Detroit Tiger Hall of Fame outfielder Al Kaline went from high school to the Tigers and never played in the minor leagues. Never.
Yesterday the
Tigers had the number one pick in the amateur draft because of their terrible record in 2019: 47-114. The Tigers drafted:
When/if a 2020 MLB season starts, why not have Torkelson on the Tigers, skipping the minor leagues? It might be a cool thing for Tigers fans. Tigers in recent years:
2019: 47-114
2018: 64-98
2017: 64-98
2016: 85-75.
Tiger first baseman
Miguel Cabrera is 37 years old and could comfortably move to designated hitter (DH) making plenty of room for Torkelson. In 2018 Cabrera played only 36 games but at least 130 in 2017 and 2019 with OPS+ 93 and 96. 100 is league average. For his career: 148. Best season: 2013 OPS+
190.
Positions: Rightfielder and First Baseman
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
6-1, 175lb (185cm, 79kg)
Born: December 19, 1934 in Baltimore, MD us
Died: April 6, 2020 (Aged 85-109d) in Bloomfield Hills, MI
High School: Southern HS (Baltimore, MD)
Debut: June 25, 1953 (Age 18-188d, 8,627th in MLB history)
vs. PHA 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game: October 2, 1974 (Age 39-287d)
vs. BAL 2 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1980. (Voted by BBWAA on 340/385 ballots)
View Al Kaline's Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1954 season
That first game
June 25, 1953 was against the Philadelphia Athletics in Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. Athletics (30-36) beat Tigers (18-46) 5-2. So the 1953 Tigers weren't very good either.
Bottom of the 6th, Athletics Batting, Ahead 5-0
Al Kaline replaces Jim Delsing playing CF batting 5th
Top of the 9th, Tigers Batting, Behind 0-5, Athletics' Harry Byrd facing 5-6-7
Al Kaline led off: Flyball: CF
In 1953 at age 18 Kaline played in just 30 games with 30 plate appearances (PA). Kaline got his first start
Sept. 16, 1953 in Boston: 3 for 5. He played three more complete games in 1953. In 16 of his 30 games he had no PA. In six games just one PA. OPS+ 78.
In 1954: 138 games, 535 PA, OPS+ 80. Tigers 68-86
In 1955 at age 20 Kaline was a star, leading the AL in hits, BA (.340), TB; OPS+ 162. Youngest ever to lead a league in BA beating Tiger legend
Ty Cobb: led in BA (.350) in 1907. Tigers 79-75.
The idea was to have Kaline play sparingly for two years with the major league club, and then be farmed out to a minor league team for two or three years for seasoning.
___________________________
Saturday
May 26, 1962 at Yankee Stadium the Tigers beat the Yankees 2-1. Kaline was 0 for 4 and grounded into a double play. Both starting pitchers went all the way. Mickey Mantle had been injured on the final play of a 4-3 loss
May, 18, 1962 to the Twins at Yankee Stadium; he missed a month. In this game in the bottom of the 9th down 2-1 with two out and Hector Lopez on first base Yankee catcher Elston Howard hit a line drive to right field. Kaline charged in, dove and robbed Howard of a hit ending the game. However, Kaline suffered a broken collarbone and did not play again until
July 23, 1962: 0 for 4.
But Kaline did not play any minor league games to prepare for his return as players would do now. I don't know if that was to keep his status in tact as never having played in the minors. Mantle never played in the minors after being sent down in his 1951 rookie season despite missing a month in 1962 and two months in 1963.
It's different now but what if Spencer Torkelson could play his entire career never having played in the minor leagues?
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