Ernie Harwell on Al Kaline

Ernie Harwell on Al Kaline from Ball Talk, now released on DVD in the 20th Anniversary Legacy Edition and available at www.balltalkdvd.com, Amazon.com and CreateSpace.com

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Sports

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• Al
• Kaline
• Ball
• Talk
• DVD
• baseball
• Ernie
• Harwell
• documentary
• Detroit
• Tigers

[hiriski]

I just loved the way he circled around the ball, the impeccable footwork, the violent velocity of the throw, the stream of white blur, chest high to freehan , and brock showing nobelesque like intelligence by not even leaving third base

[JBTG33]

When the Tigers won the division in 68', they did much of it without Kaline, He went to Mayo Smith and told him to play the young guys in the World Series, they got us here. Smith of course moved Mickey Stanley to SS so Kaline, Northrup, and Horton could all play. Selflessness is another reason to love Al.

[tucsonia]

Remember in '71 (I think) Kaline TURNED DOWN a salary increase to $100,000 because he thought he hadn't earned it from his performance in the previous season. By today's standards that now sound terribly naive but today's players bitch and moan if they're not getting 5 million plus bonuses for batting .270; I respect Al more for his stance than the pampered whiners we have now.

Al Kaline, now and forever Mr. Tiger.

[allenpalmeri]

Pujols 5, Kaline 6, Elway 7.

[scribe114]

@hiriski The video is showing it in slow motion, I have a video of Game 4 of the '68 World Series that I will upload that shows it in "real time".

You will be even more impressed, George Kell is on the PBP too.

[CrankyOldster]

For great game footage of Kaline and Mantle, search "Yankees vs. Tigers August 4, 1956." You'll see both homer at the old Briggs Stadium, in some wonderful color home movies.

[unclebobunclebob]

@dimpledick3inch Are you serious? Did that really happen? Hard to believe.

[unclebobunclebob]

Only TWO youtube entries for Al Kaline...PIT...EEEEEEE....FULL­. This is why youtube and the internet cannot possibly be counted on for definitieve statements.

[triplexxxsatyr]

I never had the pleasure of seeing Al Kaline play; I only have these vignettes. But the ballplayer I most emulated was Alan Trammell. In ANY form - offbalance or set, Trammell almost always delivered a throw from the bottom of the sternum to the forehead. Stunning accuracy every...damn...time.

And thank you, Ernie Harwell. I miss you greatly.

[jpcfit]

Sometime during 1970 season I was watching a Twins-Tigers game on television, and Kaline was hitting. He swung and missed a pitch, and the announcer - Frank Buetel - said, "Kaline has the most graceful, perfect swing in baseball. He's one guy the true fan would pay to watch swing a bat." The next pitch was blasted off the center field fence.

[presleyrules]

I sat in the upper deck in right field on Aug. 02, 1970 and saluted my hero. It was Al Kaline Day and in my opinion, he was the greatest right fielder ever. The Twins were in town for a double-header (remember those?) Killebrew hit 2 of the longest HRs I'd ever seen. The Tigers lost both games but it didn't matter. Just being a part of that tribute to my hero was worth it. Thanks, Al.

[SKYVOLTAGE]

I sit first row behind the fence in the corner in right at Tiger Stadium to see Kaline take a ball off the wall, turn and throw a perfect strike to 2nd base....on the fly. The runner was easily tagged out. Nice to hear Ernie Harwell talk about Kaline. The very Best talking about the Very Best. Tiger fans are indeed blessed.