National Baseball HOF remembers Al Kaline (1934-2020)
Detroit Tigers legendary outfielder Al Kaline passed away on Monday at the age of 85. Photo: Associated Press
April 6, 2020
Official National Baseball Hall of Fame News Release
The National Baseball Hall of Fame Remembers Al Kaline
“It’s still a little bit embarrassing to have people refer to me as one of the greatest players in the world. But I am a Hall of Famer and I appreciate that. I love the Hall of Fame."
-- Al Kaline
Al Kaline’s Hall of Fame plaque (elected, 1980)
Albert William Kaline
Detroit, A.L., 1953-74
Twelfth player to reach elite 3,000-hit plateau. Socked 399 homers and attained .297 career average, with nine years in .300 class. Finished in all-time top 15 with 2,834 games, 3,007 hits, 1,583 runs batted in and 4,852 total bases. Played 100 or more games 20 years and had 242 consecutive errorless games in outfield, 1970-1972, for A.L. records. Led in hits and won batting title in 1955 at age 20.
Al Kaline Bio
Born: Dec. 19, 1934, in Baltimore, Md.
Died: April 6, 2020
Height: 6-foot-1 Weight: 175
Threw and batted right
Al Kaline featured a rifle arm and a lethal bat in his repertoire throughout a 22-year major league career, all with the Detroit Tigers. “Mr. Tiger” was highly respected by both colleagues and fans. “The kid murders you with his speed and arm,” enthused Casey Stengel. Ted Williams added of Kaline, “He’s the best right-handed hitter in the [American] league.” Kaline was named to 18 All-Star teams, won 10 Gold Glove Awards and totaled 3,007 hits. He was a key cog on the Tigers 1968 World Series championship team.
Remembering Al Kaline
“Al Kaline brought such dignity and grace to our game, and to the Hall of Fame. As one of baseball's greatest right fielders, every new generation of Hall of Fame Members were in awe of Al, not only as the player he was, but also as the true gentleman that he was. He will be missed throughout the game – and honored forever at the Hall of Fame. We join the Detroit Tigers and the entire baseball community in mourning the passing of a true legend, and we extend our deepest sympathies to the Kaline family.”
– Jane Forbes Clark, Chairman, Baseball Hall of Fame
“Today we lost one of our treasures. Al Kaline was an icon, not only to the Tigers organization, but to all of baseball. Mr. Tiger was not just a great player, but was also a classy person who I held in high esteem. He meant a great deal to me coming up through the Tigers organization. I was smart enough to watch and learn from the way he carried himself, both off the field and on it. He was a good as they come.”
– Alan Trammell, Hall of Famer
“Anybody that ever met Al realized how much he cared about baseball, and his love and passion for the game. He was a kid when he got called up to the major leagues, and became a lifer. If you were a Tiger, you followed his lead. Whether he was a player or broadcaster, he was around the field, around the clubhouse, and available to have a conversation if you needed some advice. That's what the Tigers players cherished.
– Jack Morris, Hall of Famer
On the web: Visit https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/kaline-al to view Al Kaline’s Hall of Fame plaque, his 1980 Hall of Fame induction speech and a video tribute.