History of Al Kaline in Timeline

Al Kaline, "Mr. Tiger", was a Hall of Fame right fielder who played his entire 22-season MLB career with the Detroit Tigers. Renowned for his fielding prowess, Kaline won ten Gold Glove Awards and was an 18-time All-Star. His consistent performance and strong throwing arm made him a fixture in right field. Kaline was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1980.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1907: Ty Cobb Batting Title

In 1907, Ty Cobb won the batting title. Until Al Kaline did it in 1955, he was the youngest player to achieve this.

December 19, 1934: Albert Kaline's Birth

On December 19, 1934, Albert William Kaline, later nicknamed "Mr. Tiger", was born. He would become a celebrated right fielder in Major League Baseball.

Others born on this day/year

1945: Tigers Last World Championship

In 1945, The Detroit Tigers won their previous World Championship, before Al Kaline and the team would win again in 1968.

June 25, 1953: MLB Debut

On June 25, 1953, Al Kaline made his major league debut in Philadelphia, entering the game as a late-inning replacement for outfielder Jim Delsing.

1954: First Full Season

In 1954, Al Kaline had his first full season and recorded 16 outfield assists, including three in one game on July 7 against the Chicago White Sox.

1954: Marriage to Madge Louise Hamilton

In 1954, Al Kaline married his high school sweetheart, Madge Louise Hamilton.

1955: All-Star Game Appearance

In 1955, Al Kaline appeared in the All-Star game.

1955: All-Star Selection Begins

In 1955, Al Kaline was selected to his first All-Star Game. This marked the beginning of a consecutive streak of All-Star selections that would last through 1967.

1955: Youngest AL Batting Title Winner

In 1955, at age 20, Al Kaline won the American League batting title with a .340 average, becoming the youngest player ever to achieve this since Ty Cobb in 1907.

1956: Continued Success and League Leadership

In 1956, Al Kaline maintained a strong performance with a .314 batting average, 27 home runs, and a career-high 128 RBIs, also leading the league in outfield assists with 18.

August 21, 1957: Birth of Mark Albert Kaline

On August 21, 1957, Al Kaline's son, Mark Albert Kaline, was born.

1957: Gold Glove Award

In 1957, Al Kaline won a Gold Glove Award for excellence in the field.

1958: Leading Outfield Assists

In 1958, Al Kaline again led the league in outfield assists with 23. He also missed games after being hit by a pitch.

1959: Injury and Strong Performance

In 1959, Al Kaline sustained a fractured cheekbone after being hit by a thrown ball, causing him to miss some games. He still finished the season strong with a .327 batting average and 27 home runs.

1960: Season in Center Field

In 1960, Al Kaline played the entire season in center field following the departure of Harvey Kuenn, marking the only time in his career he did so.

1961: Strong Performance and Team Success

In 1961, Al Kaline led the majors with 41 doubles and hit .324, finishing second in the AL batting race. The Tigers won 101 games but finished behind the Yankees.

1961: Return to Right Field

In 1961, Al Kaline moved back to right field after the Tigers acquired Bill Bruton to play center field, ending his one-season stint in center.

1961: Gold Glove Award

In 1961, Al Kaline won a Gold Glove Award for excellence in the field.

1962: Broken Collarbone Injury

In 1962, Al Kaline sustained a broken collarbone on May 26 while making a game-ending catch, causing him to miss 57 games. Before the injury, he hit .345 with 13 home runs in 35 games.

1962: Birth of Michael Keith Kaline

In 1962, Al Kaline's son, Michael Keith Kaline, was born.

March 1963: Positive Spring Training Performance

In late March 1963, Al Kaline reported feeling good and had a strong spring training, hitting .373 in 53 at-bats.

1964: Pain and Reduced Batting Average

During the 1964 season, Al Kaline experienced pain in his left foot, which had been affected by osteomyelitis as a child, and his batting average dropped to .293.

June 1965: Orthopedic Treatment and Foot Condition

By June 1965, Al Kaline reported feeling much better after seeing an orthopedic surgeon who prescribed corrective shoes for his deformed foot.

1966: Career High Home Runs

In 1966, Al Kaline matched his career high with 29 home runs, showcasing his continued offensive power.

1967: All-Star Selection and Batting Average

In 1967, Al Kaline was selected to the All-Star Game and his batting average was a concern.

1967: All-Star Game Selection

In 1967, Al Kaline was selected to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He had been selected to the All-Star game every year between 1955 and 1967.

1967: Hand Injury and Pennant Race

In the summer of 1967, Al Kaline broke a bone in his hand, causing him to miss a month of play. The Tigers were in a four-team pennant race but finished one game behind the first-place Boston Red Sox.

1967: End of All-Star Streak

The year 1967 marked the end of Al Kaline's consecutive All-Star selections, a streak that began in 1955.

1968: World Series Triumph

In 1968, Al Kaline returned from a broken arm injury and played a crucial role in the World Series, hitting .379 with two home runs and eight RBIs in seven games, helping the Detroit Tigers win their first championship since 1945.

1969: Season Performance

In 1969, Al Kaline hit .272 with 21 home runs. It was the last season in his career that he reached 20 homers.

1970: Near-Fatal Injury

In 1970, Al Kaline sustained a near-fatal injury during a collision in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Willie Horton cleared his airway and saved his life.

1970: Turned Down Pay Raise

In 1970, Al Kaline turned down a pay raise from $95,000 to $100,000, saying he did not feel like he deserved it after hitting .278 with 16 home runs.

1970: Kaline Drive Renaming

In 1970, Cherry Street, which ran behind the left-field stands at Tiger Stadium, was renamed Kaline Drive in Al Kaline's honor.

1971: All-Star Game Appearance

In 1971, Al Kaline appeared in the All-Star game.

1971: First $100,000 Contract

In 1971, Al Kaline became the first Detroit Tiger to sign a $100,000 contract, marking a significant milestone in his financial compensation.

1972: AL East Pennant and Playoff Loss

In 1972, Al Kaline batted .313 and played a significant role as Detroit clinched the AL East pennant. However, they lost the American League Championship Series to the Oakland Athletics.

March 1973: Roberto Clemente Award

In March 1973, Al Kaline won the Roberto Clemente Award in recognition of the honor he brought to baseball both on and off the field.

September 24, 1974: 3,000th Hit

On September 24, 1974, Al Kaline achieved his 3,000th hit, becoming the 12th player in MLB history to reach this milestone.

October 3, 1974: Retirement Announcement

On October 3, 1974, after reaching the 3,000 hit milestone, Al Kaline announced his retirement at the end of the season.

1974: All-Star Game Appearance

In 1974, Al Kaline appeared in the All-Star game.

1974: Reaching 3,000 Hits and Retirement

In 1974, Al Kaline reached the 3,000 hit milestone late in the season. Soon after this achievement, he retired from playing baseball.

1975: Color Commentator

In 1975, Al Kaline became a color commentator on the Detroit Tigers' television broadcasts, a role he held for many years.

1980: Hall of Fame Induction

In 1980, Al Kaline was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, marking a significant achievement in his career.

1993: All-Star Game Dedication

In 1993, the Major League Baseball All-Star Game was dedicated to Al Kaline on the 35th anniversary of Detroit's only other Midsummer Classic. Kaline, along with Leon Day and Brooks Robinson, threw out the ceremonial first pitch, which was caught by Ivan Rodriguez.

September 27, 1999: Tiger Stadium's Last Game

On September 27, 1999, Al Kaline was invited to present the last lineup card to the umpires in uniform, along with George Brett, at Detroit's last game at Tiger Stadium.

1999: Top 100 Baseball Players

In 1999, Al Kaline was ranked number 76 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, recognizing his significant contributions to the sport.

2002: End of Broadcasting Career

In 2002, Al Kaline concluded his career as a color commentator for the Detroit Tigers' television broadcasts.

2002: End of TV Commentator Role

In 2002, Al Kaline's tenure as the Detroit Tigers' TV color commentator came to an end after holding the position since 1975.

2003: Special Assistant to Tigers President

In 2003, Al Kaline became a special assistant to the Detroit Tigers President/CEO/General Manager, Dave Dombrowski, which included mentoring outfielders during spring training.

2003: Front Office Assistant Role

In 2003, Al Kaline started working for the Detroit Tigers as a front office assistant, a position he held until his death in 2020.

2006: First Pitch of World Series

In 2006, Al Kaline and former teammate Willie Horton threw out the first pitch of the World Series at Comerica Park.

2007: Grandson Drafted by Tigers

In 2007, Al Kaline's grandson, Colin Kaline, was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 25th round of the MLB draft, but he chose not to sign at the time.

2011: Grandson Drafted Again

In 2011, Colin Kaline, Al Kaline's grandson, was drafted again by the Detroit Tigers in the 26th round of the MLB draft and played in the minor leagues.