Sports / Press & broadcasting
Al Kaline
1934–2020 · baseball player, right fielder, television announcer
Signed by the Tigers straight out of high school, Kaline spent his entire 22-year career in Detroit, won ten Gold Gloves, and later spent decades as the team's beloved broadcaster.
- Born
Baltimore, Maryland- Died
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
aged 85- Birth name
- Albert William Kaline
- Also known as
- Mr. Tiger
- Detroit years
- 1953–2020
- Field
- Sports, Press & broadcasting
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Al Kaline signed with the Tigers in 1953 for a $15,000 bonus that let him skip the minor leagues entirely, debuting as a teenager and never playing for another major-league club. A superb right fielder with a powerful throwing arm, he won ten Gold Glove Awards and made eighteen All-Star teams, and in 1968 helped Detroit win its first World Series since 1945. He retired in 1974 just past 3,000 career hits, and the Tigers immediately retired his No. 6, the first number the franchise ever retired. From 1975 to 2002 Kaline was the team's television color commentator, for many years alongside fellow Hall of Famer George Kell, becoming a fixture in Michigan living rooms. He then served as a front-office adviser until his death in 2020. Cherry Street behind Tiger Stadium's left field was renamed Kaline Drive in his honor in 1970, and his statue now stands at Comerica Park.
Highlights
- Signed by the Tigers from high school in 1953; played his entire 22-season career in Detroit
- Won ten Gold Glove Awards and made 18 All-Star teams
- Helped Detroit win the 1968 World Series
- First Tiger to have his uniform number (6) retired
- Tigers TV broadcaster 1975–2002; statue at Comerica Park
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 3
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Played here · 1953–1974
Tiger Stadium site (Navin Field / Briggs Stadium), now The Corner Ballpark
Demolished · 1912–1999
His home field for his entire playing career; demolished in 2008–2009.
Memorial · 1970–
Kaline Drive (memorial street)
Cherry Street behind the stadium's left field was renamed for Kaline in 1970.
Memorial · 2000–
Comerica Park
One of the six statues of Tigers greats on the outfield concourse.