https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/ti ... u?ocid=sf2

The Detroit Tigers lost a legend. Hall of Fame outfielder and franchise icon Al Kaline died Monday, according to the Detroit Free Press. He was 85.
Over 22 seasons — all with Detroit — Kaline established himself as one of the best Tigers of all time. He was selected to 18 All-Star teams throughout his career, earned 10 Gold Glove awards, won the 1955 batting title and led the Tigers to a World Series win in 1968.

During his career, Kaline played 2,834 games — all of which came with the Tigers. He notched 3,007 hits and 399 career home runs, earning himself the nickname “Mr. Tiger.”

Those accomplishments led to the Tigers retiring Kaline’s No. 6 in 1980. That same year, Kaline was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. He received 88.3 percent of the vote, and was inducted in his first year of eligibility. At that time, Kaline was only the 10th player in Major League Baseball history to make the Hall of Fame on his first ballot.

Very sad news for me - always my baseball hero from as long as I can remember - wore #6 during my playing days starting in Little League and beyond and my coaching days because of Al - I could usually pick up WJR in Detroit late at night in the WV mountains and would listen to Ernie Harwell - those days when baseball was king!!!

WVAPPeer wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 07, 2020 8:54 am

Very sad news for me - always my baseball hero from as long as I can remember - wore #6 during my playing days starting in Little League and beyond and my coaching days because of Al - I could usually pick up WJR in Detroit late at night in the WV mountains and would listen to Ernie Harwell - those days when baseball was king!!!

I saw him hit a home run at old Griffith Park in Charlotte when the Tigers were barnstorming on their way up from Florida Spring Training and had his autograph. I just had to see what it felt like to hit a Major League Baseball and thus ruined the autographs I had on the ball.

I live in the spring training home town of the Tigers. Try to go to a game or two a year. One day I got to meet Mr. Kaline and Mr. Harwell. Very nice and gracious man, well both of them were. Tigers won that day, Jim Leland had a Q &A for season ticket holders after the game and I got to go. Our seats were in the Al Kaline suite. It was a good day.

NewApp wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 07, 2020 9:37 am

WVAPPeer wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 07, 2020 8:54 am

Very sad news for me - always my baseball hero from as long as I can remember - wore #6 during my playing days starting in Little League and beyond and my coaching days because of Al - I could usually pick up WJR in Detroit late at night in the WV mountains and would listen to Ernie Harwell - those days when baseball was king!!!

I saw him hit a home run at old Griffith Park in Charlotte when the Tigers were barnstorming on their way up from Florida Spring Training and had his autograph. I just had to see what it felt like to hit a Major League Baseball and thus ruined the autographs I had on the ball.

I did that with a ball signed by Bob Feller. I thought, “Surely a ball signed by Bob Feller could be thrown harder than a regular old baseball.” Turns out, no.