Detroit Tigers: The 5 best games of Al Kaline's career

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DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 09: Former Detroit Tigers outfielder and baseball Hall-of-Famer Al Kaline looks on and smiles during a Q & A session to honor the 50th anniversary of the 1968 Tigers World Championship prior to the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Comerica Park on September 9, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. The Cardinals defeated the Tigers 5-2. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

Today (December 19) would have been the 87th birthday for legendary Detroit Tigers slugger Al Kaline, an 18-time All-Star and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Of all of the Major League Baseball players to ever be born on December 19, none accumulated a higher amount of bWAR than Kaline, who was not only known for what he did at the plate, but also in the field, earning 10 Gold Gloves during his illustrious career that stretched from 22 seasons from 1953 until 1974. And every one of those seasons (encompassing 2,834 games) was played in a Detroit Tigers uniform.

On his birthday, let’s look back at the five greatest games at the plate produced by Detroit Tigers legend Al Kaline

We will look at the five best offensive games of Kaline’s career in this article, using total bases as the measurement.

3 (tie). Detroit Tigers at Kansas City Athletics, June 30, 1956

In a 14-2 road romp, Kaline went 4-for-6 at the plate, logging an extra-base hit with each knock and racking up 11 total bases.

Kaline started the day with a first-inning double off Kansas City starter Alex Kellner, then hit a solo home run off Kellner to lead off the fifth inning. In the sixth, Kaline would hit an RBI triple off Kansas City reliever Jack Crimian and finish the day with a ninth-inning double off Bobby Shantz.

During the 1956 season, Kaline would hit 10 triples, the most of any season during his career.

LAKELAND, FL – FEBRUARY 25: A detailed view of an autographed Al Kaline baseball sitting on the rail prior to the Spring Training game between the Houston Astros and the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on February 25, 2017 in Lakeland, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Astros 11-4. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

Looking back at a pair of outstanding games for Detroit Tigers legend Al Kaline against the Cleveland Indians

3 (tie). Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Indians, May 20, 1962

Al Kaline went 2-for-4 in the first game of a doubleheader at Cleveland as the Indians squeaked out a 7-6 win. Kaline, however, would make sure that Cleveland would not register a sweep that day.

In the second game, Kaline had one of his best games in a Detroit uniform, going 4-for-5 with three RBI as the Tigers earned the split with an 8-6 victory.

Kaline started the scoring with a two-run homer in the top of the first off Cleveland starter Sam McDowell, then tortured McDowell in the third inning with a solo shot, in the fourth with a single, and in the sixth with a double.

3 (tie). Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Indians, August 23, 1962

Later in the same season, but this time at his home stadium, Kaline once again reminded Cleveland just how good of a hitter he was.

Another 4-for-5 performance was enough to help Detroit capture an 8-5 win and move to 63-63 on the campaign. Detroit would go on to finish 85-76 that season.

Kaline started this game with a single off Cleveland’s Mudcat Grant, then lead off the third with a home run off Grant. Cleveland’s Jackie Collum would enter in relief later in the third, and Kaline would record a fourth-inning double off him. In the bottom of the sixth, with Gary Bell pitching, Kaline would hit his second home run of the day, giving him 20 on the season.

In both of these featured games against the Indians, Kaline totaled 11 bases. He would, however, have two other games in his career where he topped that mark.

DETROIT, MI – JUNE 25: A detailed view of the special home plate and pitching rubber to honor the 60th anniversary of the Major League debut of Detroit Tigers outfielder and Baseball Hall of Famer Al Kaline prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Comerica Park on June 25, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. The Angels defeated the Tigers 14-8. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

The two greatest games ever recorded by Detroit Tigers legend Al Kaline

2. Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins, September 19, 1963

In front of just 6,646 fans on a Thursday afternoon at Minnesota’s Metropolitan Stadium, Kaline pieced together one of the greatest games of his career, going 4-for-7 with four RBI as the Tigers earned an 8-6 win in 13 innings.

Kaline’s 13th-inning RBI triple plated what would eventually be the winning run, then he would score the insurance run later in the frame on an error.

Along with the late triple, Kaline would play a big role in keeping Detroit alive for the victory, tying the game in the ninth on a groundout and giving Detroit the lead in the 11th with a leadoff homer off Twins reliever Bill Pleis.

Kaline also had a single in the first and a home run in the fifth, helping him to log 12 bases on the day.

1. Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Athletics, April 17, 1955

Much like a game mentioned earlier, Kaline took advantage of the Athletics in a blowout to record what would be the greatest game of his career.

In a 16-0 demolition of Kansas City at Briggs Stadium, Kaline would go 4-for-5 with six RBI, including three home runs. It would be the only three-homer game of his career.

Kaline hit a two-run homer in the third, then hit a pair of home runs in the sixth inning, slamming a solo shot off Kansas City reliever Bob Spicer and following that with a two-run blast off Bob Trice in what would be a nine-run frame for the Tigers.

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Add in a fourth-inning single and Kaline accumulated 13 bases against Kansas City, the most he would have in a single game in his Hall of Fame career.

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