Hall of Famer and Tigers legend Al Kaline dies
Al Kaline, who spent his entire 22-season Hall of Fame career with the Detroit Tigers and was known affectionately as “Mr. Tiger,” died Monday. He was 85.
John Morad, a friend of Kaline’s, confirmed to The Associated Press that he died Monday at his home in Michigan. Morad, who spoke first to the Detroit Free Press, said he’d been in contact with Kaline’s son. No cause of death was given.
Kaline was the youngest player to win the American League batting title in 1955 at age 20 with a .340 batting average. The right fielder was a 15-time All-Star, won 10 Gold Gloves and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1980 in his first year of eligibility.
The beloved No. 6 later sat behind a microphone as a Tigers broadcaster from 1976 to 2001.
Kaline came straight out of Baltimore’s Southern High School to the majors, making his debut on June 25, 1953. He took over as Detroit’s everyday right fielder in 1954, and in 1955 he hit .340, becoming the youngest player — besting Ty Cobb by a day — to win the American League batting title.
Kaline never hit 30 home runs in a season and topped the 100-RBI mark only three times, but his overall consistency at the plate and his exceptional fielding and throwing put him among the top AL outfielders.
Kaline finished his career with 3,007 hits and 399 home runs (what would have been No. 400 was lost to a rainout).
Major League Baseball presented Kaline in 1973 with the Roberto Clemente Award honoring the player who best exemplifies sportsmanship, community involvement and contribution to his team.
MLB, UNION DISCUSS PLAYING ALL GAMES IN ARIZONA >> Putting all 30 teams in the Phoenix area and playing in empty ballparks was among the ideas discussed by Major League Baseball and the players’ association.
The sides held a telephone call to talk about paths forward for a season delayed by the new coronavirus pandemic, people familiar with the discussion told The Associated Press. Ideas are still in the early stage, and the Arizona option would have many obstacles to overcome.
Half of the MLB clubs hold spring training in Arizona, the other half in Florida.
Arizona’s advantage is 10 spring training ballparks plus the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chase Field all within about 50 miles. Florida’s spring training ballparks are spread by as much as 220 miles
NFL
ALL-DECADE TEAM INCLUDES RAIDERS, 49ERS >> Four 49ers players and two Raiders were named to the NFL’s 2010-19 All-Decade Team released Monday. Frank Gore, Joe Staley, Patrick Willis and Richard Sherman were the 49ers, while Khalil Mack and Shane Lechler were the Raiders.
The 55-member team was determined by the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s selection committee.
Neither of the Raiders players wound up in silver and black before the decade was over.
LEAGUE DELAYS START OF OFFSEASON WORKOUT PROGRAMS >> The NFL is delaying the start of its offseason workout program while formulating a plan with the NFL Players Association on how to proceed during the coronavirus pandemic.
At least for the time being, NFL coaches won’t be allowed to communicate with players via videoconferencing.
Normally, Monday would have signaled the start of the nine-week offseason workout program for the five NFL teams with new head coaches — Carolina, Dallas, Washington, Cleveland and the New York Giants — to begin participating in conditioning drills and light workouts. However, due to COVID-19, players are not allowed to be at team facilities while social distancing standards remain in place throughout the country. PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAMER BOBBY MITCHELL DIES >> Bobby Mitchell, the speedy Hall of Famer who became Washington’s’ first black player, died. He was 84.
Mitchell split his career with the Cleveland Browns and Redskins and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983. The Hall of Fame said Sunday night that Mitchell’s family said he died in the afternoon but didn’t provide any other details.
RAIDERS DOWN TO ONE >> The Raiders announced the signings of tight end Nick O’Leary and defensive tackle Daniel Ross. All reported free agent signings have been made official except Demarious Randall, who agreed to terms Saturday.
NBA
LEAGUE CHANGING DRAFT PROCESS FOR INTERVIEWS, WORKOUTS >> The NBA has told teams that they may not conduct or attend any workouts with draft-eligible players during the league’s coronavirus hiatus, a major change from typical procedures.
Teams also are being prohibited “from watching, requesting, or sharing any video (live or recorded) of a draft-eligible player or prospective early entry player taking part in a workout” during the league’s shutdown, The Associated Press learned.
For now, the NBA draft is still scheduled for June 25, and the league has not changed the dates or format of the draft combine or G League Elite Camp, both of which were scheduled for mid-May.
The league shut down on March 11 after Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for COVID-19. Commissioner Adam Silver said Monday night that he does not believe the league will be able to make any decision on the future of the season until sometime in May at the earliest.
Fighting
UFC 249 STILL ON, BUT NO VENUE SECURED >> UFC 249 is still on schedule for April 18, with Tony Ferguson fighting Justin Gaethje for an interim lightweight title in the main event.
Although UFC President Dana White hasn’t announced a venue for his promotion’s biggest pay-per-view show of the spring, he remains determined to hold an event in less than two weeks amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Gaethje replaces lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, who is apparently unable to leave Russia amid the pandemic.