Mike Ilitch To Be At Opening Day, Son Says He's 'Excited,' 'Doing Great'
DETROIT (WWJ) On the morning of Tigers Opening Day -- what many call a "national holiday in Detroit" -- Chris Ilitch, son of team owner Mike Ilitch, took on the hottest topics of the day in a live interview on WWJ 950.
He even discussed something many fans are wondering as the team's owner makes fewer and fewer appearances -- how's Mike Ilitch's health?
"He's very excited about the start of the season, he's actually going to at the ball game today and taking it all in," Chris Ilitch said. "I think one of the greatest things about our Tigers owner is that he's exceptionally passionate about the Tigers. He is like every other fan coming to the ballgame, he's excited, he's probably got some butterflies , but he's doing great."
So, could there be front office changes on the horizon for the Detroit Tigers?
Chris Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings -- which owns the team -- was also asked what might happen if general manager Dave Dombrowski was tapped to be the next commissioner of Major League Baseball.
And this is what he said: "If that were to happen that would be great for Dave, and perhaps a little bittersweet for us," Ilitch said. "But we'll see how that pans out as well."
Current commissioner, Bud Selig, plans to retire at the end of this season.
No matter who's at the helm, Miguel Cabrera's career promises to play out long-term in Detroit after he signed a $292 million, 10-year deal with the team earlier this month.
Chris Ilitch obviously thinks so, saying we're watching history being written every time No. 24 steps up to the plate.
"This is a historic player, for baseball and for the Tiger franchise," Ilitch said. "You look at what he's been able to do, two back to back American League MVPs, two batting championships, the Triple Crowns, you go on and one, the statistics are there, if he continues on this pace, he'll be one of the all-time greats."
Some critics have said LONG-TERM, big money contracts to players in their 30s seldom yield championships.