Al Kaline

Albert William Kaline (December 19, 1934 – April 6, 2020), nicknamed "Mr. Tiger," was an American professional baseball right fielder who played his entire 22-season Major League Baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Nicholas and Naomi Kaline, he grew up in a poor family in which several relatives played semi-professional baseball. For most of his career he played in the outfield, primarily in right field, where he was known for his strong throwing arm and won ten Gold Glove Awards. He was selected to 18 All-Star Games, including a selection every year from 1955 through 1967. Near the end of his career he also played first base, and in his final season he served as the Tigers' designated hitter. He retired soon after reaching the 3,000-hit milestone late in the 1974 season. Immediately after retiring as a player, Kaline became the Tigers' television color commentator, a role he held from 1975 until 2002. He then worked for the Tigers as a front-office assistant from 2003 until his death in 2020. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980, his first year of eligibility.