VIDEO: Al Kaline Celebrating Tigers 1968 AL Pennant Will Make Your Heart Melt
By Brendan Balsamo
With Monday's passing of Mr. Tiger, Al Kaline, the baseball world was in mourning. Detroit Tigers' country was devastated. Arguably the best player to ever don the Old English D was gone. To reminisce, the Tigers' Twitter posted a video of Kaline celebrating the Tigers' 1968 American League pennant, his first.
Al Kaline's champagne celebration was well worth the wait in 1968.#RIPMrTiger pic.twitter.com/oBWhugp2M4
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) April 7, 2020
The best part of this video is Kaline's humble reaction, complimenting his team and his manager before accepting his own milestone, which finally happened in the 16th years of his illustrious career.
This interview took place on Sept. 17, 1968, and the Tigers were fresh off a walk-off win over the New York Yankees to secure the pennant. Kaline pinch hit for Norm Cash in the ninth and he became the winning run after walking in his at bat and scoring on a single by pinch hitter Gates Brown. As the interviewer pointed out, it was a fitting conclusion to their pennant race.
Al Kaline alone one final time in Tiger Stadium is powerful stuff. pic.twitter.com/gFRHVQWbT3
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) April 7, 2020
The Tigers would go on to win the '68 World Series series over the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games, 4-3.
Kaline was one of the fiercest hitters ever to play. Nothing's sweeter than watching him finally reach the World Series after 16 years. Mr. Tiger will be sorely missed by baseball fans everywhere.