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Al Kaline RIP

bluecolt

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Jun 18, 2011
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One of the remaining members of the Detroit Tigers 1968 World Series team, Al Kaline died today in the Detroit area at the age of 85. He was the youngest player to win the AL batting title at age 20 in 1955, ripping .340 that year. He finished his Hall of Fame career with a .297 average with 3007 hits and 399 homers.

I saw him many times playing his right field, and I do mean his right field, shagging the impossible drives over his head and throwing the ball with effortless precision. I used to watch him practice before the game. His throws to any base were always in the air, no bounces for Al, and carried in a straight line, like a bullet, rather than the arc that most players threw.

He was 85. Although he retired in 1974 and became a Tigers broadcaster until 2002, it seems like he will forever be Mr. Tiger. RIP Al.
 

shack

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Oct 2, 2001
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Definitely an all-time great.

Just wondering, who would have a had a better career as a Tiger than Kaline? Miggy??
 

bluecolt

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Jun 18, 2011
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Definitely an all-time great.

Just wondering, who would have a had a better career as a Tiger than Kaline? Miggy??
Ty Cobb, Harry Heilman, George Kell, Sen Jim Bunning, all Hall of Fame were all better than Miguel Cabrera could ever be. The Tigers have had many Hall of Fame players, most recently Jack Morris and Alan Trammell.
 

Nad Smith

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Nov 23, 2004
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Kaline number 6 was my first Tiger hero and second only to Willie Mays for me ( I played centerfield)
 

shack

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Ty Cobb, Harry Heilman, George Kell, Sen Jim Bunning, all Hall of Fame were all better than Miguel Cabrera could ever be. The Tigers have had many Hall of Fame players, most recently Jack Morris and Alan Trammell.
I guess I was thinking position players. Forgot Cobb.
 

The Oracle

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Mar 8, 2004
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On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, Greece
With Kaline you pretty much knew that every time up he was going to you a quality at bat. I believe he walked more than he struck out which is unheard of today.

As a right fielder he was impeccable and about as consistent a ball player that has ever played. For me I always lamented on who was better in right. Kaline or Clemente?
 

gcostanza

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Jul 24, 2010
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With Kaline you pretty much knew that every time up he was going to you a quality at bat. I believe he walked more than he struck out which is unheard of today.

As a right fielder he was impeccable and about as consistent a ball player that has ever played. For me I always lamented on who was better in right. Kaline or Clemente?
BB 1277
K 1020

Kaline was before my time, Clemente was incredible.
 

The Oracle

Pronouns: Who/Cares
Mar 8, 2004
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On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, Greece

shack

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Oct 2, 2001
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You forgot Hank Greenberg. World War II curtailed his career, but he was very impressive.
:doh:

The memory is the first thing to go.
 

bluecolt

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Jun 18, 2011
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BB 1277
K 1020

Kaline was before my time, Clemente was incredible.
Clemente died in a plane crash during a humanitarian mission on Christmas Eve, 1972. Al Kaline was still playing until the end of the 1974 season.
 

K Douglas

Half Man Half Amazing
Jan 5, 2005
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Great ball player never got the chance to see him play as it was before my time. RIP.
 

Darts

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Jan 15, 2017
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"At age 20, he was the youngest player to win a batting championship and held this record until 1955,"
 

bluecolt

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I recall the second game of the 1968 World Series. Al Kaline was batting against righty Ray Washburn. Washburn threw a nasty breaking pitch low outside. Kaline, the consummate hitter, stretched out and reached that pitch and yanked it into the left field stands, using wrist action only. Great effort on a very difficult pitch. This was an example why Kaline is in the Hall of Fame.
 

Darts

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Jan 15, 2017
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Okay then that is worded a lot better.
I was trying to frame it as a trivia question. Al Kaline was 12 days younger than Cobb. I think Cobb is still the second youngest to win a Batting Title.
 

WyattEarp

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May 17, 2017
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Tiger King
 
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