RIP Al Kaline

[Chewbaccer]

RIP

But, why do y’all engage with known, overtly racist idiots?

 

[Indrid Cold]

I always appreciated his parent's sense of humor.

Basically a great ballplayer and nice guy

 

[Rod Freakin' Dangerfield]

Chinese virus get him?

 

[StanMarsh51]

So Kaline's war of 92.8 hands down better than DiMaggio's 79..1.

You're also forgetting/ignoring that DiMaggio missed 3 prime years due to WW2, and up until that point, DiMaggio had averaged 7.2 WAR per season for his career.

 

[DragonfromTO]

Chinese virus get him?

He ate Carole Baskin's husband

 

[DragonfromTO]

RIP

But, why do y’all engage with known, overtly racist idiots?

This is such a good set up. I'm gonna go think of punchlines

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

I always appreciated his parent's sense of humor.

He also had that sense of humor, was mostly positive, rarely negative...and always gave the Detroit fans a power charge.

 

[Montalban]

So Kaline's war of 92.8 hands down better than DiMaggio's 79..1.

Kaline has more at bats , Home runs, and hits. Was a better defender.

I can see the majority taking Kaline over Dimaggio.

Not a chance

 

[Montalban]

I can see him playing catch with Roberto Clemente (from about 300 feet away - heavenly social distancing)


That was Roberto Clemente ... another strong armed right fielder who was also an amazing human!!

Yes. You are correct.

 

[Montalban]

He also had that sense of humor, was mostly positive, rarely negative...and always gave the Detroit fans a power charge.

That's what I used to call him

 

[Stakesarehigh]

So many afternoons listening to him and George Kell (also rip). And of course Ernie

 

[jdwills126]

Tied Tris Speaker for an American League record by appearing in 100-or-more games for 19 straight seasons. Accomplished the 100-or-more game streak despite several injuries, including a broken cheek bone (1959), broken collar bone (1962), rib injury (1965, 1973), foot surgery (1965), broken finger (1967) and a broken right arm (1968).

Kaline played hurt and still managed an impressive average. He also played in the raised mound era and not the 40's.

I get he wasn't in New York as everyone thinks the sun rises and sets on that market.

 

[StanMarsh51]

He also played in the raised mound era and not the 40's.

This is largely irrelevant when we have stats such as OPS+ and WAR that normalizes for these differences and compares players to their league...

DiMaggio's OPS+ in his career (7,600 PAs) was 155. Kaline's through the same # of games in his career was at 137. DiMaggio also had an OPS+ of at least 170 3x (with 2 of them being over 180), compared to 1x for Kaline.

 

[Thruthefog]

Always a class act. Something that's missing from today's athletes.

 

[navamind]

You're also forgetting/ignoring that DiMaggio missed 3 prime years due to WW2, and up until that point, DiMaggio had averaged 7.2 WAR per season for his career.

Interestingly, both players have 55.6 WAA. But yeah, having 13.7 more WAR than DiMaggio isn't really a point in his favor considering he had nearly 4000 more plate appearances.

Kaline may have had a better career (at least in terms of longevity), but I think DiMaggio was easily the better player.

 

[DragonfromTO]

RIP

But, why do y’all engage with known, overtly racist idiots?

Cause it's required before boarding a plane these days

 

[IronJaw]

I remember watching Al Kaline in the 1968 World Series against St. Louis. He was injured for part of the season, but was ready to go when the series began (I was rooting for the Cardinals, of course) Al had a great series, .379, 2-homeruns, and 8-RBIs. Al was always a great player.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

Interestingly, both players have 55.6 WAA. But yeah, having 13.7 more WAR than DiMaggio isn't really a point in his favor considering he had nearly 4000 more plate appearances.

Kaline may have had a better career (at least in terms of longevity), but I think DiMaggio was easily the better player.

I'm not sure how we got down this rabbit hole anyway. Kaline had a great career that does not need to be inclusive of a discussion of DiMaggio as if it somehow that takes away from that

It's like uh...Miguel Cabrera had a great hitting career....oh but he wasnt Lou Gehrig

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Always a class act. Something that's missing from *today's athletes.

*many of todays athletes.

Not all thankfully.

 

[DragonfromTO]

*many of todays athletes.

Not all thankfully.