Stanley's selflessness key to Tigers' 1968 title

Stanley's leadoff triple in 4th DETROIT -- Al Kaline takes second billing to no one among athletes in the Motor City. He's known as Mr. Tiger because of his 22-year career that included one franchise, 18 All-Star Games, a batting title at age 20, a World Series title, 3,000 hits and a Hall of Fame induction in his first year of eligibility.

And yet, when he talks about that World Series championship in 1968, he always defers to one Tiger who made it possible for him.

"I can never thank one player [enough] for accepting to go play shortstop," he said at the team's 50th anniversary luncheon earlier this month, "because I might not have had a chance to play had he not agreed to go play…