Fifty years ago, Detroit Tigers legend Al Kaline was honored in front of a packed Tiger Stadium crowd during the Al Kaline Day celebration.

But without the heroics of Willie Horton just two months prior, the legendary right fielder might never have basked in the sunshine Aug. 2, 1970, or in Cooperstown, New York, at the Baseball Hall of Fame 10 years later.

In the early evening of Memorial Day, May 30, 1970, at Milwaukee County Stadium, in the bottom of the first inning, Tigers pitcher Les Cain had loaded the bases and gave up one run before striking out Danny Walton and Jerry McNertney.

Second baseman Roberto Pena then hit a long fly ball to deep right center field in front of the Milwaukee bullpen, just short of the warning track. Tigers center fielder Jim Northrup and Kaline tracked it down, both calling for the ball.