Scenes From 2013 Detroit Tigers Home Opener

I have been waiting for today all through this long winter. On some of those numerous bitter cold days with the snow flying and the wind biting, the new season of Tigers baseball was the one thought that could lift my spirits. Baseball, just like spring, is a sure sign of the end of another long winter. Sure, the days might not yet be warm enough to get by without wearing at least a sweatshirt and, yes, there might be a day where some snow may fly. However, baseball is back and just as sure as that, spring must be back as well.

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of the birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_XuwIV1Xr8

Celebrate the new baseball season with our Detroit Tigers Gift Basket. It's a great gift to give to the Tigers fan in your life.

Fastball Flakes - They're Grrrreat!!

For a limited time you can purchase Justin Verlander's Fastball Flakes at a Meijer store in the Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo areas. 100% of the proceeds go to the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit and to the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. Not in any of those markets listed above? Order online at www.plbsports.com where they even have a "Fastball Flakes" t-shirt ($15) or t-shirt and cereal combo ($18) available if you want more than just the standard 2-pack of Fastball Flakes cereal ($10).

I wonder if our local Meijer has any? Otherwise it looks like a Kalamazoo road trip is in my future :).

My highlights from the ALCS Game 3

I took my dad to see his first Detroit Tigers playoff game this past Tuesday. We had an awesome time in Detroit and the Tigers helped cap things off with a thrilling victory over the Texas Rangers. Here's a list of my highlights:

• Aretha Franklin singing the National Anthem. Was it my favorite version? No, but it was Aretha Franklin - the Queen of Soul.
• Joel Zumaya delivering the game ball. I had goosebumps when the strains of Hendrix's 'Voodoo Child' started playing over the loudspeakers.
• Magglio Ordonez limping onto the field to huge cheers during pregame introductions. It nearly brought me to tears.
• Home runs. They are a deliciously sweet thing when hit by your favorite team.
• The crowd singing along to Journey's "Don't Stop Believing".
• Dinner at Fishbones in Greektown.
• A quick ride from the parking ramp to Greektown and then back to Comerica Park on The People Mover. Better than walking, plus I got a quick tour of Detroit's downtown. It only costs $.50 per ride. How does this thing not get more riders?

Oh, and today in Detroit Tigers history - this little gem happened :).

One of the greatest All Star Games was played at Tiger Stadium 40 years ago

It is the All-Star Game oft remembered for the mammoth home run that was shot off the bat of a young Reggie Jackson. Back when Tiger stadium was a sea of green before the city of Detroit purchased it and tore out the green seats and replaced them with orange and blue ones. Back when the All-Star Game meant something to those who played in it without having the silliness of the games' result determining home-field advantage for the World Series. Ernie Harwell had said that it was the hardest hit ball he had ever seen. Take a look at the video below and see for yourself.

Did you know?

• Future Tigers manager Sparky Anderson managed the National League team at that All-Star game.
• All of the runs scored in the 6-4 American League victory were on home runs.
• This was the final All-Star Game appearance for Roberto Clemente as he was injured for the 1972 game.
• 20 future Hall of Famers played in this game - 11 on the National League team and 9 on the American League side.
• Tigers pitching great, Mickey Lolich, pitched two innings for the save.

August 4, 1956 footage of Tigers versus Yankees at Briggs Stadium

On this 2011 Detroit Tigers Opening Day, let's take a stroll down memory lane to The Corner. This color footage is from an August 8, 1956 game at Briggs Stadium (later renamed Tiger Stadium) against the New York Yankees.

Here is the box score from the game -

NYY 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 4 6 0 DET 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 x - 5 9 1

Mickey Mantle hit two home runs off of Tigers great, Virgil Trucks (he pitched 2 no-hitters in 1952), but the good guys came from behind in the 8th inning on Al Kaline's second home run of the day (2 men on, no out) to win 5-4.

Armando Galarraga teaches us a lesson we all need

I'll admit, my first reactions to the blown call by first base umpire Jim Joyce were no where near Armando Galarraga's as he lost his bid at a perfect game. Armando just smiled wryly, stepped back up on the mound, and threw five more pitches to get the 28th out of the game. Armando could have thrown his mitt in disgust, charged up to Jim Joyce, yelled at him, and then complained to reporters after the game. Instead, he smiles, calmly walks away, and goes about finishing the game.

Then after the game when asked about the blown call, Armando responds, "Nobody's perfect." He wasn't being sarcastic or trying for irony with that statement. He was genuinely compassionate for the umpire and what he was going through knowing that he blew the biggest call in his career.

As I said on Twitter last night -

Ya know, we all make mistakes in our jobs. I'm glad my mistakes aren't broadcast on tv, radio, and the internet.

There is a lesson buried amongst all of the angst and anger we Tigers, and baseball fans in general, are feeling this morning. It was the ultimate show of not just good sportsmanship, but it was a lesson in how we should all react to adversity in our own lives.

Rather than ranting and raving when things don't go our way or when we feel that we were wronged we should take a page from Galarraga - smile wryly, stand up straight, and with a look of determination - get back to it and do the best we can.