I’ve been a Detroit Tiger fan for as long as I can remember. When the kids in the neighborhood played pickup games, we often adopted the name of a Tiger. For several years, I was Frank Bolling. Bill Graham was Charlie “Paw Paw” Maxwell. Bill and Charlie were both lefties. Charlie was from Paw Paw, Michigan.
Bolling was a fine defensive second baseman. He was more glove than bat. I guess that’s why I identified with him. When his brother Milt was traded to Detroit, the Bollings became one of only four brother combinations in major league history to play second base/shortstop on the same club. Frank was the more talented brother and their play as fellow teammates was short-lived. Frank played for Detroit from 1954 – 1960.
THE Tiger was Al Kaline. Kaline went from high school to the big leagues. He skipped the minors and played in his first game as an eighteen year old on June 25, 1953. I knew I’d never be Al Kaline, but I might become Frank Bolling. Wishes don’t always get things done, so I didn’t. If you watch carefully, you’ll see Frank and Al standing shoulder to shoulder in the video below.
If any of the guys in the neighborhood called “dibs” on being Al Kaline, I can’t recall who it was. No one in the neighborhood had the skill set of Kaline, so any attempt to emulate him would have been futile.
Kaline played for twenty-two years with the Tigers. He was a fixture in right field for a majority of the time. Near the end of his career he played first base, and ultimately, became the team’s designated hitter.
The Tigers honored Kaline by celebrating Al Kaline day on August 2, 1970. Ruth and I had been dating for five months when the historic day took place. We attended the game with one of my college friends, Mike Smith, and his date. Mike was “in transition” during that time, so it could have been any one of three different girls. We each received a commemorative pin as a part of the day’s celebration. I saved mine, and for several years it sat in a place of honor in our family’s memory box. A couple of years ago the box was relocated to David and Lindsay’s cottage. While the location has changed, I still hold it in high esteem.
Cherry Street, which ran behind the left-field stands at Tiger Stadium, was renamed Kaline Drive in his honor as a part of the celebration. While I don’t recall the dignitaries who stepped to the microphone that day, I do remember Kaline and his wife, Louise, circling the field in a baby blue convertible. Those in attendance applauded and cheered throughout the entire ride.
In 1971 Kaline became the first Tiger to sign a $100,000 contract. He turned down a pay raise from $95,000 to $100,000 the previous year, saying he didn’t feel like he deserved it. Prior to that I’d never heard of anyone turning down a raise in pay for any reason.
Kaline retired with 3,007 hits including 498 doubles, 75 triples and 399 home runs. He had 1,582 RBIs and scored 1,622 times. He’s still the team leader in home runs and games played. He won ten gold gloves and was selected for the all-star game eighteen times. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on the first ballot in 1980.
Mr. Tiger died on April 6, 2020. He came to Detroit as a kid just out of high school. He began his career as a pinch hitter for Jim Delsing and remained a part of the Tiger organization for his remaining years. That’s truly an outstanding accomplishment. The Tigers released this media statement when he passed.
“One of the most distinguished and decorated players in the history of baseball, ‘Mr. Tiger’ was one of the greatest to ever wear the Olde English ‘D. The Hall of Famer has been a pillar of our organization for 67 years, beginning with his Major League debut in 1953 and continuing to the present in his duties as Special Assistant to the General Manager.”