Al Kaline has passed away @ age 85

[MrNittany]

One of the simplest but coolest nicknames ever:

MISTER TIGER.

As someone else said, a genuine 5-tool player. Hit for average, hit for power, near perfect as a fielder, an arm you didn't run on without significant risk. Incredibly consistent. I remember reading something once that Kaline had one of the 5 lowest "empty game percentages" [[an "empty game" being one where a player doesn't record a hit, walk or RBI) of anyone in MLB history.

And in THE "high stakes, most do or die at-bat" of his career - the 7th Inning of Game 5 of the 1968 World Series - he came through with the game-winning 2-run hit. It wasn't the hardest hit baseball ever, but he got the baseball to drop into shallow CF-RF in just the right spot. It got the job done.

In fact, the Tigers never trailed in that World Series again. Everyone remembers Game 7 of the 1968 Series, but that never happens if Kaline doesn't come through 2 games earlier.

An absolutely great baseball player and a Detroit legend. RIP Mr. Tiger.