Jeff Daniels: Al Kaline was my childhood hero. Here's how I remember him

Jeff Daniels is a native Michigander and one of the most recognizable and accomplished actors in the nation. He's also a Detroit Tigers fan who idolized the late Al Kaline growing up. Kaline died Monday afternoon at his home in Bloomfield Hills. He was 85. Daniels submitted this statement at the request of the Free Press. 

Al Kaline was the only player I ever saw who could make the ball come to him. 

With the runner rounding second, he'd sprint into the right field corner and in one graceful motion the ball would find his glove, and when he turned his back all you could see was the 6, and when he threw the ball it would leave his hand like an air rocket, dead straight, screaming over the infield all the way in to the third base bag. Don Wert never had to move his glove. The runner, of course, would be out by a mile. 

That's how you remember childhood heroes. 

Al Kaline was mine. 

I still have the small wooden bat from 1964 Tiger Bat Day with his name on it. 

I always will.