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.