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.
One of the greatest major league players for sure. RIP
What an outstanding player in the 60’s and early 70’s.
RIP Buddy. One of the All Time Greats!
Got to see him play. He was GREAT!
Rest Easy, Mr. Tiger.
Awesome player. He made the game a better game just by being in it. I’m sad to see him go.
One of the greatest players in the history of the game. R.I.P Mr. Tiger.
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
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
Definitely a tough era to play in
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.
The greatest Tiger of them all!!
RIP Mr. Kaline
He is up in Heaven now looking down at us
Lol
correction, looking down at everyone but dynamite.
That doesn’t make any sense.
RIP Al Kaline.
Never played a day in the minors.
The very best, my idol growing up, a true gentleman.. I thought he would go on forever… so, sad..!
Yeah Verlander your legacy does the man justice.
shut up
You’re an ass
Log off, go away.
unfit to post, apparently.
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….
Sad day. The first bat I ever owned was a Kaline. Condolences to his family and all Tiger fans
I too had an Al Kaline bat. Sadly mine missed the ball quite often. I guess I was meant to be a pitcher.
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 Stan Musial, one of the finest gentleman to ever play the game.
Legend of the game and loved by so many. So glad he gave so much to the game we all love.
A great player and true gentleman.. R.I.P
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.
I believe he went to Southern High and at one time held the high school MD scoring record in basketball.
RIP to one of the great ones
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.
I believe that was Norm Cash.
You might be right. I stand corrected
I pretty sure that was Don Kelly
It wasn’t Don Kelly
Think it was Ed Brinkmam
Ya think?
You’re a Padre fan. That’s all you had to say .
Don Kelly BABY!
One on the greatest slides in Tiger history
youtu.be/WEboSkPUgUo
You can see the funniest ump ever, Ron Luciano, cracking up
It was norm cash who carried the piano leg to bat against Nolan Ryan
Goodby, Al.
Boy this Coronavirus is rough.
It wasn’t the coronavirus. He’d had a stroke.
A true gentleman and a class act. 60 + years a Tiger. God bless Mr Tiger and his family. A sad sad day for all. ❤️⚾️❤️
RIP Legend. One of my favorites to use for legend rebuilds in MLB The Show.
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.
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.
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.
he couldnt have squeezed one more hr and 2 doubles?
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.
Not like today’s players some who stay way to long
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.
Mickey Mantle,too
I believe he lost 3 homers and 2 doubles to rainouts during his career
He was a once in a generation player. On any given day he was probably the best player on either team.
I wonder if Corona got him too? sad!
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.
I grew up in Brooklyn, NY. Al Kaline was well known, admired and loved!
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.
A true legend and played the game the right way. Hard to believe he was the Tigers first 100K player. He will be missed.
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.
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.
Nothing in the article about him having the greatest RF glove & arm in the history of baseball.
The arm goes to Clement
Clemente,sorry
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.
Who is Al Malone?
I believe it is Sam Mayday Malone’s long lost brother.
Hahaha
Great obit of a great and memorable and honorable player but Hutchison should be corrected to Hutchinson.
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.
A 134 career OPS+!
And great in the field!
What a stud!
RIP Mr. Kaline…..
RIP Mr. Tiger. Your legacy will always be remembered and your class as a human being will be missed greatly!
RIP Mr. Tiger. You were my favorite player growing up. The world was a better place when you were on or near the diamond.
RIP.
Apparently he signed his first contract a day after his high school graduation and made his Major League Debut a week later.
What a legacy, what a life! Can you even imagine in your wildest dreams??
Magnum P.I. is bummed out!
Wow
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.
My mum’s favorite player growing up. RIP #6.
Quietly productive. Very productive. Excellent defender. Lived a long life and had a long baseball career. RIP.
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!
One of my first baseball cards(1957).Still have it
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.
Well said Pete.Sounds like we could have been best pals.
One of the best players in his era! A gentleman RIP!
RIP to a legend
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.
This one is a tough one to get over, RIP, 6 !!
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.