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Al Kaline Passes Away

By Steve Adams | April 6, 2020 at 3:10pm CDT

Tigers legend Al Kaline passed away Monday at his home at the age of 85, a family friend confirmed to John Lowe of the Detroit Free Press. An 18-time All-Star, a 10-time Gold Glover in the outfield, the 1955 AL batting champ and a key contributor on Detroit’s 1968 World Series-winning roster, Kaline is among the very best to ever play the game and joins Ty Cobb among the top players to ever suit up for the Tigers organization.

The Baltimore native posted a career .297/.376/.480 batting line with 3007 hits, 399 home runs, 498 doubles, 75 triples, 137 steals, 1622 runs scored and 1582 RBIs, establishing himself as the face of a generation of Tigers baseball from his debut in 1953 to the time he retired in 1974. He is the Tigers’ all-time leader in games played, home runs and walks, and he trails only franchise greats and fellow Cooperstown inductees like Cobb, Hank Greenberg and Charlie Gehringer in virtually all key offensive categories. His No. 6 was retired by the club in 1980, making him the first recipient of that honor.

Kaline’s importance to the organization reaches immeasurably beyond his on-field accolades, however. Even after he retired as a player, the next generation of Tigers fans who didn’t have the good fortune to watch him play instead grew up listening to his insights, anecdotes and experience as one of the voices of Tigers baseball. He also served as a special assistant in the club’s front office and regularly appeared in Spring Training to work with upcoming waves of young Tiger talent.

Kaline will be remembered both as a one of the all-time greats and a revered gentleman off the field. He was named the 1970 Fred Hutchison Award winner, recognizing “character and competitive spirit” and also named the winner of the 1973 Roberto Clemente Award. Media members, former teammates and Tigers players alike have flocked to social media to express their sorrow over the loss of one of the game’s iconic figures.

Said Justin Verlander: “Such a kind and generous man who meant so much to so many. I hope you knew how much I enjoyed our conversations about baseball, life, or just giving each other a hard time. I am honored to have been able to call you my friend for all these years. R.I.P. Mr Tiger, Al Kaline.” James McCann, John Hicks, Niko Goodrum, Grayson Greiner and Jake Rogers are among the many recent Tigers players who have echoed similar sentiments on Twitter.

We at MLB Trade Rumors join those around baseball in expressing heartfelt condolences to the friends, family, loved ones and legions of fans whose lives have been touched by Kaline.

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97 comments
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Comments

  1. Manfredsajoke

    11 months ago

    One of the greatest major league players for sure. RIP

    14 Like
    Reply
    • johnsilver

      11 months ago

      What an outstanding player in the 60’s and early 70’s.

      1 Like
      Reply
      • Coach Him

        11 months ago

        RIP Buddy. One of the All Time Greats!

        Like
        Reply
    • looongball

      11 months ago

      Got to see him play. He was GREAT!

      Like
      Reply
  2. espen1978

    11 months ago

    Rest Easy, Mr. Tiger.

    3 Like
    Reply
  3. Halo11Fan

    11 months ago

    Awesome player. He made the game a better game just by being in it. I’m sad to see him go.

    8 Like
    Reply
  4. Rangers29

    11 months ago

    One of the greatest players in the history of the game. R.I.P Mr. Tiger.

    11 Like
    Reply
  5. bennysbeantown

    11 months ago

    Had no idea his career numbers were so close to milestones. Just got 3000 hits missed 400 hrs by 1 and 500 doubles by 2. Incredible career and life Mr. Kaline

    3 Like
    Reply
    • costergaard2

      11 months ago

      He was a machine. Consider all that he did in a deadball era that ended in the pitcher’s mound being lowered after the ‘68 season.

      Kaline would put up ARod numbers in today’s game #loveforal

      6 Like
      Reply
    • lowtalker1

      11 months ago

      Definitely a tough era to play in

      2 Like
      Reply
    • warnbeeb

      11 months ago

      The last 10 years of his career he missed a lot of games due to injury. He would’ve easily surpassed 400 HR and 500 2B’s with any kind of luck. Never wore a batting glove. Almost always wore short sleeves even in the coldest weather. Incredible throwing arm too. Tremendous defensive outfielder.
      An old school player and a fine, fine gentleman. Never, ever…ever was there a hint of scandal regarding Kaline. Players, umpires, managers and most of all…baseball fans, regardless of their allegiances, all respected Al Kaline.
      He played in games vs. Satchel Paige, who debuted in 1927 and Robin Yount who retired in 1993.

      6 Like
      Reply
  6. mjctrack

    11 months ago

    The greatest Tiger of them all!!

    Like
    Reply
  7. SoxPow

    11 months ago

    RIP Mr. Kaline

    Like
    Reply
  8. CHARLIE NAPIERKOWSKI

    11 months ago

    He is up in Heaven now looking down at us

    4 Like
    Reply
    • dynamite drop in monty

      11 months ago

      Lol

      Like
      Reply
    • nymetsking

      11 months ago

      correction, looking down at everyone but dynamite.

      6 Like
      Reply
      • dynamite drop in monty

        11 months ago

        That doesn’t make any sense.

        Like
        Reply
  9. KingTiger

    11 months ago

    RIP Al Kaline.

    1 Like
    Reply
  10. fisk72

    11 months ago

    Never played a day in the minors.

    1 Like
    Reply
  11. tigersgm

    11 months ago

    The very best, my idol growing up, a true gentleman.. I thought he would go on forever… so, sad..!

    6 Like
    Reply
  12. Unfit

    11 months ago

    Yeah Verlander your legacy does the man justice.

    Like
    Reply
    • DarkSide830

      11 months ago

      shut up

      3 Like
      Reply
      • stratcrowder

        11 months ago

        You’re an ass

        Like
        Reply
    • crazy4cleveland

      11 months ago

      Log off, go away.

      Like
      Reply
    • nymetsking

      11 months ago

      unfit to post, apparently.

      1 Like
      Reply
  13. A'sfaninLondonUK

    11 months ago

    Wowsers. Seriously sad news. The 1968 Tigers – the last real world champions, an incredible achievement against the Cards & Mr 1.12 ERA Bob Gibson.

    If you can track down a copy of the book |(68 Tigers, last real world champions) it’s well worth the read. How Mickey Lolich isn’t a hall of famer is beyond me.

    It’s time veterans committees got their arses in gear. Appreciate Al was already in the hall but surely we’d all enjoy old timers getting in before they were honoured posthumously….

    5 Like
    Reply
  14. stgpd

    11 months ago

    Sad day. The first bat I ever owned was a Kaline. Condolences to his family and all Tiger fans

    3 Like
    Reply
    • whyhayzee

      11 months ago

      I too had an Al Kaline bat. Sadly mine missed the ball quite often. I guess I was meant to be a pitcher.

      3 Like
      Reply
      • limp

        11 months ago

        I have an Al Kaline bat also still have in a plastic bat tube. He was a great player. I always sat down in kalines corner when I saw the tigers play back in the 60’s and 70’s. Rip my man

        Like
        Reply
  15. whyhayzee

    11 months ago

    Like Stan Musial, one of the finest gentleman to ever play the game.

    1 Like
    Reply
  16. homerheins

    11 months ago

    Legend of the game and loved by so many. So glad he gave so much to the game we all love.

    2 Like
    Reply
  17. Berischa

    11 months ago

    A great player and true gentleman.. R.I.P

    1 Like
    Reply
  18. seafordraven

    11 months ago

    Having grown up in Baltimore my father always talked about Al Kaline when I was young. Brings back many memories for me since my father has been gone since 1971. Al never played in the minor leagues.

    2 Like
    Reply
    • jints1

      11 months ago

      I believe he went to Southern High and at one time held the high school MD scoring record in basketball.

      1 Like
      Reply
  19. Knuckleball Lady

    11 months ago

    RIP to one of the great ones

    1 Like
    Reply
  20. HaloHonk4Life

    11 months ago

    When Nolan Ryan was pitching his 2nd no hitter it was against the Tigers, Al Kaline came up to bat in the 9th inning holding a piano leg instead of a bat.

    1 Like
    Reply
    • dmazcomp

      11 months ago

      I believe that was Norm Cash.

      2 Like
      Reply
      • HaloHonk4Life

        11 months ago

        You might be right. I stand corrected

        1 Like
        Reply
    • dynamite drop in monty

      11 months ago

      I pretty sure that was Don Kelly

      1 Like
      Reply
      • HaloHonk4Life

        11 months ago

        It wasn’t Don Kelly

        1 Like
        Reply
        • padreforlife

          11 months ago

          Think it was Ed Brinkmam

          Like
          Reply
        • dynamite drop in monty

          11 months ago

          Ya think?

          Like
          Reply
        • HaloHonk4Life

          11 months ago

          You’re a Padre fan. That’s all you had to say .

          Like
          Reply
      • Hard to walk with four balls

        11 months ago

        Don Kelly BABY!

        One on the greatest slides in Tiger history

        Like
        Reply
    • Cat Mando

      11 months ago

      youtu.be/WEboSkPUgUo

      You can see the funniest ump ever, Ron Luciano, cracking up

      Like
      Reply
    • limp

      11 months ago

      It was norm cash who carried the piano leg to bat against Nolan Ryan

      Like
      Reply
  21. Prunella Vulgaris

    11 months ago

    Goodby, Al.

    Like
    Reply
  22. bigstein09

    11 months ago

    Boy this Coronavirus is rough.

    Like
    Reply
    • alproof

      11 months ago

      It wasn’t the coronavirus. He’d had a stroke.

      Like
      Reply
  23. dennispruder

    11 months ago

    A true gentleman and a class act. 60 + years a Tiger. God bless Mr Tiger and his family. A sad sad day for all. ❤️⚾️❤️

    2 Like
    Reply
  24. vincent k. mcmahon

    11 months ago

    RIP Legend. One of my favorites to use for legend rebuilds in MLB The Show.

    2 Like
    Reply
  25. wileycoyote56

    11 months ago

    What a loss to baseball and to our Tigers family. RIP my friend, god just got a great right fielder. Prayers to his family, he was an incredible man.

    3 Like
    Reply
  26. dan-9

    11 months ago

    Since I know I’m not the only one who’s mind went there, the cause of death was not reported. He was 85 years old though.

    1 Like
    Reply
  27. JamesDaltOn

    11 months ago

    The guy killed it against lefties: 310/.398 /.509 lifetime. He played 22 years, so it’s a good sample size. Oh, 22 years of baseball and retired before he was 40. The guy was a stud. I never really looked at his stats before, I only knew he had 3000 hits and ripped it up in the 1968 World Series. RIP guy.

    2 Like
    Reply
  28. californiaangels

    11 months ago

    he couldnt have squeezed one more hr and 2 doubles?

    Like
    Reply
    • bigdsc

      11 months ago

      He has famously said he didn’t realize he only needed one more HR for 400 when he retired or he would have come back for another season.

      Like
      Reply
      • AzTigersfan

        11 months ago

        Not like today’s players some who stay way to long

        Like
        Reply
        • hiflew

          11 months ago

          Plenty of players in the past stayed way too long too. Two that famously come to mind are Babe Ruth and Willie Mays. That’s not a modern thing.

          Like
          Reply
        • met man

          11 months ago

          Mickey Mantle,too

          Like
          Reply
    • limp

      11 months ago

      I believe he lost 3 homers and 2 doubles to rainouts during his career

      Like
      Reply
  29. DrDan75

    11 months ago

    He was a once in a generation player. On any given day he was probably the best player on either team.

    1 Like
    Reply
  30. laswagn

    11 months ago

    I wonder if Corona got him too? sad!

    Like
    Reply
    • DrDan75

      11 months ago

      I think that would have been noted if it had. It got Tom Dempsey the other day.

      Eighty five is a long, full life for anyone.

      1 Like
      Reply
  31. okiguess

    11 months ago

    I grew up in Brooklyn, NY. Al Kaline was well known, admired and loved!

    Like
    Reply
  32. HubcapDiamondStarHalo

    11 months ago

    When I was a boy, I had four posters on my wall – Aaron, Yaz, Killebrew and Al Kaline. Never had the chance to see him in person, but it seemed like every time the Tigers were on TV, if they won then they won because of something Kaline did. Even on TV, he was an amazing player to watch.

    3 Like
    Reply
  33. AzTigersfan

    11 months ago

    A true legend and played the game the right way. Hard to believe he was the Tigers first 100K player. He will be missed.

    1 Like
    Reply
  34. Frisco500

    11 months ago

    My dad used to tell me about him when I was a kid. Sad loss for baseball and for people in general.
    A great baseball player judging by his numbers. More importantly an outstanding human being from what I’ve heard. Rest in Peace. We lost a good one. Condolences from San Francisco.

    1 Like
    Reply
  35. ScottCFA

    11 months ago

    More than baseball, Al Kaline was the kindest man to play the game. I saw him step in and cool down many a hothead. Everyone respected him. Played his whole career for one team. RIP, Mr. Tiger.

    1 Like
    Reply
  36. alproof

    11 months ago

    Nothing in the article about him having the greatest RF glove & arm in the history of baseball.

    1 Like
    Reply
    • met man

      11 months ago

      The arm goes to Clement

      Like
      Reply
      • met man

        11 months ago

        Clemente,sorry

        Like
        Reply
  37. sascoach2003

    11 months ago

    RIP Al Malone. My dad’s favorite player of all-time, along with Stan Musial. I was able to catch his last 5 years as a young buck. Greatness.

    Like
    Reply
    • tigerfan4ever

      11 months ago

      Who is Al Malone?

      2 Like
      Reply
      • Frisco500

        11 months ago

        I believe it is Sam Mayday Malone’s long lost brother.

        1 Like
        Reply
        • dennis63480

          11 months ago

          Hahaha

          Like
          Reply
  38. Spirit79

    11 months ago

    Great obit of a great and memorable and honorable player but Hutchison should be corrected to Hutchinson.

    Like
    Reply
  39. weaselpuppy

    11 months ago

    10 time Gold Glove back when that meant something. Great jumps, Monster Arm and accurate. He and Clemente in opposite leagues mirroring each other for 2 decades, though Kaline had more power, walks and surprisingly a good many more steals.

    This guy went to work at 18, stopped working at 85 and had One Employer that whole time. 66+ years a Tiger on earth, forever a Tiger and HOF in our hearts and memories. RIP Al, truly a man that is a Role Model in every way.

    3 Like
    Reply
  40. jorge78

    11 months ago

    A 134 career OPS+!
    And great in the field!
    What a stud!
    RIP Mr. Kaline…..

    1 Like
    Reply
  41. tigerfan4ever

    11 months ago

    RIP Mr. Tiger. Your legacy will always be remembered and your class as a human being will be missed greatly!

    1 Like
    Reply
  42. thebirdisstilltheword

    11 months ago

    RIP Mr. Tiger. You were my favorite player growing up. The world was a better place when you were on or near the diamond.

    1 Like
    Reply
  43. goastros123

    11 months ago

    RIP.

    Like
    Reply
  44. Eatdust666

    11 months ago

    Apparently he signed his first contract a day after his high school graduation and made his Major League Debut a week later.

    Like
    Reply
    • HubcapDiamondStarHalo

      11 months ago

      What a legacy, what a life! Can you even imagine in your wildest dreams??

      Like
      Reply
  45. Scottn59c

    11 months ago

    Magnum P.I. is bummed out!

    Like
    Reply
  46. rycm131

    11 months ago

    Wow

    Like
    Reply
  47. hiflew

    11 months ago

    RIP Mr. Tiger. I still believe that this man could have had the best nickname in baseball history, the Battery. Al Kaline = alkaline. It would have been just too perfect.

    1 Like
    Reply
  48. Tipsy McStagger

    11 months ago

    My mum’s favorite player growing up. RIP #6.

    2 Like
    Reply
  49. WereAllJustGuestsHere

    11 months ago

    Quietly productive. Very productive. Excellent defender. Lived a long life and had a long baseball career. RIP.

    1 Like
    Reply
  50. jammin464

    11 months ago

    Saw him in an old-timers game when he was in his mid-late 50’s. He fielded a foul ball in the right field corner of Tiger Stadium, spun around and fired a line-drive no-bounce waist-high strike to home plate. Blew me away. Lots of guys in their prime couldn’t do that.

    He was also a great clutch hitter. I’ll always remember his bases-loaded single in the 5th game of the ’68 World Series.

    Won’t ever forget you, Al!

    1 Like
    Reply
  51. met man

    11 months ago

    One of my first baseball cards(1957).Still have it

    Like
    Reply
  52. Pete'sView

    11 months ago

    As a young boy growing up in the NY area, I hated the Yankees. There was only one team that could beat them consistently, and that was the Detroit Tigers, led by Al Kaline, Charley (“Paw Paw”) Maxwell, Frank Lary, Dick McAuliffe, Don Mossi, Billy Bruton, Harvey Kuenn, Jake Wood and others. As those players pass on, so do our feelings of invincibility. Al Kaline was a great one. May he RIP.

    2 Like
    Reply
    • met man

      11 months ago

      Well said Pete.Sounds like we could have been best pals.

      Like
      Reply
  53. bronxboy28

    11 months ago

    One of the best players in his era! A gentleman RIP!

    Like
    Reply
  54. Mlbprodude

    11 months ago

    RIP to a legend

    Like
    Reply
  55. CaptainHooks

    11 months ago

    I used the Al Kaline styled bat in high school. Slender in the handle, big in the barrel. Sad to hear he passed. Rest in Peace, Mr. Kaline.

    Like
    Reply
  56. gotigers68

    11 months ago

    This one is a tough one to get over, RIP, 6 !!

    Like
    Reply
  57. Ssweeps

    10 months ago

    This is why Al Kaline was great. He would get introduced, run onto the field, smile, and wave his hat to everyone. What a class act. Thanks.

    Like
    Reply

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