Detroit Tigers Return to "Best Sports City" in America

11-game homestand opens against the Chicago White Sox

08/03/2007, DETROIT -- After playing only three home games since July 9, the Detroit Tigers return to Comerica Park on Friday night to open an 11-game homestand that will see the club play host to the White Sox, Devil Rays and Athletics.

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The Tigers will also be playing their first games at home since the City of Detroit was ranked as the number one sports city in America for 2007 by The Sporting News in its annual survey of the "Best Sports City." The survey, which is basically a snapshot from July to July, was released by The Sporting News on Aug. 1 and rates 150 markets across the country. The honor was the second for the city, as it was also rated number one in 1998.

The Tigers will play host to the White Sox at 7:05 p.m. (EDT) on Friday and Saturday before wrapping up the series on Sunday afternoon at 1:05. Tampa Bay will make its only appearance of the season in Detroit from Monday through Thursday, August 6-9. Games are scheduled for first pitch at 7:05 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, before a 1:05 game on Thursday.

GAME TIME CHANGE
Oakland wraps up the homestand with a four-game series from Aug. 10-13. Game times will be 7:05 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Monday. The game on Sunday, Aug. 12 will begin at 1:05.

The Saturday game was on the schedule at 3:55 p.m. and was to be televised by the FOX Television Network. However, the Tigers were notified last week that the game had been dropped from the FOX schedule. By moving the contest to 7:05, it will now be televised locally on FSN Detroit.

Tickets for all remaining Tigers home games are available at the Comerica Park Box Office, online at www.tigers.com, over the phone by calling (866) 66-TIGER (84437), or at Detroit-area Meijer stores.

FIREWORKS, BOBBLEHEADS AND KIDS DAY HIGHLIGHT WEEKEND
Weather permitting, the Chicago series will feature Friday Fireworks, sponsored by Pepsi, after the first game. Verizon Wireless will sponsor Saturday Fireworks after the middle game of the set.

The first 7,500 kids 14-and-under in attendance on Sunday will receive a Carlos Guillen Bobblehead, courtesy of Chevrolet.

Sunday's contest is also Kids Day at Comerica Park. Kids Day features free rides on the carousel or Ferris Wheel for kids age 14-and-under, face painters stationed near Gate A and Kids Run the Bases following the game (weather permitting), courtesy of Pepsi. Big Boy will sponsor Kids Take the Field pre-game, where lucky children will take the field just prior to the Tigers' players before the start of the game.

Kids will also have the chance to win one of four, Little Tikes Mini-Hummers, which will be given away on the field during in-game breaks on Sunday. Registration will take place at Section 119 for an opportunity to be part of the giveaway.

WEEKDAY VALUE, BLUFFTON VISIT AND '70s NIGHT
All four games of the Tampa Bay series next Monday through Thursday, are part of the Tigers' Weekday Value Pack, which is a great way to bring the entire family to a game. The Weekday Value Pack consists of four Upper Reserved seats, four hot dogs and four soft drinks, all for just $63.00. The Weekday Value Pack is available for Monday through Thursday games, excluding only Monday, Aug. 27 against the New York Yankees.

On Tuesday, Aug. 7, the Tigers will host some very special visitors prior to the game against Tampa Bay. Members of the Bluffton (OH) University baseball team will meet Tigers players and watch batting practice on the field. On March 2 this year, the Bluffton team was involved in a terrible bus accident outside Atlanta on its way to Florida for its spring trip. The accident claimed the lives of five members of the Bluffton team. Major League Baseball and several clubs have provided support to the team ranging from financial assistance to equipment. The Detroit Tigers Foundation previously made a $1,000 donation to help.

The Wednesday, Aug. 8 game against the Devil Rays will be '70s Night at Comerica Park. Fans can join radio station WCSX for a special pregame party in the Brushfire Grill from 5-6:30 p.m. Throughout the evening, '70s music will be played, scoreboard features will have a '70s theme and '70s prizes will be distributed to lucky fans.

FIESTA TIGRES, YOUTH CAPS AND ZUMAYA T-SHIRTS AGAINST A's
The homestand concludes with a four-game series against Oakland. Weather permitting, Friday Fireworks, sponsored by Pepsi, will be featured after the first game. Verizon Wireless will sponsor Saturday Fireworks after the second game of the series.

Saturday, Aug. 11 will also be the Fiesta Tigres celebration when the club recognizes the contributions of Hispanic and Latino players in the game of baseball. Beginning at 5 p.m., Fiesta Tigres will include performances by Orquestra Sensacional in Columbia Plaza, Orquestra La Inspiracion in the Brushfire Grill and strolling mariachis on the concourse. Latin music will be played throughout Comerica Park all evening. The first 10,000 kids 14-and-under will take home a Tigers Youth Cap, courtesy of the Detroit Medical Center.

Prior to Sunday's 1:05 game, the first 10,000 fans to enter the park will receive a Joel Zumaya t-shirt, courtesy of Northwest Airlines. Also when the gates open that morning, the Operation School Bell Blue Jean Drive will take place through the third inning of the game. In partnership with Gardner White and FOX 2, the Tigers will host the collection to benefit the Assistance League of Michigan. The Tigers are inviting all fans to bring new jeans to Comerica Park on Sunday, Aug. 12 as part of the final collection, which started at Gardner White stores on July 30. All collected blue jeans will be distributed to children in need through the Assistance League of Michigan.

Sunday's contest is also Kids Day at Comerica Park. Kids Day features free rides on the carousel or Ferris Wheel for kids age 14-and-under, face painters stationed near Gate A and Kids Run the Bases following the game (weather permitting), courtesy of Pepsi. Big Boy will sponsor Kids Take the Field pre-game, where lucky children will take the field just prior to the Tigers' players before the start of the game.

Kids will also have the chance to win one of four, Little Tikes Mini-Hummers, which will be given away on the field during in-game breaks on Sunday. Registration will take place at Section 119 for an opportunity to be part of the giveaway.

The Oakland series and homestand will conclude with a 7:05 game on Monday, Aug. 13.

COMMUNITY CORNER

Saturday, Aug. 4: The Tigers and the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) will host a national fitness program called PLAY (Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth) in which more than 50 local kids from the American Diabetes Association School Walk fundraising program will participate in a clinic to learn the importance of fitness, proper nutrition and bone and muscle health. The clinic will be held at Comerica Park beginning at 11 a.m. Tigers players Brandon Inge and Curtis Granderson, head athletic trainer Kevin Rand and medical experts from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons will lead the children through a series of agility training, injury prevention and baseball exercises.

Saturday, Aug. 4: Tigers outfielder Craig Monroe will appear at the Meijer store in Canton from 11 a.m. until 12 noon to put on a hitting clinic for kids.

Saturday, Aug. 4: Tigers pitcher Jason Grilli will appear at the Henry Ford Museum from 12 noon- 1 p.m. as part of the celebration of its Historic Baseball Program. In 1867, the Detroit area hosted the World's Baseball Tournament, and 24 clubs from the United States and Canada took the field to compete in the game that was fast becoming the national pastime. The tradition continues as the La-De-Dahs and the Nationals of Greenfield Village play vintage clubs from Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Gates Brown will meet and greet fans, and sign autographs for those in attendance.

Saturday, Aug. 4: Tigers catcher Mike Rabelo and pitcher Macay McBride will appear at the ABC Warehouse at 15253 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn from 12:30-1:30 p.m. in support of the Gloves for Kids program. Fans are asked to bring new or gently used baseball or softball equipment for donation to the Detroit Tigers Foundation to help support youth sports in our community. Fans can make a donation of equipment or $10 to meet the players. CBS Radio stations WXYT, WOMC and WKRK have teamed with ABC Warehouse and the Tigers to support the Gloves for Kids program.

Friday, Aug. 10: The Tigers' Wives will serve as celebrity ice cream scoopers at the Ben 'n' Jerry's PartnerShop at 1014 Woodward Avenue from 4-6:30 p.m. This Ben 'n' Jerry's store operates in partnership with Goodwill Industries. The store provides Detroit youngsters (ages 14-21) a four-week training program at the Goodwill's Detroit Career Center. After the classes have been completed, the youths are hired at this Ben 'n' Jerry's location to apply the skills they learned, while gaining paid work experience. The Tigers' Wives will serve as celebrity scoopers to draw attention to the special store, which serves at-risk youths in Detroit.

Source: MLB