Al Kaline 12/19/1934 - 04/06/2020 RIP#6

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Al Kaline celebrates his 3000th MLB hit with the fans Tigers Stadium, 1974.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FLmjxnNVcAEDdil?format=jpg&name=medium

 

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Al Kaline collecting his 1967 Gold Glove in 1968. The man presenting the GG to Mr. Tiger is old teammate CF'er Billy Bruton, part of a great Defensive Outfield of Kaline in Right, Bruton in Center, and Rocky Colavito in Left.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FL1RuovVQAwr45Y?format=jpg&name=medium

 

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https://www.vintagedetroit.com/ted-williams-helped-al-kaline-become-a-mature-hitter/
Advice from Ted Williams helped Al Kaline become a mature hitter. from May 2012.
Vintage Detroit

 

[kalinecountry]

"Well good afternoon everyone." Kell and Kaline.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FMtLspzUcAAwp_v?format=png&name=small

 

[kalinecountry]

https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2022/02/28/tigers-on-top-of-the-mountain/
TIGERS ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.
Totally Tigers

On Friday, I asked Tiger fans to come up with their list of the Tiger players who should be the ?Mt. Rushmore? of the organization. Instead of the 4 faces, we ran with 5.

Thank you to everyone who contributed.

But before I reveal the answers, some relevant details.

There were a total of 18 players nominated. Most of them from decades ago. Only 2 from the modern era. Positional players (12) outnumbered the 6 pitchers nominated.

Now, as promised, here are my 5 nominees:

 

[kalinecountry]

Al Kaline Day Parade.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FMyWOCDUUAEYlYw?format=jpg&name=medium

 

[kalinecountry]

Mr. Tiger and Ernie Harwell combined for over 100 seasons of service to the Detroit ball club.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FMyQs9cVIAQAYHH?format=jpg&name=medium

 

[kalinecountry]

Al Kaline and Jim Northrup from a scene in the fine 1978 television movie, "One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story."
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FMuRUJkVgAMZkw9?format=jpg&name=medium

 

[kalinecountry]

https://www.mlb.com/news/best-mlb-players-to-never-win-most-valuable-player
The best players to never win MVP.
MLB.com

 

[kalinecountry]

1961 and 1962 Mr. Tiger yearbook profiles.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FM45VBCUcAAYZWS?format=jpg&name=small

 

[kalinecountry]

Hits Leaders before age 30 season.
Cobb, Kaline, Miggy, and "Wahoo Sam".
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FM45SveXIAE6UUJ?format=jpg&name=medium

 

[kalinecountry]

On Sept. 4, 1972, 4 teams were separated by a half game in the AL East. Then Al Kaline put the Tigers on his back. At age 37, Mr. Tiger hit .385 with 4 HR over 22 games. Detroit went 16-6 when he played & 1-4 when he didn?t & the Tigers won the division by 1/2 game.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FM7S7cNWQAMU9jC?format=jpg&name=900x900

 

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Mr. Tiger from 1972.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FNWhxQ6VEAIe7YT?format=jpg&name=medium

 

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Mr. Tiger in his prime.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FNWPQxLWYAEiRUh?format=jpg&name=medium

 

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So analytics people, do we know which season grades out the best defensively for Al Kaline, the winner of an amazing 10 gold gloves?
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FNbau--VEAAddbK?format=png&name=900x900

 

[kalinecountry]

Al Kaline was the winner of the Babe Ruth Crown in 1980.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FNbZrO3UYAImvtO?format=png&name=small
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FNbZ6_YVcAE5DUO?format=png&name=small

 

[kalinecountry]

Mr. Tiger and the Yankee Killer came up to the Tigers in the same season.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FNghxSIVUAE-Gg5?format=jpg&name=small

 

[kalinecountry]

Al Kaline Sport Magazine July 1957.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FN_nMSCVgAEZQPK?format=jpg&name=medium

I have this magazine in a box somewhere along with a couple of hundred others.

 

[kalinecountry]

Al Kaline playing cards with teammates in locker room during spring training. Photo by Lee Balterman-The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FOAmJDjWQAQ3lI5?format=png&name=small

 

[kalinecountry]

Three Tigers Legends.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FPig-kbVUAMweT4?format=jpg&name=360x360