In a tough city in an even tougher time period, American baseball right fielder, broadcaster, and ambassador Al Kaline was a bright light during dark times.

He wasn’t flashy.

He wasn’t loud.

He didn’t have to be.

For over 67 years, Al Kaline crafted a legacy Detroit baseball fans have never gotten, bringing the Detroit Tigers consistency during a time when everything else was rapidly changing.

Known as “the boy who skipped the minors” (something almost entirely unheard of at the time), Kaline entered Detroit in 1953 as an outsider from Baltimore high school — a rail thin 18-year-old with a golden arm who debuted in the majors just days after graduating.

Not even two years later, he was a household name, and in 1955, at just 20 years old, he won a batting title, hitting .340 against Ted Williams.

It was the moment that marked the start of an era of excellence.

From 1953 to 1974, Al Kaline played exclusively for the Detroit Tigers for a total of 22 impressive seasons, raking in 3,007 hits, 399 home runs, 10 Gold Gloves, 18 All-Star selections, and a batting average of .297, making him one of the most revered players in Detroit baseball history.

He wasn’t just a man that made accurate throws.

He was someone who had been gifted something sacred and life changing.

By 1968, Detroit was in ruins.

It was a time when the city was still reeling from the 1967 rebellion, and this strife would be the exact catalyst that would eventually lead to the Tigers reuniting.

That season, Detroit went on to win the World Series behind a ferocious Denny McLain and landmark hits from Mickey Stanley, all thanks to Kaline’s steady leadership.

In Game 5 with the Tigers trailing 3 games to 1, Kaline hit an iconic two-run single – the falling domino that led to the Tigers winning the series in 7 games – an achievement that brought immense joy to a divided city as well as a championship win for Kaline.

Kaline went just one home run shy of 400 in 1974, but he still ended his career on a high.

After leaving the Tigers, he had a long run as a broadcaster and then as a special assistant to the Tigers front office.

For younger generations, he was a shadow – one always looming in the dugout, always present, always humble.

He never sought power.

Instead, he offered wisdom.

Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980, Al Kaline remains one of baseballs most universally beloved figures.

In a world that rewards arrogance, Kaline was the exception:

Polite. Professional. Humble.

He once broke his collarbone smashing into the outfield wall, yet he remained poised all the way up until his death April 2020 during the first uncertain month of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For that, the entire city mourned him like they had just lost an old friend.

Flags were raised at half-staff.

Players sported his number.

And though the Tigers stadium was mostly empty at the time due to covid measures, his energy and impact was still widely felt.

In short: Al Kaline never demanded attention, yet he earned it all the same, playing the game of baseball the right way, in the right town, for all the right reasons.

For that, he became more than just a Tiger.

He became Mr. Detroit.

Victoria Jackson (Editor In Chief)

Victoria Jackson is a lifelong student and sharp-eyed documentarian of all things Detroit, from its rich musical roots and cultural icons to its shifting neighborhoods, storied architecture, and underground legends. With her finger firmly on the pulse of both the city’s vibrant past and its rapidly unfolding future, she brings a deeply personal, historically grounded lens to every piece she writes.

Published on: June 21, 2025