He sure was. Could do it all -- all 5 tools -- and did it for only one team for many, many years.
Kind of like Stan Musial. Two players underrated in the grand scheme of baseball history. Both played on teams without a lot of postseason exposure during their days, which may be why they're not better known today.
Starting Lineups
AL All-Stars
1 Harvey Kuenn SS
2 Nellie Fox 2B
3 Ted Williams LF
4 Mickey Mantle CF
5 Yogi Berra C
6 Al Kaline RF
7 Mickey Vernon 1B
8 Jim Finigan 3B
9 Billy Pierce P
Manager
Reserves
Vic Power 1B
Bobby Avila 2B
Al Rosen 3B
Sherm Lollar C
Larry Doby CF
Jackie Jensen OF
Al Smith OF
Chico Carrasquel SS
Dick Donovan P
Whitey Ford P
Billy Hoeft P
Herb Score P
Frank Sullivan P
Bob Turley P
Jim Wilson P
Early Wynn P
NL All-Stars
1 Red Schoendienst 2B
2 Del Ennis LF
3 Duke Snider CF
4 Ted Kluszewski 1B
5 Eddie Mathews 3B
6 Don Mueller RF
7 Ernie Banks SS
8 Del Crandall C
9 Robin Roberts P
Manager
Reserves
Gil Hodges 1B
Stan Musial 1B
Gene Baker 2B
Randy Jackson 3B
Smoky Burgess C
Roy Campanella C
Stan Lopata C
Willie Mays CF
Hank Aaron OF
Frank Thomas OF
Johnny Logan SS
Luis Arroyo P
Gene Conley P
Harvey Haddix P
Sam Jones P
Don Newcombe P
Joe Nuxhall P
Starting Lineups
AL All-Stars
1 Harvey Kuenn SS
2 Nellie Fox 2B
3 Ted Williams LF
4 Mickey Mantle CF
5 Yogi Berra C
6 Al Kaline RF
7 Mickey Vernon 1B
8 Jim Finigan 3B
9 Billy Pierce P
Manager
Reserves
Vic Power 1B
Bobby Avila 2B
Al Rosen 3B
Sherm Lollar C
Larry Doby CF
Jackie Jensen OF
Al Smith OF
Chico Carrasquel SS
Dick Donovan P
Whitey Ford P
Billy Hoeft P
Herb Score P
Frank Sullivan P
Bob Turley P
Jim Wilson P
Early Wynn P
NL All-Stars
1 Red Schoendienst 2B
2 Del Ennis LF
3 Duke Snider CF
4 Ted Kluszewski 1B
5 Eddie Mathews 3B
6 Don Mueller RF
7 Ernie Banks SS
8 Del Crandall C
9 Robin Roberts P
Manager
Reserves
Gil Hodges 1B
Stan Musial 1B
Gene Baker 2B
Randy Jackson 3B
Smoky Burgess C
Roy Campanella C
Stan Lopata C
Willie Mays CF
Hank Aaron OF
Frank Thomas OF
Johnny Logan SS
Luis Arroyo P
Gene Conley P
Harvey Haddix P
Sam Jones P
Don Newcombe P
Joe Nuxhall P
I know that players start in the All Star game based on the first half of the season, but an NL lineup with Del Enis and Don Mueler in the OF instead of Aaron and Mays is almost a crime against humanity.
RIP Al! I remember watching you as a young fan. Classy guy.
Friend of the family worked in the Rangers clubhouse for years
& has met practically everyone in baseball. He sent an email earlier today that he met Kaline a bunch of times & was one of the nicer guys he ever came across. Condolences to his Kaline's family.
And as I was laying in bed I thought about the first Yankee game my dad brought me to. 1964, perhaps.
We sat in right field and someone lined to Kaline, right in front of us. He raced in and caught it on the fly at his shoe top, proceeded into a somersault and popped up. Wasn't showboating, and obviously a memorable catch.
Hadn't thought about it (or Al) in decades. Great, great arm, too. RIP
I believe when he did that somersault after the catch
With cannon arms. Gunning down those guys at 3rd or home - one of the most wonderful plays in Basebal: Kaline, Clemente, Colavito and Maris, to name some of the best.
I know that players start in the All Star game based on the first half of the season, but an NL lineup with Del Enis and Don Mueler in the OF instead of Aaron and Mays is almost a crime against humanity.
RIP Al! I remember watching you as a young fan. Classy guy.
My recollection, without checking Google, in those days, the starters were picked by fan ballot (remember Reingold Beer) and there was very little opportunity for fans to see anyone but their local team (assuming they had TV) so there was a lot of ballot box stuffing by the small market teams like Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Detroit. Remember that Cincinnati voted in all 8 starters in 1959 or 1960, before the Commish intervened.
Tho a life long Yankee fan, there have always been players I've admired. Certainly Kaline was one of them. Loved Yaz (in spite of the uniform), all those right fielders with cannons for an arm. RIP Mr Kaline.
Right out of high school to the majors, can you imagine that in today's game.
Al Kaline won a batting title at age 20, and what an arm.
That guy was a rock for that organization!
No, he really wasn't transcendant, Yaz was more based
on very hard work. He wasn't a natural.
I recall seeing him about a half dozen times at a hospital I worked at in the 70's. I never bothered him though,
he was bringing his mother in for some type of treatments.
for incoming flight about 15 years ago or so. Me and another guy standing in same area had some small talk with him. Airport was busy enough with people whereas I don't think many recognized him.
Not a big deal but as a huge baseball fan it was memorable to me.
Hit over .300 9x
His first and only WS was in 1968 when the Tigers defeated the Cards, he hit .379 with 2 HR’s 8 RBI
Never played in the minors, spent his whole career in Detroit
1953-1974
RIP Al.
He sure was. Could do it all -- all 5 tools -- and did it for only one team for many, many years.
Kind of like Stan Musial. Two players underrated in the grand scheme of baseball history. Both played on teams without a lot of postseason exposure during their days, which may be why they're not better known today.
AL All-Stars
1 Harvey Kuenn SS
2 Nellie Fox 2B
3 Ted Williams LF
4 Mickey Mantle CF
5 Yogi Berra C
6 Al Kaline RF
7 Mickey Vernon 1B
8 Jim Finigan 3B
9 Billy Pierce P
Manager
Reserves
Vic Power 1B
Bobby Avila 2B
Al Rosen 3B
Sherm Lollar C
Larry Doby CF
Jackie Jensen OF
Al Smith OF
Chico Carrasquel SS
Dick Donovan P
Whitey Ford P
Billy Hoeft P
Herb Score P
Frank Sullivan P
Bob Turley P
Jim Wilson P
Early Wynn P
NL All-Stars
1 Red Schoendienst 2B
2 Del Ennis LF
3 Duke Snider CF
4 Ted Kluszewski 1B
5 Eddie Mathews 3B
6 Don Mueller RF
7 Ernie Banks SS
8 Del Crandall C
9 Robin Roberts P
Manager
Reserves
Gil Hodges 1B
Stan Musial 1B
Gene Baker 2B
Randy Jackson 3B
Smoky Burgess C
Roy Campanella C
Stan Lopata C
Willie Mays CF
Hank Aaron OF
Frank Thomas OF
Johnny Logan SS
Luis Arroyo P
Gene Conley P
Harvey Haddix P
Sam Jones P
Don Newcombe P
Joe Nuxhall P
AL All-Stars
1 Harvey Kuenn SS
2 Nellie Fox 2B
3 Ted Williams LF
4 Mickey Mantle CF
5 Yogi Berra C
6 Al Kaline RF
7 Mickey Vernon 1B
8 Jim Finigan 3B
9 Billy Pierce P
Manager
Reserves
Vic Power 1B
Bobby Avila 2B
Al Rosen 3B
Sherm Lollar C
Larry Doby CF
Jackie Jensen OF
Al Smith OF
Chico Carrasquel SS
Dick Donovan P
Whitey Ford P
Billy Hoeft P
Herb Score P
Frank Sullivan P
Bob Turley P
Jim Wilson P
Early Wynn P
NL All-Stars
1 Red Schoendienst 2B
2 Del Ennis LF
3 Duke Snider CF
4 Ted Kluszewski 1B
5 Eddie Mathews 3B
6 Don Mueller RF
7 Ernie Banks SS
8 Del Crandall C
9 Robin Roberts P
Manager
Reserves
Gil Hodges 1B
Stan Musial 1B
Gene Baker 2B
Randy Jackson 3B
Smoky Burgess C
Roy Campanella C
Stan Lopata C
Willie Mays CF
Hank Aaron OF
Frank Thomas OF
Johnny Logan SS
Luis Arroyo P
Gene Conley P
Harvey Haddix P
Sam Jones P
Don Newcombe P
Joe Nuxhall P
I know that players start in the All Star game based on the first half of the season, but an NL lineup with Del Enis and Don Mueler in the OF instead of Aaron and Mays is almost a crime against humanity.
RIP Al! I remember watching you as a young fan. Classy guy.
We sat in right field and someone lined to Kaline, right in front of us. He raced in and caught it on the fly at his shoe top, proceeded into a somersault and popped up. Wasn't showboating, and obviously a memorable catch.
Hadn't thought about it (or Al) in decades. Great, great arm, too. RIP
Maybe Marichial and Koufax?
Though that uni....
I know that players start in the All Star game based on the first half of the season, but an NL lineup with Del Enis and Don Mueler in the OF instead of Aaron and Mays is almost a crime against humanity.
RIP Al! I remember watching you as a young fan. Classy guy.
My recollection, without checking Google, in those days, the starters were picked by fan ballot (remember Reingold Beer) and there was very little opportunity for fans to see anyone but their local team (assuming they had TV) so there was a lot of ballot box stuffing by the small market teams like Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Detroit. Remember that Cincinnati voted in all 8 starters in 1959 or 1960, before the Commish intervened.
I think he played every position :)
Al Kaline won a batting title at age 20, and what an arm.
That guy was a rock for that organization!
Though that uni....
No, he really wasn't transcendant, Yaz was more based
on very hard work. He wasn't a natural.
I recall seeing him about a half dozen times at a hospital I worked at in the 70's. I never bothered him though,
he was bringing his mother in for some type of treatments.
Agreed that Yaz didnt have the grace to make it all look easy.I'd say he was a better Mattingly, which I mean as very high praise.
Not a big deal but as a huge baseball fan it was memorable to me.
RIP.
Frank Robinson