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Tigers past and present react to Al Kaline’s passing

Division Series - Detroit Tigers v Baltimore Orioles - Game One Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Al Kaline was one of the last living legends of baseball. He played in an era where his opponents were the likes of Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Ernie Banks, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron. He held his own against names that now feel like mystic figures of baseball’s past.

Through that, Al remained a humble force within the Tigers organization, sticking around year after year because baseball was his life, and in his blood, and he just wanted to impart some of his hard-earned wisdom onto the next generation of great players.

It’s clear that Al left an indelible mark on every life he touched. To be near Al was to be in the presence of baseball greatness, but he treated everyone as being worthy and deserving of his time.

We could have filled a hundred posts with remembrances of him that flooded the internet yesterday, but narrowed it down (barely) to past and present Tigers players, staff, and a few more. Each and every one spoke of his kindness, his generosity of spirit, and how much he will be missed by all those who had the pleasure to know him.

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Congratulations on your new beginning my friend ♥️☯️

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