Get Your Tickets Now As Tigers Host The Twins And Pirates At Comerica
DETROIT – The Tigers return home from their nine-game road trip to begin a five-game homestand at Comerica Park tomorrow night. The Minnesota Twins (May 16-17) will visit Comerica Park for the first time this season, while the Pittsburgh Pirates (May 18-20) will make their only stop to Detroit this weekend for the beginning of Interleague Play. First pitch for Wednesday's game against the Twins is 7:05 p.m. and Thursday's is 1:05 p.m. Friday's game against the Pirates begins at 7:05 p.m., while Saturday's begins at 4:05 p.m. The final game of the homestand on Sunday will begin at 1:05 p.m.
Get your Tigers tickets for the 2012 season at Comerica Park now! Tickets are available at the Comerica Park Box Office, online at tigers.com and by phone at (866) 66-TIGER (84437). For complete ticket information including single game, season, group and suites visit tigers.com/tickets or call 313-471-BALL (2255).
Wednesday, May 16 – Minnesota Twins (Probables: Porcello vs. Blackburn) @ 7:05 p.m. (Gates open at 5:30 p.m.)
• The first 10,000 women to enter Comerica Park will receive a Pink Breast Health Awareness Lapel Pin, courtesy of DMC.
• Game Ball Delivery: E-4 Adam Anspaugh of the United States Army from Pittsford, Michigan will deliver the game ball. He recently returned from his first tour of duty in Afghanistan. He has served the United States Army for three years.
• Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer: Major League Baseball and the Detroit Tigers have partnered with Komen for the Cure to go to bat against breast cancer. The goal of this campaign is to increase breast cancer awareness and promote early detection while also raising funds to support breast cancer research. The Tigers have donated more than 1,300 tickets to breast cancer survivors, volunteers and their families from the Komen Detroit Race for the Cure to attend the game as the Tigers face the Minnesota Twins. Breast cancer survivors from the Komen Detroit Race for the Cure are invited on the field and recognized prior to the national anthem. The Tigers will also host the MLB Honorary Bat Girl, Corrie Thornburgh, as selected through an online contest at tigers.com to recognize inspirational MLB fans that have been affected by breast cancer and demonstrated a commitment to the cause. Corrie was one of 30 winners selected by Major League Baseball from many entries. The Detroit Tigers will provide Corrie complimentary game tickets for her and her family, recognize her, along with other breast cancer survivors during an on-field, pregame ceremony, provide her the opportunity to watch batting practice from the field and throw the ceremonial first pitch. The Detroit Tigers and MLB have also invited each Honorary Bat Girl nominee and their families to attend the Breast Health Awareness game courtesy of the Detroit Tigers and MLB.
Thursday, May 17 – Minnesota Twins (Probables: Fister vs. Walters) @ 1:05 p.m. (Gates open at 11:30 a.m.)
• Green Bay Packers wide receiver and Western Michigan University alumni, Greg Jennings, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
• Game Ball Delivery: Electronics Technician Second Class Jeffrey Shear of the United States Navy from Byron Center, Michigan will deliver the game ball. He is currently serving onboard the nuclear attack submarine USS Greeneville, which is currently ported in Pearl Harbor, an recently from a Western Pacific deployment. He has proudly served the United States Navy for five years.
• Aquafina School Incentive and Reward Program: This season, the Detroit Tigers Foundation, an affiliate of Ilitch Charities, and Aquafina have teamed up to donate over 10,000 tickets to area schools to reward students for a variety of achievements, including serving on the safety patrol squad and maintaining perfect attendance for a marking period. Aquafina, a long-standing partner in this program, is sponsoring a special giveaway for participating students – a total of 3,000 sling bags will be given away to students over the course of three dates including May 17.
• Career Day: The Detroit Tigers have created educational events prior to four games this year called the "Class Outside Series." Students learn about math, science, weather, space and careers in sports at beautiful Comerica Park. Each "Class Outside" event is designed to be informative, interactive and fun! The Tigers annual Career Day features a special pregame workshop with members of the Detroit Tigers front office, FOX Sports Detroit and CBS Radio where students can learn about careers in the media, marketing, broadcasting, promotions and sales! Listen to real people talk about real jobs and real life experiences in the game of baseball and the world of sports. Tickets and more information are available at tigers.com/career.
Friday, May 18 – Pittsburgh Pirates @ 7:05 p.m. (Gates open at 5:00 p.m.)
• 2010 and 2011 Pro-Bowler and Detroit Lions wide receiver, Calvin Johnson and grandson of Hall of Famer Norman "Turkey" Stearnes, Norman Anthony Brown, will throw out the ceremonial first pitches.
• Friday Night Fireworks, presented by Pepsi, will take place following the game (weather permitting).
• Game Ball Delivery: Private First Class Zachary Finlay of the United States Marines from Fenton, Michigan will deliver the game ball. He is on leave during his first tour of duty in South Korea and has proudly served for one year.
• Detroit Stars Singing Competition: The Tigers have partnered with Radio One for the sixth annual Detroit Stars Singing Competition. The competition will be hosted by Tune Up of Radio One and will take place at the Big Cat Court starting at 5:30 p.m. The top 10 finalists will be judged by celebrity judges which includes Duke Fakir of The Four Tops, Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions, Tatiana Grant, Entrepreneur and President of Infused PR and Events, and Drew Rives, Marketing Director of Island Def Jam Music Group. The winner will receive $1,000 and the opportunity to sing the national anthem prior to the Tigers vs. Twins game on July 2, 2012.
• Negro Leagues Weekend Pregame Ceremony: The Tigers are continuing their celebration of African Americans and their numerous contributions to the game of baseball. The ceremony will include the "Passing of the Bat" ceremony featuring former Tigers Great Willie Horton, FOX Sports Detroit broadcasters Rod Allen and Craig Monroe and former Negro Leagues player Jake Sanders. The national anthem will be performed by Joyce Stearnes Thompson and Rosilyn Norman Brown, daughters of National Baseball Hall of Famer Norman "Turkey" Stearnes.
• Negro Leagues merchandise will be sold by Tony Dee's Negro Leagues Baseball Store and Apparel in two locations: behind section 109 and behind section 123 (near Big Bat Court).
• Detroit Tigers 50/50 Charity Raffle: The Detroit Tigers Foundation 50/50 Charity Raffle returns to Comerica Park this season at every Friday and Saturday home game. The Detroit Tigers Foundation, an affiliate of Ilitch Charities, has partnered with The Master's Commission of Greater Grace Temple, which is a non-profit arm of Greater Grace Temple created to provide positive programming geared toward increasing the quality of urban community living, for Friday and Saturday's 50/50 Charity raffle. Tickets will be sold from the time gates open through the end of the second inning. 50/50 Charity Raffle volunteers in orange aprons will be stationed throughout the concourse on the 100 level, at entry gates and at the 50/50 raffle table near gate A to purchase raffle tickets. 50/50 Charity Raffle tickets are sold 3-for-$5. Each night a winner will be selected and announced after the sixth inning and will receive half of the funds collected through that game's raffle ticket sales. The remaining funds are shared between the Detroit Tigers Foundation and the select partner charity. To date, the Detroit Tigers 50/50 Charity Raffle has raised $9,557.50 for charities.
Saturday, May 19 – Pittsburgh Pirates @ 4:05 p.m. (Gates open at 2:00 p.m.)
• The first 10,000 fans to enter Comerica Park will receive an Austin Jackson Detroit Stars Bobblehead, courtesy of Comerica Bank.
• 18th Annual Negro Leagues Tribute Game: The Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates will suit up wearing the throwback uniforms of the Detroit Stars and Pittsburgh Crawfords. Two special events are scheduled prior to the game. First, several former Negro Leagues players will participate in a special Q&A Roundtable on the Main Concourse, near the Big Cat Court, from 2:20-3:00 p.m. Later, at 3:35 p.m., the Tigers will pay tribute to the former Negro Leagues players during a pregame ceremony hosted by famed radio announcer John Mason of WCHB AM 1200. As part of the pregame ceremony, Comerica Bank will present a check to Habitat for Humanity. The Tigers will also honor former Negro Leagues players Harold "Bee Bop" Gordon and James "Bullet" Moore Jr. with a moment of silence.
• Game Ball Delivery: Specialist Kyle Frankovich of the United States Army from Highland, Michigan will deliver the game ball. He recently returned from deployment to Iraq and Kuwait in support of Operation New Dawn. He has earned various awards and has proudly served the United States Army for four years.
Sunday, May 20 – Kids Day – Pittsburgh Pirates @ 1:05 p.m. (Gates open at 11:30 a.m.)
• All kids 14-and-younger will receive an "Every Kid, Every Sunday" Doug Fister Growth Chart, courtesy of Frito-Lay.
• The first 30,000 fans to enter Comerica Park will receive an Earl Wilson Commemorative Card, honoring former Detroit Tigers pitcher, Earl Wilson.
• Comedian Carlos Mencia and the twin sons of Earl Wilson, Mark and Marvin Owens, will throw out the ceremonial first pitches.
• The national anthem will be performed by legendary singer, songwriter, recording artist and actress, Thornetta Davis.
• Detroit Tigers African American Legacy Award: A special pregame ceremony will honor former Tigers pitcher and 1968 World Series Champion, Earl Wilson. Earl Wilson's family will be presented with the Detroit Tigers African American Legacy Award.
• Game Ball Delivery: Sergeant Justin Davies of the Michigan Army National Guard from Coldwater, Michigan will deliver the game ball. He recently returned from his first deployment in Kuwait and has served for three and a half years.
All Sunday home games are Kids Days at Comerica Park. All kids 14-and-younger will receive a free promotional item as part of the "Every Kid, Every Sunday" giveaway guarantee, can enjoy free rides courtesy of Kroger on the Comerica Bank Carousel or the Fly Ball Ferris Wheel, can take part in free face painting, have the chance to win a bicycle and are invited down to the field for Kids Run the Bases courtesy of Aquafina and Meijer following the game.
SPECIAL INITIATIVES
Verlander's Victory for Veterans: When Justin Verlander takes the mound at Comerica Park, he strives for victory. This season, his outings on the hill take on a new meaning. For each of his home starts, Verlander will host Veterans from the John D. Dingell Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Detroit and the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System. These Veterans sustained injuries or illness in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom or in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. The Veterans along with their families cheer on the Tigers from the comfort of Verlander's personal luxury suite. After serving our country, the special day provides American veterans the opportunity to enjoy a Tigers game with their family. All guests receive a Verlander's Victory for Veterans T-shirt and are welcomed on the video board during the game. Veterans also receive a personalized welcome letter from Verlander. When you see Verlander on the mound, he is not only playing for his team and Tigers fans around the world, he is also playing for America's heroes.
