The baseball world lost a gentleman of the game this past week. George Kell, apart from being one half of an exceptional broadcasting team with fellow Hall of Famer, and Tiger, Al Kaline (1975-96), presented himself as the quintessential class act and as a player who, in his time, swung a big stick.
As a third baseman for the Philadelphia Athletics 1943-46), the Detroit Tigers (1947-52), Boston Red Sox (1952-54), Chicago White Sox (1954-56), and the Baltimore Orioles (1956-57), George Kell was a 10-time all star who bested the great Ted Williams in 1949 to win the batting title, hitting .343. Amazingly, during the his batting champ season, he only struck out 13 times. Kell went on to hit .300 8 years straight.
Of course, I only remember him personally from his years in the broadcast booth. With his easy, straightforward delivery, he sounded like everyone’s grandfather and everyone’s buddy. The Detroit Tigers 1984 championship season still lingers in my memory. Me with my Tiger cap and mitt sitting on the couch with my Dad. I now wish, in my youth, that I paid closer attention. Tried to take in the wisdom. When he and Al expounded on how the game should be played, you needed to listen and you did listen, but I am certain there was more to take in. Missed opportunities.
History has always been baseball’s advantage over other sports. Kell, and Kaline for that matter, were my links to the era of Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio. Only a few could boast to sharing the field with legends of the game. Kell even tells of a time when his jaw was broken from a DiMaggio line drive. Wikipedia quotes him retelling the incident: “I got up, made the play at third, then passed out.”
The Detroit Free Press reports that George Kell died in his sleep at his home in Swifton, Arkansas on March 24, 2009. Rest in peace, Mr. Kell.
