, Newhouser feared being banned from baseball if the Mexican League didn't survive. Newhouser instead accepted a $10,000 signing bonus to stay with the Tigers and a promise that he would be given a raise when his new contract was due.<ref name="stewart216-217">{{Harvnb|Stewart|2014|p=216–217}}</ref> However, before signing, trade rumors between the Yankees and the Tigers involved a deal between Newhouser and [[Joe DiMaggio]].<ref name="stewart217"/> It was further rumored that [[Boston Red Sox]] slugger [[Ted Williams]] could also have been dealt for Newhouser and [[Dick Wakefield]]. Ultimately, no such trade ever occurred and Newhouser remained a Tiger.<ref name="rumor">{{cite news |last1=Rushin |first1=Steve |author-link1=Steve Rushin|title=Pssst, did you hear the rumor ... ? |url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2012/02/01/trade-rumors |access-date=March 26, 2025 |work=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=February 1, 2012}}</ref> While the league was dominated by the Boston Red Sox, led by returning star Ted Williams, Newhouser remained one the AL's best pitchers.<ref name="stewart217">{{Harvnb|Stewart|2014|p=217}}</ref> He was selected to that year's [[1946 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] and pitched four strikeouts in three innings of work.<ref name="1946 all star game">{{cite web |title=1946 All-Star Game Box Score, July 9 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1946-allstar-game.shtml |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |publisher=[[Sports Reference]] |access-date=March 27, 2025}}</ref> In total, he tossed a league-best 26 wins with a league-leading 1.94 ERA. While Williams won the MVP award, Newhouser finished close behind him to claim second place in the voting.<ref name="stewart217">{{Harvnb|Stewart|2014|p=217}}</ref>

The [[1947 Major League Baseball season|1947 season]] for the Tigers was largely characterized by good pitching play, but a lack of solid batsmen following the departure of Hank Greenberg. Without solid run support, Newhouser posted a 17–17 record with a 2.87 ERA and 176 strikeouts,<ref name="stewart217"/> although he was selected the starter for this year's [[1947 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]], where didn't allow a run in three innings of work.<ref name="1947 all star game">{{cite web |title=1947 All-Star Game Box Score, July 8 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1947-allstar-game.shtml |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |publisher=[[Sports Reference]] |access-date=March 27, 2025}}</ref> On August 28, during a game with the Red Sox, Newhouser was fined $250 by manager [[Steve O'Neill]] for a lack of effort after giving up five runs in the third inning, as well as for refusing to leave the mound after being summoned to the dugout. Newhouser claimed that he never talked back to O'Neill and felt confident that he could deliver a quality performance, insisting that he was trying. In response, O'Neill said that "it didn't look like it to me. He certainly was playing inferior ball." It was both O'Neill's first fine given as a manager and Newhouser's first received as a player.<ref name="fine">{{cite news |title=Hal Newhouser Fined $250 for 'Indifference' |work=[[The Washington Post]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=August 28, 1947|id={{ProQuest|151967708}}}}</ref> Towards the end of the campaign, Newhouser engaged in film review, comparing his 1947 pitching to that of his big mid-1940s years. In doing so, he corrected a flaw in his follow-through. He won three of his last four decisions.<ref name="stewart217"/>

====1948–1953====
Newhouser improved from the 1947 campaign in his [[1948 Major League Baseball season|1948 season]], posting a league-leading 21 wins with 143 strikeouts<ref name="stewart217"/> and earning an [[1948 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] selection.<ref name="1948 all star game">{{cite web |title=1948 All-Star Game Box Score, July 13 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1948-allstar-game.shtml |website=[[Baseball Reference]] |publisher=[[Sports Reference]] |access-date=March 27, 2025}}</ref> The start of the season proved challenging for Newhouser. He won the Tigers' [[Opening Day]] matchup against the Chicago White Sox,<ref name="opening day 1948">{{cite news |title=Tigers, Behind Newhouser, Down White Sox With 3-Run Ninth, 5-2 |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=April 20, 1948|id={{ProQuest|108222871}}}}</ref> before losing four straight starts.<ref name="four straight starts lost">{{cite news |last1=Povich |first1=Shirley |author-link1=Shirley Povich|title=This Morning |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=May 17, 1948|id={{ProQuest|152035197}}}}</ref> Starting with a 4–1 victory against the Boston Red Sox on May 19,<ref name="beat bosox 1948">{{cite news |title=Newhouser Back in Form, Tigers Spank Bosox, 4-1 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=May 19, 1948|id={{ProQuest|151996505}}}}</ref> Newhouser won seven straight games until his streak was busted in another start against the Red Sox on June 20.<ref name="streak snapped 1948">{{cite news |title=Bosox Snap Newhouser's String, 8-3 |work=[[The Washington Post]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=June 20, 1948|id={{ProQuest|151999891}}}}</ref> On August 8, he became the American League's first 15-game winner when he was credited for the win against the Washington Senators<ref name="15 game streak 1948">{{cite news |title=Tigers Down Solons Twice |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=August 8, 1948|id={{ProQuest|165853303}}}}</ref> and on September 29, following a 4–0 win against the Browns, Newhouser recorded his fourth twenty-win season of his career.<ref name="twenty win 1948">{{cite news |title=NEWHOUSER HALTS BROWNS FOR NO. 20: Detroit Ace Triumphs by 4-0 as He Reaches Goal Fourth Time in Last Five Years |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=September 29, 1948|id={{ProQuest|108274246}}}}</ref> Newhouser pitched in the final game of the season against the Indians in front of a crowd of over 74,000 at [[Cleveland Stadium|Cleveland Municipal Stadium]]. On short rest and battling an arm injury, he tossed a 7–1 victory over longtime foe [[Bob Feller]], in what Newhouser considered to be one of the best games of his life.<ref name="obit"/> Despite the success, Newhouser's age was showing and his fastball began to slow.<ref name="stewart217"/>

[[File:Vic Wertz, Hal Newhouser and Pat Mullin 1949.jpg|thumb|left|Newhouser (center) with teammates [[Vic Wertz]] and [[Pat Mullin]] in 1949]]
He was given the start on Opening Day on April 13, 1949 against the White Sox. Pitching in front of an Opening Day-record 53,435 fans at Briggs Stadium, Newhouser tossed a complete game, allowing three hits and only one run in the 5–1 win, his fourth straight on Opening Day.<ref name="opening day 1949">{{cite news |title=53,435 Watch Tigers Down White Sox, 5-1 |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=April 13, 1949|id={{ProQuest|105644872}}}}</ref> On September 8, in the first game of a doubleheader against the Indians, Newhouser started the game by retiring the first 17 Cleveland batters in order before allowing a walk to [[Frank Papish]]. An inning later, he gave up his only hit, a single to [[Lou Boudreau]], ending the no-hit bid. Newhouser completed the 10–0 shutout, only his second one-hit performance of his career.<ref name="one-hitter 1949">{{cite news |title=Hal Newhouser Hurls One-Hitter |work=[[The Atlanta Constitution]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=September 9, 1949|id={{ProQuest|1533094840}}}}</ref> On September 24, also against the Indians, Newhouser tossed his eighteenth and final win of the season.<ref name="last win 1949">{{cite news |title=Newhouser Beats Tribe |work=[[The Washington Post]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=September 24, 1949|id={{ProQuest|152211625}}}}</ref>

Newhouser's [[1950 Major League Baseball season|1950 season]] was delayed due to a sore shoulder. Due to the ailment, he was only able to record four innings during spring training and missed the entire month of April and about half of May. Newhouser made his season debut on May 14, in a game against the St. Louis Browns.<ref name="1950 debut announced">{{cite news |title=HAL NEWHOUSER READY: Tiger Star to Make His First Start of Season Tomorrow |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=May 12, 1950|id={{ProQuest|111361669}}}}</ref> He recorded 15 wins in 1950.<ref name="light644"/> He only lasted three innings in that game, giving up five runs.<ref name="5/14/50 browns game">{{cite web |title=St. Louis Browns vs Detroit Tigers Box Score: May 14, 1950 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET195005140.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=March 26, 2025}}</ref> His second start on May 22 against the Washington Senators was much better, taking a shutout into the ninth inning before allowing a run in the 5–1 Tigers victory.<ref name="2nd start 1950">{{cite news |title=Hal Newhouser Halts Senators: Tiger Ace Goes Route With Old-time Form |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=May 23, 1950|id={{ProQuest|166090900}}}}</ref>

During spring training for [[1951 Major League Baseball season|1951]], Newhouser told an interviewer that "this will be my best season, or my last."<ref name="best season or last">{{cite news |last1=Povich |first1=Shirley |author-link1=Shirley Povich|title=This Morning |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=March 3, 1951|id={{ProQuest|152401694}}}}</ref> His best season it was not, as he recorded six wins and six losses with a 3.92 ERA.<ref name="1951 ba stats">{{cite web |title=Hal Newhouser 1951 Game by Game Pitching Data |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pitchinglogs.php?p=newhoha01&y=1951 |website=[[Baseball Almanac]] |access-date=March 30, 2025}}</ref> His final appearance came on July 14 against the Senators, when he failed to last two innings in the loss. Pain in his arm became overbearing and he was placed on the [[disabled list]] in August, with minor leaguer [[Wayne McLeland]] called up to fill his spot.<ref name="disabled 1951">{{cite news |title=Newhouser Slated For 'Disabled' List |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=August 18, 1952|id={{ProQuest|112192625}}}}</ref>

Despite his promise in spring training, Newhouser returned to the Tigers [[1952 Major League Baseball season|the next season]]. Prior to 1952, Newhouser suggested a five-year deal worth $100,000, for insurance in case he could not pitch all five years and became a coach instead. While the Tigers had a policy against multiyear contracts, they considered the offer before ultimately turning him down.<ref name="stewart219">{{Harvnb|Stewart|2014|p=219}}</ref> Newhouser ultimately missed workouts in spring training due to his contract holdout. At one point, he requested a clause that he would not be traded, a condition general manager [[Charlie Gehringer]] couldn't guarantee.<ref name="against trade">{{cite news |title=Hal Newhouser Against Trade |work=[[The Washington Post]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=February 23, 1952|id={{ProQuest|152452545}}}}</ref> In 19 starts that season, Newhouser posted a 9–9 record and a 3.74 ERA. Towards the end of the year, he lost his starting spot to [[Billy Hoeft]]. His ninth victory of the season was his 200th career win.<ref name="stewart219"/>

On February 21, 1953, the day before spring training, Newhouser re-signed with the Tigers prior to [[1953 Major League Baseball season|to that year's season]], being the last Tiger to re-sign.<ref name="resign1953">{{cite news |title=Tigers Sign Hal Newhouser |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=February 22, 1953|id={{ProQuest|112591452}}}}</ref> He only appeared in seven games, finishing 0–1 with a 7.06 ERA.<ref name="stewart219"/> The Tigers released Newhouser unconditionally on July 22, 1953. When interviewed, he said that "this is the end. I'm finished as an active player. My arm just can't stand the strain anymore."<ref name="released by tigers">{{cite news |title=Once Great Prince Hal Newhouser Reaches End |work=[[The Atlanta Constitution]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=July 22, 1953|id={{ProQuest|1534854012}}}}</ref>