Al Kaline was born 84 years ago today in Baltimore, Maryland, and wasn't it appropriate that his 3,000th career base hit was in his hometown.
3,007 base hits as a Tiger, second only to Ty Cobb in franchise history, Kaline was the best defensive right fielder in the American League for more than a decade, and won 10 consecutive Gold Glove Awards starting in 1957.
🐯⚾ The Gold Glove Award was started in 1957 by Rawlings, and I think had the award existed at the start of the 1954 season, his rookie year, that total would've been 13 for sure.
As far as his baseball cards, my favorite that I have in my collection is his 1960 Topps Card, from the year I was born.
In 1960 Kaline played 137 games in the outfield, committing just 5 errors in 377 total chances, w/ a fielding percentage of .987%.
I was lucky enough to have seen Kaline play baseball at old Tiger Stadium, including this 1969 game.
At 84, Kaline is in his 65th year working for the team that he signed with out of high school, playing in his very first big league game on June 25, 1953.
🐯 Kaline never played a game of baseball in the minor leagues, but he did play a Tigers team record of 2, 834.
Every single fan of the boys from the Motor City is glad that the kid from Baltimore made Detroit his home.
Happy Baseball Birthday! Mr. Tiger!
Play BALL! 🐯⚾
Mr. Tiger was a little before my time, but thanks to a great article on him in Baseball Digest a few years ago... I became a huge fan. Happy birthday Mr. Kaline!
ReplyDelete... and yet somehow he still seems to be underrated!
ReplyDeleteHe's before my time, but there's no denying the greatness of his career
ReplyDeleteKaline got hurt a lot with his agressive play in right field. Tigers owners had the right field corner enlarged to keep Kaline healthy.
ReplyDeleteJust Google "Kalines Corner."
Truly one of the greats and I'm know Tigers fans love counting him as one of his own.
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