The 1974 season was special for Al Kaline. Playing his final big league season he made the last of his 18 All Star teams and recorded his 3,000th hit.
Coming into the year Mr. Tiger was 139 hits shy of the milestone safety. It felt like a tall task for Kaline who hadn’t recorded that many hits in any of the previous six seasons. Indeed it had been 13 years since Motown’s main man last played in as many as 150 games.
This year was different for Kaline. A year after the designated hitter rule was enacted in the AL, Kaline found his niche. Without needing a glove, Kaline played only as a DH and pinch hitter.
Shown here is a letter from Commissioner Bowie Kuhn dated August 1, 1974. At the start of that day Kaline was 50 hits away from the magical milestone. Kuhn replies to an inquiry from a fan regarding the legitimacy of Kaline joining the 3,000-hit club with the aid of the new designated hitter position.
“The circumstances today in the American League are different,” Kuhn writes. “This becomes a matter of judgement whether the difference is enough to warrant special treatment. In this instance, I would not think so and Kaline’s achievement, if he makes it, would be without an asterisk.”
Kaline did indeed make it to 3,000. Playing in 147 contests – his most since 1961 – Kaline tallied his 3,000th hit on September 24th. By season’s end the lifetime Motown man had 146 hits on the year – all coming as the team’s designated hitter.
A class act and a great role model for players today. He also was a a GREAT player!
He is my favorite Tiger of all time.
Traded to Cleveland for Rocky Colavito. Rocky traded by Trader Lane as he was called
No. Harvey Keunn was traded to Cleveland for Rocky Colavito.
Al Kaline went straight from High School to the Tigers ML lineup. He was drafted and debuted in 1953 and then for the next consecutive 67 years until his death in 2020 worked for the Tigers, never having another employer.
what position did kaline end up playing when calavito joined tigers
Al Kaline was the greatest ball player to come out of the Baltimore area besides Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken. Always great to watch when I was younger. Actually played on the field that he did when he played HS ball in Baltimore.
I met him in Cooperstown!
My grandson went to Cooperstown still has his trading pins plus other items. He had one of the best times of his life. Great place. Al Kaline one of my favorite players.
Al Kaline played right before and after the trade.