Al Kaline Quotes
I was very, very shocked about Cooperstown. I thought my chances were fairly good, but I tried to stay low key about it, not too high and not too low. That was the way I played, too.
What gets me upset about with the newer players is their lack of intensity. They tend to go through the motions a little bit. They don`t understand that you`ve got to practice the way you play.
You`ve got to get good habits of working hard so that when that play comes up during the regular season that you`re able to complete it and do it the right way.
All of a sudden I`m in the major leagues and we`re traveling from town to town. I see the other players dressing different every day. I`ve got only one suit and I keep wearing it over and over. I`m really embarrassed.
Switching to the outfield was the best break I ever got.
I`ll never forget that first night with the team. Going to the ballpark on the bus was the hardest 30 minutes of my life. I had to walk down that aisle between all the players. I really didn`t know too much about the Detroit Tigers at that time.
I started in for the ball but I just couldn`t get it. I should have caught it because I was used to catching everything on the sandlots. But they hit the ball a lot harder in the major leagues and I just couldn`t reach the ball this time.
I didn`t know who was on the team, but I saw every eye as I walked down the aisle. It looked like a thousand eyes were staring right at me saying, `Who is this young punk?` I just kept my eyes straight ahead.
It hurt me a great deal. It put a lot of pressure on me because I was at a young age and the writers around here and throughout the league starting comparing me to Cobb. It put a lot of pressure on me.
As the days went on, I didn`t mind the games. In fact, I looked forward to them. That was the easiest part of all. I couldn`t wait to get to the ballpark I`d be the first one there and I was willing to do anything. I think that`s why the veterans liked me.
