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