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8 | MAY 7 • 2020 

1942 - 2020

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How to reach us see page 10

And the more I was into it, the more he 
seemed to want to show me.
”
Kaline had not yet reached the limit of 
his generosity. Before leaving on the last 
day of camp, he sought out Surnow. “He 
told me he had something to give me,
” 
Michael said. With that, “
Al took out a 
brand-new baseball. He autographed it 
right in the sweet spot which only Hall 
of Famers can do. He gave it to me, and I 
cherish it to this day.
”
In April 2004, Dr. Marvin Sonne, a den-
tist from Farmington Hills, was looking for 
a meaningful way to bring some joy to his 
longtime close friend and fellow dentist, 
Dr. Michael Kohleriter. Michael, 62, a for-
mer Detroiter, lay bedridden in his home 
in Dallas, waging what was at that point 
a three-year battle with a terminal brain 
tumor.
Sonne and Kohleriter shared a love 
for the Tigers and that inspired an idea. 
He called the team’
s front office and was 
directed to Jordan Field, a young Jewish 
attorney, who was hired by the Tigers upon 
graduating Wayne State Law School in 
2002. Eighteen years later, Jordan, 42, is 
now the team’
s director of player relations 
and the Detroit Tigers Foundation, the 
charitable arm of the franchise.
It was Dr. Sonne’
s desire to surprise his 
ailing friend with a signed photograph of 
well wishes from Al Kaline. In his con-
versation with Field, Sonne shared details 
about Kohleriter’
s life and his dire health 
condition and hoped for the best. And 
indeed, by performing a mitzvah in his 

own right, Field facilitated an even better 
outcome.
In late April 2004, Lory Kohleriter, 
Michael’
s wife, nearly mistook the envelope 
that arrived from the Detroit Tigers at her 
Dallas home as marketing literature. She 
opened it and began reading the surprising, 
heartwarming personal contents of the let-
ter at her husband’
s bedside. 
Any thought that this was a joke faded 
as her eyes gazed at the end of the letter 
to discover Al Kaline’
s signature. Lory will 
never forget how her husband’
s face lit up. 
“He just grinned from ear to ear. That’
s 
how I knew he was aware.
” 
An immediate phone call to their dear 
friend Marvin confirmed the Kohleriters’
 
suspicions that he was the one who had 
coordinated this incredible act of kindness. 
“Marv was thrilled out of his mind that the 
Tigers did it and so quickly,
” Lory said. 
More than a signed photograph, the 

Tigers and Al Kaline had gone above 
and beyond. By sheer coincidence, the 
letter from Al Kaline was dated April 21; 
fittingly, it was Dr. Michael Kohleriter’
s 
birthday. The perfect gift. Just over a year 
later, Michael passed away peacefully in his 
home.
The last time Jordan Field saw Al Kaline 
was at a small, private autograph sign-
ing Field had arranged last December at 
Comerica Park. “I remembered that morn-
ing that he loved donuts,
” Field said. “So I 
stopped at Dunkin’
 Donuts. Got a box of 
munchkins. Mr. Kaline was right on time 
and happy to see the box. 
“We ate donut holes together as he 
signed each item carefully and perfect-
ly, adding #6 or an inscription if it had 
been requested. Some items — a ’
68 team 
photo and an old baseball card — sparked 
memories of his career which he shared in 
between bites. 
He signed the last item, asked if I 
had anything else he needed to sign. He 
thanked me for my help and gave me a pat 
on the shoulder. He grabbed the half-emp-
ty box of donuts and said he was heading 
to the clubhouse to share them with the 
clubhouse attendants.
”
Al Kaline’
s baseball statistics speak for 
themselves. His actions off the field speak 
to the fact that he was also a Hall of Fame 
human being. 

Muskovitz is a writer, voice-over/acting talent, 
speaker, and emcee. Visit his website at laughwith-
bigal.com,“Like” Al on Facebook and reach him at 
amuskovitz@renmedia.us.

continued from page 5

Al Kaline,
circa 1995

JOHN MATHEW SMITH & WWW.CELEBRITY-PHOTOS.COM

