Perhaps it was the advent of an approaching birthday, but for some reason I looked up some of my old columns.
Goodness gracious, I’ve been writing a personal weekly column for nearly 49 years. I started with a sports column September 2, 1954 while covering the St. Johns High School Redwings for the Clinton County Republican News.
The ‘Republican? has long since been dropped from that weekly, county seat newspaper’s name.
As I see it now, my publisher, Ink White, gave me way too much freedom and way too little editing. Ink, what a great name for a newspaper man. His real name was Enoch.
I wrote short bits on varying sports — golf, bowling, football, basketball, horseshoe pitching, ping pong, baseball, etc. as opposed to one column on a single subject.
One baseball item was about Al Kaline. I wrote this April 21, 1955:
‘What a wonderful feeling it must be to be a 20-year-old boy, two years out of high school, to hit three home runs in one baseball game in the major leagues. If the sports writers, commentators and fans don’t spoil him by loading on praise, using premature comparisons, then riding him if he goes hitless a few games, the Detroit Tigers could have a good right fielder for a long time in Al Kaline.
‘The awe of the major leagues has worn off now with his rookie year past, and he has played enough baseball to show that he can hit big league pitching. Likewise, Kaline has proven himself afield as he covers a lot of ground with his speed and has a strong throwing arm.
‘Kaline picked up 20 pounds during the winter to bring his weight to 175 which he carries on a six foot, one inch frame. The confidence the Tigers? new manager, Bucky Harris, has in Kaline is reflected in the fact that he moved him up to third place in the batting order.
‘Undoubtedly, the three home runs hit by Kaline Sunday was a lot of luck, but it does show that he has more power this year than last when he hit only four homers all season. In the third game this year he hit two triples which also shows hitting strength.
‘We wish him only the best of luck and hope his hitting can elevate the Tigers? spirit and their position in the league standings.?
Luck had nothing to do with it. As the Baseball Hall of Fame says of Kaline, ?(he) was a model of consistency who excelled with minimum fanfare . . .?
Kaline was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1980. His lifetime batting average was .297. He won 10 Gold Glove Awards and was selected for the All-Star Team 15 times. From the Hall of Fame, ‘His reputation as a clutch performer was enhanced by his .379 batting average against St. Louis in the 1968 World Series.?
I like to think of myself as a clutch performer and consistent, to boot.
During my career I have written about 2,500 columns.
In Kaline’s career he had 3,007 hits.
Al Kaline had 399 home runs.
I don’t know how many hum ‘dingers? of columns I have had, but in 49 years, I’ve had to connect at least 400 times.
My longevity has spanned nearly 50 years.
Kaline’s was just 22 years in the big leagues.
‘Mr. Tiger,? as Kaline would become, won the batting title the year I wrote that sports column. In 1955 he hit .340 at the age of 20. He had 200 hits in 588 at bats, with 27 home runs.
Ohmigosh!
That was 48 years ago. That makes Kaline 68-years-old. That makes me . . . OLD!