Announcement of cancellation of 2020 Little League World Series

Video courtesy of Little League International, via Facebook Live 

Little League World Series cancelled for 2020

Photo by Darla Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA (April 30, 2929) Little League International announced today, via a Facebook Live broadcast, that the Little League World Series is cancelled for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also stated that regional and championship tournaments are also canceled.  The statement also included all Little League divisions, including softball. The cancellations, however did not include the 2020 regular seasons.

Little League president Stephen Keener stated there was reason for optimism that teams could play this spring and summer, depending on restrictions in states and localities.The Little League World Series has been played each year since the first tournament in 1947. The 202e dition was to be the 75th edition of the tournament.

In addition, he announced it  would be impossible to hold the events with the ongoing restrictions on large gatherings and travel.

The LLWS was scheduled for August 20-30, 2020.  All division tournaments, regional championships and world series are scheduled to resume in 2021.

Packers sign Prairie View A&M's Jones, Morton as undrafted free agents

Photo courtesy of
PVAMU Sports Information

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

PRAIRIE VIEW, TEXAS (April 25, 2020) The Green Bay Packers have signed two Prairie View A&M University football players as undrafted free agent. Quarterback Jalen Morton and tight end Jordan Jones inked free agent deals late Saturday evening.

Morton (shown right) was one of the leading players in the SWAC, totallying 2,300 yards of offense and 21 touchdowns. In addition, he threw for more than 1,800 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2019. His 230.1 yards per game figure was third-highest in the league despite playing in just eight games. 

Photo courtesy of
PVAMU Sports Information

Jones (shown left) was an explosive target in the Panthers' third-ranked passing offense, catching 28 passes for 497 yards, In addition, he caught 56 passes for 963 yards and 11 touchdowns over his career.

PVAMU Interim Athletic Director Alicia Pete stated, "I am proud of these young men and how they will be representing Prairie View A&M University on the next level. It's always a good day to be a Panther and this is a great time for the athletic department and the University."

Over the past two seasons, the Panthers have sent five former players to the professional ranks.

"It's an extremely great opportunity for these guys, and it speaks a lot to what we have going on within our program," PVAMU Head Football Coach Eric Dooley said. "For the second straight year we have had players getting the opportunity to continue doing what they love. This speaks volumes about our coaching staff and what we have been able to accomplish in terms of not only honing in on their skills on the field, but staying on them academically as well."

LB Alex Highsmith selected in third round by Pittsburgh Steelers

Photo by Ted Gangi (CollegePressBox.com)

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA (April 24, 2020) Charlotte linebacker Alex Highsmith was selected as the Pittsburgh Steelers second pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The 2020 NFL Combine participant was named to the All-Combine Team as an edge rusher, was the 102nd overall pick late Friday evening.

During his senior year, he was named a 3rd team Associated Press All-American in addition to being named to the elite squad by Pro Football Focus. He was the first 49er to earn All-America honors and was selected to the All Conference USA team twice, the first Charlotte player do achieve the honor.

He tallied 14 sacks during his senior year, which ranked him fourth nationally. Also, he was a Burlsworth Trophy semifinalist and holds the school record for sacks in a game (4.5), sacks in a season (14), and sacks in a career (20).

He joined TCU defensive tackle Ross Blacklock as the newest Steeler. Blacklock was selected number 40 by Pittsburgh earlier in the eventing.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney discussed Hightower prior to their September 21, 2019 contest against Charlotte:

“He’s on all the ‘great player’ lists. I kept watching him and going, ‘Holy cow.’ He looks like Xavier Thomas. He’s physical, fast, disruptive. He’s causing sacks and tips. Really, really good football player. That No. 5 could play for anybody in the country.” 

Steelers select WR Chase Claypool in second round of NFL Draft

Photo by Ted Gangi (CollegePressBox.com)

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA (April 24, 2020) With their first pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Notre Dame wide receiver Chase Claypool. The 6-4, 229-pound senior, who played his high school ball at Abbotsford High School in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, led the Fighting Irish with 66 receptions for 1,037 yards and 13 touchdowns during his senior season. His 13 receiving touchdowns rank sixth most in a season by an Irish player.

He saw action in all 13 Notre Dame games in 2019 including the Camping World Bowl, were he was honored as the game's Most Valuable Player. In the bowl game, he caught seven passes for 146 yards and one touchdown against Iowa State. As a freshman in 2016 became the eighth player from Canada to appear in varsity action for Notre Dame.

In his junior years, he played in all 13 games, starting 12 of those contests. In addition, he finished the season second on the team with 639 receiving yards on 50 receptions and four TDs. He also tallied touchdown grabs in consecutive games against Wake Forest and No. 7 Stanford.

O'Brien with a chance to save the Hopkins deal

Photo Credit: Jeffrey S. King

By Lou Roesch
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 23, 2020)  The New England Patriots deal of tight end Rob Gronkowski to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers provides Houston Texans GM and head coach Bill O'Brien to  bring some sanity back to the palace on Kirby.

Just five weeks ago, O'Brien made what seemed to arguably be the dumbest trade in NFL history. Now the former New England Patriots coach is being given the opportunity to make all the naysayers eat their words. Maybe O'Brien had the scoop that Gronk was coming back and the Patriots would deal him to Tampa Bay. With all that now said and done as of a couple of hours ago, O'Brien has a phone call to make. "Hey Tampa Bay, heard you have a tight end by the name of OJ Howard available. Well we could use some juice here in Houston. How about I send you the 40th pick in the draft and a running back by the name of David Johnson." Not out of the realm of possibilities, is it?

You say hey wait we have Darren Fells and Jordan Atkins and Jordan Thomas and Kahale Waring. So what! None bring to the table what Howard does. At 6-6, 251lbs, he is the speedier and younger version of Gronkowski. Not to mention what he did at the combine that scouts still talk about four years later. He enters on the last year of his rookie contract with an option for another so Houston has time to play with the figures. Considering he has not played with a quarterback the caliber of DeShaun Watson, it's still interesting to note that one-third of his receptions have gone for 30 plus yards. In three years Howard has nearly as many receptions as Fells in six years (94 to 102), yardage 1456 in three seasons to Fells 1,171 and 12 TD's which topped Fells 10 in five years. What could he do in Houston with the magic of Watson? He could make fans forget D-Hop really quick. Play a double tight end as O'Brien is prone to do and Howard and Fells would be ridiculously productive.

David Johnson to the Bucs gives Brady his James White type back or put him in the slot as his Julian Edelman. The back-ups to starting back Ronald Jones II are nothing to write home about and if Johnson is healthy this is a win win for both sides. 

Bill.....OJ Howard  is like having a first round pick in 2020 and a veteran so no need to worry about him catching on. Make sure your phone is charged and make the call. Just don't wait till Thursday night or he won't be around.

Oliver Luck sues XFL owner Vince McMahon

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis,
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 21, 2020) It is being reported by Darren Rovell on his Twitter page (@darrenrovell) and an article on actionnetwork.com that former XFL commissioner Oliver Luck is suing XFL and WWF owner Vince McMahon.

Luck has stated through his lawyers that he was wrongfully terminated in the suit that was files in Connecticut on Thursday, April 16. The suit further states that he (Luck) is owed by salary from his contract that was guaranteed which amounts to between $20 million and $25 million over the five years of the contract. The contract was structured that he would receive the remaining amount of his salary of he was terminated without cause.

When the XFL was shut down on April 13, Luck was not listed as one of the creditors in their bankruptcy filing. 

More questions than answers from O'Brien's media Q & A

Bill O'Brien has been the head coach
of the Houston Texans since 2014.
Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Lou Roesch
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 17, 2020) Houston Texans general manager Bill O'Brien did little to quell the ire still felt by Houston Texans fans over his trading of the league's best wideout DeAndre Hopkins with his pre-draft press conference on Thursday morning. O'Brien fielded questions only from credentialed media and did little to excite fans about how good the 2020 Houston Texans will be come the first game of 2020. Here are some of the questions and answers he provided.

Talking about the DeAndre Hopkins trade, O'Brien had this to say:

"We felt like after layers and layers of research, this was the best move for our team. We moved him because we felt like that was the best deal for our team relative to this year, next year, two years, three years down the road.”  

So let's see. Randall Cobb and Brandin Cooks come to the Texans with a combined 97 catches for 1,411 yards and five touchdowns. Hopkins alone had 104 catches, 1165 yards and seven touchdowns. Oh and he played in 15 games, the same as Cobb and one more then Cooks.

Maybe Ryan Hardison put it best replying to Drew Dougherty on Twitter after he posted O'Brien saying 

"We feel really good about where we are offensively. O-line is in good shape, TE group is strong, 4-6 WR will be battling. But we've got to go out there and produce."

Hardison's response: 

"But what about 1-4 WR.. cuz he traded away our #1. Our #2 cant stay healthy. #3 isnt a #1 WR in this league and the 2 you picked up arent #2 WR anymore!"

What's your biggest concern coming into the draft was answered this way by O'Brien.

 "I don’t know if I would call it a concern, I would say just making sure that your cell phone works. If a team is trying to call you or you’re trying to call a team, making sure you have the ability to contact another team or they have the ability to contact you." 

Maybe he is looking to make another deal?

How about the health of receiver Brandin Cooks and running back David Johnson?

The Texans had David Johnson checked out and receive a physical from a doctor close to, and trusted by, Houston's medical staff and he passed with flying colors. O'Brien expects him to be a three down back.

As for Cooks, yes he has had concussion issues but he only missed two games going back to 2015 but O'Brien does not see that as an issue.

 “Without getting into who did the physical on Brandin, it was a doctor that we felt really good about, that Dr. (Walter) Lowe had a personal friendship with. That’s kind of how it goes during this unique time when there’s no traveling and no things like that. That physical had to take place in L.A. and we were able to have a doctor out there that did a great job. We also spoke with other doctors relative to Brandin and his injuries, not to get into the details. We feel really good about where Brandin’s at relative to his health."

Let's take a look at the proclivity for Cooks to concuss again. He has has five concussions in six seasons. Probably likely to happen again. 

Last year he did not reach the 1,000 yard receiving mark. If we are looking for Cooks to be the receiver he was in New Orleans, forget it. In 2019, only 21.4% of Brandin Cooks' receptions last season resulted in explosive completions, a rate that ranked 42nd among WRs with 25+ targets.   Current Texans wide receiver Kenny Stills ranked ahead of him so don't expect great things from a receiver on his fourth team in four seasons and the lowest production of his career. 

Bill O'Brien would have done better keeping his mouth shut despite the fact that one softball question after another was lobbed his direction and he refused to give any clear answers with exception of one difficult question, "Why was it necessary to bring up Aaron Hernandez in a conversation with DeAndre Hopkins?"...to which he had the clearest answer of the day....."No comment."

Pedro Castro signs NLI to play basketball for HBU

Photo courtesy of
Blinn College Athletic Department
Media Relations
Used with permission

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 16, 2020) HBU head basketball Ron Cottrell has announced that Pedro Castro (shown right) has signed a National Letter of Intent to play for the Huskies beginning in the 2020-2021 season. Castro, who played his high school ball at Brewer High School in Fort Worth, played the past season at Blinn College. The 6-6 guard played in 33 games for the Buccaneers, averaging 10.8,  6.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game. Prior to playing at Blinn, Castro saw action during his freshman year art The University of Texas at Arlington where he appeared in 33 games. Cottrell, in a prepared press release, stated;

"Pedro Castro is a long wing player who can play multiple positions for us. Pedro started his career at UT Arlington where he played considerable minutes as a redshirt freshman on a team that finished second in the Sun Belt. And, he had a stellar season at Blinn this past year where he received all-region honors. Pedro uses his length and high basketball IQ to shoot the three-pointer at a high percentage and to rebound over smaller guards and wings. Because of Pedro's previous experience at the NCAA D-I and highly respected east Texas junior college level, we expect Pedro to make an immediate impact on the court for us. We are more than excited to have him join us at HBU."

Calgary's first Stanley Cup still shrouded in controversy

Used with permission. Copyright Sergei Scurfield

By Lou Roesch
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 16, 2020) It's been 31 years since the Calgary Flames hoisted the Stanley Cup trophy for the first and even now their Game 7 overtime win against the Vancouver Canucks remains shrouded in controversy.

Hockey is a sport where the rivalries are as thick as blood. You are born into them and you will die a fan of your favorite team, there are no bandwagon jumpers in hockey especially north of the border. The rivalry between the Vancouver Canucks and the Calgary Flames reached incendiary proportions on April 15, 1989 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Conn Smythe semifinals.

Many will remember the name Joel Otto. Ironically enough, it was this native US born player that would fuel the fires in Canada hockey history. Undrafted out of college, the imposing center got a start with the Calgary Flames and made the most of it. At 6'4", 220lb, Otto was an imposing figure in front of the net. In Game 7, Vancouver had upset on their mind especially when Doug Lidster tied the game at 3 with 7:12 left in regulation. Was Calgary going to miss another opportunity to win a Cup. The Canucks who had finished six games under .500 during the regular season were in position to knock of Calgary, the regular season points leader at 117.

With less then a minute left in the first overtime, Calgary went on the attack. A deflected puck landed on the stick of right winger Jim Peplinski in the midst of a Calgary line change. The Flames captain sent the puck netward where Otto was tied up in front of Canucks goalie Kirk McLean. The shot hit off Otto and caromed into the back of the net propelling Calgary to what would become their first Stanley Cup title. 

Used with permission. Copyright Sergei Scurfield

From the moment, it crossed the crease, Canucks fans have been screaming foul.

  

"I remember looking down, watching it bank off my skate," said Otto in last year's 30-year remembrance for SportsNet. "And I don’t remember if I saw it go in or if I heard the roar."

To this day, Canucks assistant coach Mike Murphy argues to whoever will listen that it was an illegal goal and the officials missed it.

"To this day, I still feel the puck was kicked in. If it was today’s hockey, there would’ve been goalie interference, it would have been a kicked puck, but back then that didn’t happen."

Former referee and Hockey Hall of Famer Bill McCreary who officiated nearly 300 NHL playoff games remembered it this way.

"Had we had video review, I think we would have disallowed the winning goal. I think [Otto] directed the puck in the net with his skate. But the goal was allowed. I probably wish I had a better angle on the play, a better sight line. I just didn’t react well enough at the time and made the call. Of course, you don’t reverse them in those days, so it’s probably one I wished I could do over."

Cliff Fletcher architect and general manager of the Flames may have put it best after a 30 rest.

"I thought it was a good goal. Didn’t we win?"

Case closed.

St. Edwards Hilltoppers to drop six sports

Photo courtesy of wikipedia.com 

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

AUSTIN, TEXAS (April 15, 2020) In what could be a prefix of things to come from other colleges and universities, St. Edward's University has announced in a prepared press release that the university will be dropping six sports from their athletic department due to financial and budgetary concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sports that will be terminated at the end of the current spring semester include men's and women's tennis, men's and women's golf, and men's soccer. Cheer will be dropped from the athletic department and resigned as a club in the RecWell department.

In the press release, Associate Vice President for Athletics Debbie Taylor stated, 

"As we make this difficult transition, I know that all of our coaches and staff members have our student-athletes as a top priority and will work closely with them to support their needs."

It also stated that all scholarship-eligible student-athletes impacted by this reduction will have their athletic scholarships honored for the duration of their undergraduate enrollment at the university. In addition, all athletes wishing to transfer and compete at another institution will be given their full and immediate release. 

With the reductions, the Hilltoppers will field four men's and six women's programs and one co-ed sport. The remaining men's sports include baseball, basketball, track and field, and cross country. Women's sports that will still be contested include basketball, volleyball, softball, track and field, cross country and soccer. The lone co-ed sport remaining will be esports.

NFL and NFLPA agree on voluntary off season program for 2020

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis,
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Chris Price
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK (April 13, 2020) The NFL and NFLPA have reached agreement on a voluntary off season program for 2020, starting next Monday, April 20, 2020. The program can begin on that date, with no on-field work until all 32 club facilities can reopen.

Club facilities will only open in accordance with NFL procedures and all federal, state and local regulations. If one or more teams must remain closed for any length of time, all teams must remain also remained closed during that period.

Each team gets three consecutive weeks of work plus an extra voluntary veteran mini camps for new coaches. The training cycle cannot last past May 15.

If team facilities do not reopen during the off season workout program, teams may conduct a mandatory mini camp for returning players on a virtual basis. The teams have a four-four limit during the session, such as two hours of classroom time and two hours of training time.

Teams may provide players workout equipment and monitoring devices provided the cost for each player does not exceed $1,500.

Sugar Land Skeeters sign RHP Michael Nix as coach/player

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

SUGAR LAND, TEXAS (April 12, 2020) Right-hander pitcher Michael Nix has been signed as the pitching coach by the Sugar Land Skeeters. He will also occupy a spot on their active roster. Nix, who previously played for the Skeeters during their first six years of play.

After the 2017 season, Nix saw action with the Lamigo Monkeys of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. He was signed to his first professional contract in 2005 by the Atlanta Braves after playing his college ball for the Auburn Tigers. After playing in the Braves’ minor league system, also played in the minor league systems for the San Diego Padres, Chicago White Sox, and Colorado Rockies. In addition, he saw action in the Mexican League, along with the Puerto Rican and Mexican Pacific Winter League.

The Skeeters are currently monitoring the current COVID-19 pandemic and will make announcements regarding Opening Day and special events for 2020 once that information is available.

XFL halts day-to-day operations

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis,
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT (April 10, 2020) The XFL, the spring football league created by Vince Jim McMahon has announced it is suspending day-to-day operations and has laid off most of their employees. The announcement came at a time when most sports leagues in the United States are in a shut down mode due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The league, which was a reboot of the original XFL from 2001, had completed half of its 2020 season when play was terminated. The Houston Roughnecks, who posted a 5-0 record when play was suspended, was the only undefeated team in the league. The league consisted of eight teams.

No. 1 Texas softball’s Elish named Softball America National Player of the Year

Texas Athletic Department Photo
Used with permission

AUSTIN, TEXAS (April 9, 2020) Texas softball senior pitcher/utility player Miranda Elish (shown right) was named the 2020 Softball America Shortened Season National Player of the Year, while both Elish (first team) and junior second baseman Janae Jefferson (second team) were honored as 2020 Softball America Shortened Season All-Americans.

The duo helped guide the Longhorns to a 24-3 mark and final rankings of No. 1 in the Softball America and No. 3 in both the USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls. Along the way, Texas tied for the third-best 27-game start in school history, while leading the nation in team batting average (.376) and total doubles (62). The Burnt Orange & White also ranked in the NCAA Division I national top 10 in doubles-per-game (2nd – 2.30), on-base percentage (3rd - .450), solo shutouts (4th – 10), slugging percentage (5th – .597), won/loss percentage (6th – .889) and scoring (8th – 7.37). UT rallied for eight come-from-behind wins, went 5-1 against ranked teams (including beating the top two teams in the nation in consecutive games – No. 1 UCLA & No. 2 Washington) and scored more runs over the first 27 games (199) than any squad in program history.

On her way to national player of the year honors, Elish led the Big 12 Conference and ranked sixth in NCAA Division I in wins (11) while posting a 1.25 ERA, 11 complete games, four shutouts and 96 strikeouts over 84.0 innings of work while limiting the opposition to a miniscule .158 average. At the plate, the Crown Point, Ind., native also hit at a .370 clip over 23 contests with seven doubles, four HR’s and 19 RBIs to go with a 1.200 OPS. Among her individual highlights in 2020 were earning NFCA National Player of the Week honors (Feb. 11), after batting .818 with four HR’s and a remarkable 17 RBIs during the six-game Texas Classic, as well as tossing her second career perfect game by retiring all 21 batters she faced in a 7-0 win over New Mexico (March 8).

Jefferson continued her remarkable career in the Burnt Orange & White by leading the Big 12 in batting average (.554 – 3rd in NCAA Division I), hits (41 – 4th in NCAA) and on-base percentage (.607 – 3rd in NCAA) while posting eight extra-base hits, 13 walks and stealing 10 bases. The Humble, Texas, native currently owns the best career batting average in school history at .425, well ahead of Lexy Bennett’s (2009-12) second-ranked .385 mark. During the abbreviated 2020 campaign, Jefferson led the squad with 13 multi-hit games, including five three-hit efforts, and ended the season on a 17-game streak of reaching base safely. She also earned the final Big 12 Conference Player of the Week accolade on March 10 after hitting .750 with a 1.714 OPS during UT’s 4-0 run through the Longhorn Invitational.

German soccer league Bundesliga to resume play

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 8, 2020) Bundesliga, the German professional soccer league, is planning to resume their season in early May with no fans in attendance at the games. Chief Executive Officer of the league, Christian Seifert, stated to the New York Times that play is ready to get back underway in both of Germany's top two tiers, Bundesliga and Bundesliga2
The idea is to play in all of the leagues 36 stadiums with no fans in attendance at games until 2021. The cost to the clubs not playing in front of fans would be close to $110 million US dollars. It is expected that approximately 240 people would be needed for each match, including players, coaching staff, medical staff, match officials and production staff. There has been no mention if media would be allowed access to the matches. 

ESPN has the multi-platform broadcast rights to the German Bundesliga in the United State until 2026. The broacaster will cover every game live on its streaming service ESPN+, while its TV networks will telecast select Bundesliga games every season.

Al Kaline: The Real Tiger

By Lou Roesch

Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

(Video courtesy of National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum via YouTube)

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 7, 2020) The greatest Tiger of them all passed away in Detroit, Michigan less then a day ago and no, I am not talking about Tony The Tiger. A man as revered in Detroit as Stan Musial was in St. Louis. Ballplayers of the same ilk and the same generation lived a life to emulate.

Could you get a better eulogy from an organization whose success was synonymous with your face as the Detroit Tigers remembered Mr. Tiger.

 "One of the most distinguished and decorated players in the history of baseball, 'Mr. Tiger' was one of the greatest to ever wear the Olde English 'D',' " the Tigers said in a statement Monday. "The Hall of Famer has been a pillar of our organization for 67 years."

You can name on one hand just about the only players so revered by a city, an organization and a sport. Names like Kaline, Musial, Clemente, Brooks Robinson, and maybe Jolt'in Joe DiMaggio but not many more.

Al Kaline came to the Tigers the week after graduating from high school never spending a day in the minor leagues. For 22 seasons, he displayed the epitome of grace and professionalism on and off the field. His batting prowess second only to Ty Cobb. His games played and homers hit second to no one in Detroit.

Although a perennial star, fans may be surprised to hear that Al Kaline won just one batting title in his illustrious career. He finished second three times despite hitting over .300 none times and finishing with a career .297 average. In 1955, he won his only batting title becoming the youngest ever to achieve such a feat at 20 years 280 days. Sixty-five years later, the record still stands. He never won a home run title despite hitting 399 dingers or an RBI crown or an MVP trophy yet he was a first ballot Hall of Fame selectee garnering 88% of the vote.

Kaline played in just one world series largely in part because of the Yankees dynasty that won 10 pennants in his first 12 seasons. In 1968, just a year after missing the American League World Series berth, Kaline and the Tigers stunned the Bob Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals adding the title of baseball champion to Number 6's resume. Mr. Tiger, who batted .379, with 11 hits and eight RBI delivered the biggest one of all in the home seventh of Game 5. With the bases loaded, his one out two run single turned a one run deficit into a one run lead and Detroit never trailed again winning Games 5, 6, and 7.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Kaline collected hit number 3,000 cracking an opposite field double off Dave McNally and the Orioles in late September. Ten days later at Tiger Stadium, he would take his final at bat against the same Orioles going 0 for 2 before being lifted for a pinch hitter name Ben Oglivie. 

The ten-time Gold Glove winner and the first recipient of the Roberto Clement Humanitarian Award retired as an active player from baseball in 1974 but he would continue to don the uniform and serve his Tigers. Number 6 gone but not forgotten.

Flickr Photo Credit: Tom Hagerty  20110227-214_Kaline