Offered for your consideration today is a 1972 Topps #600 Al Kaline Tigers PSA 10 baseball card. Nicknamed "Mr. Tiger", Al Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. For most of his career, Kaline played in the outfield, mainly as a right fielder where he won ten Gold Gloves and was known for his strong throwing arm. Near the end of his career, he also played as first baseman and, in his last season, was the Tigers' designated hitter. After hitting .294 in 1971, Kaline became the first Tiger to sign a $100,000 contract. He had turned down a pay raise from $95,000 to $100,000 the previous year, saying that he did not feel like a $100,000 player. Detroit contended all season for the 1972 pennant, trailing the Red Sox by a half-game before a series against them to end the regular season. Kaline batted eight times in two games, registering five hits and three runs scored. Detroit won those first two games and clinched the AL East pennant. They lost the ALCS to the Oakland Athletics that year after Reggie Jackson stole home in the final game of the series. In March 1973, Kaline won the Roberto Clemente Award in recognition of the honor he brought to baseball on and off the field. Kaline retired not long after reaching the 3,000 hit milestone. Immediately after retiring from playing, he became the Tigers' TV color commentator, a position he held until 2002. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official.
