One of the greats... https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/...legend-and-baseball-hall-of-famer-dies-at-85/ Al Kaline, Detroit Tigers legend and Baseball Hall of Famer, dies at 85 Hall of Famer and Detroit Tigers icon Al Kaline died Monday at his home in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, according to the Detroit Free Press. He was 85. A Tigers team official confirmed the news to ESPN. Kaline grew up in Baltimore and made his MLB debut as an 18-year-old in 1953. He played 22 seasons in the big leagues, all with the Tigers. He is the franchise's all-time leader in games played (2,834) and home runs (399). He ranks second to Ty Cobb in most other offensive categories, including hits (3,007) and total bases (4,852). The Tigers scout who signed him out of Southern High School, Ed Katalinas, once said of Kaline: "To me he was the prospect that a scout creates in his mind and then prays that someone will come along to fit the pattern." At Katalinas' desperate urging, the Tigers signed Kaline soon after his high school graduation to a $15,000 bonus and a $20,000 salary for each of his first three seasons. In accordance with the "bonus baby" rules of the time, the Tigers, because of the size of Kaline's bonus, were required to keep him on the major-league roster for at least two full seasons. In 1953, Kaline made just 30 plate appearances for Detroit, but the following season he emerged as the regular right fielder. While he didn't produce at a high level as a 19-year-old, he showed the Tigers enough to stick. The following year, in 1955, he enjoyed one of his best seasons, batting .340 with 200 hits, 27 home runs, 82 walks (against 57 strikeouts), and 321 total bases. Kaline finished runner-up to Yogi Berra in the AL MVP balloting and would never play a game in the minors. From 1955-67, Kaline was selected to the All-Star Game in 13 consecutive seasons, and he received MVP votes in 14 different seasons. Kaline never did win an MVP, though he finished in the top five of the voting four times, including second-place finishes twice. He also won 10 Gold Gloves and was regarded as a brilliant defensive right fielder. Kaline retired as a career .297/.376/.480 hitter and was fifth on the all-time hits list and 16th on the all-time home runs list when he called it a career. He ranks 42nd all-time with 92.8 WAR. Kaline won a World Series ring in 1968 and went 16 for 48 (.333) with three home runs in 12 career postseason games. Following his retirement, Kaline broadcast Tigers games from 1976-2002, and also spent time in the front office as a special assistant. In all, "Mr. Tiger" spent more than 60 years with the organization. He was voted into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot, receiving 88.3 percent of the vote in 1980. Kaline is one of six players with a statue outside Comerica Park.
Yeah, same here...he was one of the youngest ever to join the big leagues and never saw the minors. ...I remember trading his card for a Mantle card...sweet deal for me.
Ain't that the truth. I'm constantly reminded of that when I watch older TV shows and find out the stars are either my age, or my parents age...and I'm convinced the ones that are my parents are are like 30 years older than my parents (which would put them into their triple digits). life was a lot harder back in the day. My great grandmother was 40 years older than my mom is, and there's a picture of her with my mom, my grandmother and my sister (whens he was born). My great grandmother, who would've been 45 at the time the picture was taken, looks older than my mother does now.
I know exactly what you mean...getting older is a nasty and unforgiving bitch. But I've learned to gracefully accept the inevitable and in some ways, embrace it. Although, it does kinda hurt that I no longer get "that look" from the females as I once did...but the thing that bothers me now the most is when I look in the mirror and I realize that I have become the old man that I swore I'd never be.
I get that look from women still, but it's actually the "woah, that combover isn't convincing at all" look.
Ha !...I think it's safe to say that women assume that I still "have equipment down there"... they just don't care anymore.
When I was young and went to baseball games sometimes players flirted with me. When I passed 30 sometimes coaches flirted with me. Now no one does. Which is fine with me.
I had Kaline's baseball cards several times in my heedless 1950s youth and didn't even know who he was. Still don't. I gambled them away in card-flipping games. You're the same age as your dad?
What I always found funny is when I would run into someone I knew many years ago and my first impression is, man, he/she sure looks old, but then I realize he's likely saying the same thing back, lol. I have always wondered who that old guy is that always blocks my view in the mirror.
