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

August 17, 1980: The Tigers retired Al Kaline's jersey number 6 in a ceremony held between games of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers, George Kell emceed and also in attendance were Ed Katalinas, who signed the humble man later dubbed Mr. Tiger to a bonus contract off the Baltimore sandlots;
Hall of Famer second baseman Charlie Gehringer and Kaline's former teammate, Pat Mullin, who had given him his No. 6 jersey.
The Tigers would retire the numbers of Charlie Gehringer and Hank Greenberg in 1983 & Hal Newhouser in 1997.
 
September 24, 1974: At Memorial Stadium with his parents, family, and friends in the stands, Tigers Legendary Right fielder Al Kaline gets his 3000th hit.
The milestone hit is a double off Oriole hurler Dave McNally in a 5 - 4 loss to the Birds. In 5 years, Kaline will become the 10th member of the Baseball Hall Of Fame voted in on the first try.
 
September 25, 1955: Detroit Tigers Rightfielder Al Kaline becomes the youngest batting champ in history, as he takes the American League Batting Crown at age 20 with a .340 average. Ty Cobb was older by one day when he won in 1907.
The future all-time great will also lead the league in hits with 200, and total bases with 321. Kaline will finish 2nd in the MVP vote to Yankees catcher Yogi Berra, and win the Sporting News' American League Player of the year award.
Great Pictures of a 20 year old Al Kaline.
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“Al Kaline treated me better than I should have been, probably. He was like Sparky Anderson in that, they’re hell-bent on making sure the game is better than it was when they came in. That’s their big deal".
Kirk Gibson".

At 19, Al Kaline was Detroit’s regular right fielder and acclaimed the best glove man to field that spot in Tiger's and MLB history. At 20, he had led the American League in batting and was named the player of the year.
With credentials like these, Sid Keener up in Cooperstown was already dusting off a cubicle in the HOF for the slender clouter. In style and ease of performance he is the closest approximation we have to the flawless rhythm of Joe DiMaggio on a baseball diamond".
Murray Olderman.

 
December 19, 1934: Al Kaline is born in Baltimore, Md. Al becomes a High School, and Legion Ball Phenom playing 2 and at times 3 games in a day. Kaline is signed by Ed Katalinas a day after graduating from high school and signs for $35K.
Al sits on the bench in 1953 between Johnny Pesky and Fred Hutchinson going in as a defensive replacement.
In 1955 Kaline becomes the youngest player to win a batting title, also leading the A.L. in Hits with 200 and Total Bases with 321.
A complete 5 tool ballplayer, Kaline becomes the greatest defensive outfielder in American League history, winning 10 Gold Gloves for fielding excellence. After 5 full years and 85 assists, opposing teams stop running on Kaline's legendary throwing arm considered to be the Most Accurate in Major League History. Kaline is voted to 18 All-Star games batting a cool .324 12 for 37 with 2 Homeruns.
Al is the runnerup in the A.L. MVP ballot in 1955 and 1963, winning the prestigious Sporting News A.L. Player of the Year Award those seasons, and a 3rd place finish in the MVP ballot in 1956 and 10 years in the top 10 voting for MVP over his career.
In the 1968 World Series, Kaline's only appearance in the Fall Classic, he batted .379, hit two home runs and drove in eight to help Detroit knock off the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.
Injuries during several seasons keep Kaline from hitting 30 or home runs and several more seasons of 100+ Runs and 100+ RBI, missing 450 games to various injuries. Despite missing so many games, Kaline becomes the 12th member of the 3,000 Hit Club, and and the 10th player to become a first ballot Hall Of Famer in 1980.
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The Glory Days: Kaline the Selfless Star | Seamheads.com
Al Kaline never sought the spotlight. It found him at Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, the All-Star Game and the World Series, places the light shines brightest. Otherwise, he was Everyday Al. He could have been carrying a black lunch pail, the way he went about his job. So workmanlike, so steady...
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totallytigers.wordpress.com

MR. TIGER

by Holly Horning Today is the birthday of one of the greatest Detroit Tigers ever. Certainly the most loved one of all. Al Kaline. Mr. Tiger. He would have been 90 years old today, passing aw…
totallytigers.wordpress.com totallytigers.wordpress.com
MR. TIGER December 19, 2024

Today is the birthday of one of the greatest Detroit Tigers ever. Certainly the most loved one of all.
Al Kaline.
Mr. Tiger.
He would have been 90 years old today, passing away 4 years ago.
 
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