Beginning this weekend, the Detroit Tigers will highlight the important contributions of Hispanic and Latino players, as well as Detroit-based community organizations. The effort is part of “Somos MLB,” a league-wide recognition of Latino baseball stars and their contributions to the game.

The celebration kicks off on Friday, September 18, when Detroit Tigers radio announcer Dan Dickerson virtually interviews Tigers icons Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, Placido Polanco, Ramon Santiago and Juan Berenguer, who played for the team during their 1984 World Series win.

Throughout the coming weeks on social media, the Tigers will share stories and content celebrating the accomplishments of other Hispanic and Latino players who have made an impact on the team.

Additionally, the Tigers will highlight community organizations such as Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development, Inc. (LA SED), a non-profit agency that serves Hispanics and residents of Southwest Detroit. The Tigers have a long-standing relationship with LA SED, and the organization’s Ago Benavides will throw out the Virtual First Pitch prior to Saturday’s Tigers game.

As part of its programming, LA SED’s Youth Center provides invaluable resources for Hispanic and Latino children in the Detroit community. The bilingual volunteer staff of the Youth Center is dedicated to serving young people in need through advocacy, tutoring, summer employment programs and more.

Learn more from LA SED’s Jane Garcia, who this week sat down for an interview for the Word on Woodward to talk about the importance of resources such as the Youth Center.

To learn more about “Somos Tigres,” Hispanic and Latino Detroit Tigers players, past and present, and the ongoing “Fiesta Tigres” event, which has been held at Comerica Park since 2008, visit here:  https://www.mlb.com/tigers/community/hispanic-heritage/

You can follow the Detroit Tigers Spanish-language Twitter and Instagram pages here.

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The Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings have announced a partnership with the Michigan secretary of state’s office to support the United States presidential election and encourage voter participation in Detroit and throughout the state of Michigan.

Little Caesars Arena, home of the Detroit Red Wings, will serve as a safe, centralized training venue for more than 6,000 volunteer election workers over a several week period in September and October.  Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers, has been made available to host a ballot drop box, should the city need additional locations. In addition, the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings will use their social media platforms to share educational information about voter registration, voting by mail, Election Day volunteer opportunities and ballot completion.

“Elections are the foundation of our democracy and we are committed to doing all we can to support the upcoming election,” said Chris Granger, Group President, Sports and Entertainment, Ilitch Holdings, Inc. “Not only are our facilities uniquely suited to support the needs of the community and the Secretary of State leading up to election day, our sports teams provide voices to share information and fulfill our civic obligation to encourage all Michiganders to exercise their right to vote on Nov. 3.”

Through a series of training sessions, Little Caesars Arena will fill an imperative election need, by offering a safe, socially distanced space to prepare Detroit volunteers to work the polls on Election Day.

“I am grateful to the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers for helping us fill these critical needs this election cycle,” said Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. “Leveraging the resources and unrivaled platforms of these teams will enable us to reach voters and give them the assurance that their elections will be accessible and secure. And I am proud to say that with this announcement Detroit is now the first U.S. city where all four professional sports teams are taking an active, nonpartisan role in supporting this fall’s elections. We hope that this inspires every Michigan voter to participate in our democracy.”

Over the next two months, the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings will remain connected with the Secretary of State to support election needs, and the teams are committed to sharing important information and resources with fans to help them prepare for Nov. 3.

Across the country, here in Detroit, and within all of the Ilitch companies, the important issues of diversity, equality and inclusion continue to take center stage. Over the years, the Ilitch companies have sought to address these issues through a variety of efforts, including the employment of a diverse workforce, various training programs for employees, and partnering with organizations such as the Michigan Diversity Council, the MLB’s Diversity Fellowship Program and the NHL’s Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs team. We are committed to using our resources and reach to foster greater inclusion and understanding.

In the spirit of continuous improvement, we are thoughtfully evaluating our policies and practices and are continuing to listen, learn and explore new efforts for the betterment of our employees, organization and community.

Following the recent meeting with Mayor Duggan, Rev. Anthony of the NAACP and other business leaders, the Ilitch companies took immediate action, including:

• Conducting a series of listening sessions were conducted with leaders and colleagues throughout the organization. These conversations were open, invaluable and instructive, covering topics such as recruitment and hiring, career development, training and other important issues.

• Forming a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force comprised of colleagues from across the Ilitch companies with the goal of making sustainable improvements within our organization.

• Expanding our partnerships with experts like the Michigan Diversity Council (MIDC). Task force members will complete the MIDC’s 2020 East Virtual DiversityFIRST™ Certification Program, designed to help companies create and implement highly successful diversity and inclusion strategies for organizational excellence.    

• Working together with the MLB and the NHL, respectively, the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings took visible actions to implement and localize league-led initiatives:

• At the Detroit Tigers home opener, Tigers players and uniformed personnel wore Detroit Roots t-shirts with the message “I Root for Equality.” The Tigers opening line-up was announced by representatives from the Detroit Branch of The NAACP Youth Council and The GM Rainbow PUSH Scholars. During the middle of the 7^th inning, Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals players paused for a moment of silence and reflection in support of equality, inclusion and social justice, followed by an “Equality” video shown on the Comerica Park scoreboard.
• More recently, the Tigers celebrated the MLB Negro Leagues’ 100^th anniversary with programs aimed at honoring the rich history of the leagues and providing opportunities for Tigers fans of all ages to learn more.
• During the Tigers game against the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 26, we again had a moment of silence during the 7^th inning stretch and posted an equality message on the scoreboard reflecting the MLB’s “United for Change” initiative. Additional league-led initiatives are in the works for topics on voter education, the women’s equality and more.

• The Detroit Red Wings remain committed to the NHL’s year-round Hockey is for Everyone platform, celebrating equality and inclusion within the sport of hockey. And this approach to creating fair and just opportunities doesn’t solely live within Hockey is for Everyone. Through their groundbreaking Learn, Play, Score platform announced in February 2020, the Red Wings, NHL and NHLPA are also breaking down systemic barriers by introducing equitable access to hockey in various forms for thousands of children across Detroit. In partnership with respected local organizations and revered Detroiters — the late Marlowe Stoudamire and current Learn, Play, Score Ambassador Jason McCrimmon — children of all races, ages and abilities in the city of Detroit are now experiencing the social, emotional and educational benefits of hockey — many of them for the first time.

• The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted the Black community and in response we prioritized our efforts to help those most in need by donating thousands of masks to Detroit senior centers, non-profit organizations, and children’s groups. More information can be found here.

Racial gaps exist in our society. Business leaders have an opportunity to address them. As we take a careful look within our own organization, the Ilitch companies are committed to living up to the very best of our ideals and enacting policies and practices, that will positively impact our employees, our organization and our community for years to come.

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For kids in Detroit and surrounding communities, access to quality sports equipment can make a big difference in learning the games they love. The Detroit Tigers are proud to support the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan in its effort to work across southeast Michigan communities to improve access to sports equipment and do-it-from-home skills development drills for children. A program called Project Play Kits, which provides sports equipment, directions and links to guided videos, allows kids to participate in fun activities without the need for communal spaces. Launched by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, The Aspen Institute and Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, the Project Play Kits initiative serves 2,400 children weekly, and features a different sport every week.

The Detroit Tigers and Detroit Tigers Foundation joined Major League Baseball to help adopt the Project Play Kits “baseball week” from Aug. 17–23.  In total, more than 2,400 Baseball Project Play Kits were donated and distributed throughout seven counties in southeast Michigan. Each kit included MLB Play Ball bat and ball sets, as well as instructional videos and drill sheets from the Tigers to give kids a safe way to learn and play. The Tigers mascot, Paws, distributed many kits to youth at a recent event at the Boys & Girls Club in Highland Park, Mich.

Project Play Southeast Michigan believes that every child should reap the benefits of a lifestyle that’s active, healthy and fun. To learn more about their work at and see the Project Play Kits baseball instructional videos, visit ProjectPlaySEMI.org.

Slices-N-Stix, the newest addition to the Little Caesars menu, brings pizza and breadsticks together to create an unexpected combination all in one mouth-watering pie. Slices-N-Stix combines four pepperoni pizza slices and eight cheese bread sticks in one pizza, plus a side of Crazy Sauce®.

Starting Aug. 31, Slices-N-Stix will be available for a limited time at participating Little Caesars restaurants nationwide for only $6 plus tax where applicable. Even better, you don’t even have to leave your house! Jump on the Little Caesars app or website and have Slices-N-Stix delivered right to your door.

Little Caesars offers contactless options for both delivery and carry-out through the Little Caesars app and website. Pizzas are baked in 475-degree ovens and never touched after baking. Little Caesars is home of Pizza Portal®, an order pickup method where customers can scan their phones and retrieve their orders from heated compartments, making the brand the only national chain to feature this type of contactless pickup in stores across the country. Customers getting pizza delivered can add driver instructions when the order is place on the Little Caesars app, including having the driver leave their order at their door. The chain has also reinforced cleanliness and sanitization procedures, increasing the frequency of cleaning commonly touched surfaces including door handles, glass, countertops, Pizza Portal surfaces, phones and cash registers.

Visit LittleCaesars.com to learn more.

Detroit Tigers players received an unexpected gift during warmups on Tuesday as a series of greetings from their families were shown on the scoreboard. Watch their faces light up in the video below.

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Restoring historic buildings goes beyond preserving Detroit’s history; it creates jobs for Detroiters, It draws further investment to our community and attracts visitors to the city. Olympia Development of Michigan, Detroit-based Brinker/Christman and Kraemer Design Group are reimagining the historic Women’s City Club building.  Once completed, it will become a hub for small businesses and entrepreneurs, creating jobs and bringing increased density to the Park Avenue Historic District.

Heather McClure, project manager for L.S. Brinker, helps lead the revitalization of the historic building, which opened in 1924 to give women a place to gather and network. For McClure, a woman in a male-dominated field, the significance of restoring a building meant to uplift women in Detroit is not lost on her.

A metro Detroit native, McClure started putting herself through college at age 19, where she pursued a business degree in operational management. She also befriended the owners of a local glass company, who gave her opportunities to learn new skills, which she said took her one step closer to commercial construction.

McClure was eventually hired as a project engineer at L.S. Brinker. Since she doesn’t have a degree in construction, other companies didn’t give her the same opportunities that Brinker did, she said. She says their recognition of her skills spurs her to do her best.

“Every day I’m really thankful I have the chance to do this, because I love my job,” she said. “I love working with people. I love when problems come up that we can solve. I think when you have a great team with you, you can conquer a lot of things. That’s the mentality of construction in general.”

She also said she works and hopes to build a better world for her daughter.

“I’m really proud of the things I do now. I have a daughter and she doesn’t see limitations on herself. I hope that carries on for other people, too,” she said.

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As vice president of marketing for the Detroit Tigers, Ellen Hill Zeringue helps harness and amplify the energy of the most enthusiastic and loyal fans in all of baseball.

With an impressive professional background and more than 20 years with the Tigers, Ellen has served as a strong role model within the organization over many memorable seasons — from Tiger Stadium to Comerica Park.

Recently, Ellen was honored with the “Leadership in the Workplace” award at MichBusiness’ Women Thrive conference, where she also served as panelist.

Earlier this year, we caught up with Ellen as she was leading the creation of the new Detroit Roots campaign, which rolled out this month at the start of the 2020 Tigers season. Take a look:

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The Negro Leagues were the first successful, organized professional Black Baseball League, providing a platform for African American players to showcase their world-class baseball abilities. The league operated for more than 40 years, spurring economic growth in African American communities and social change nationwide. Last weekend, the Detroit Tigers joined in a league-wide celebration to honor the legacy of the men and women who took part in the league.

The Tigers’ three-day celebration began Friday, Aug. 14 with a virtual “Passing of the Bat” ceremony, which paid homage to the history and contribution of African American players to the game of baseball. This year’s bat recipient, Werner Blakely Jr., a native Detroiter, was drafted in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels.

Later that day, the Tigers released video of an historic meeting of Willie Horton African American Legacy Award recipients. The group gathered remotely to discuss the significance of the award and the role of African Americans in baseball. Former Tigers and past honorees Torii Hunter, Lou Whitaker, Craig Monroe, Jake Wood, Chet Lemon and Gary Sheffield all took part. Watch this incredible conversation unfold at Facebook.com/Tigers.

On Saturday, Aug. 15, the Detroit Tigers Foundation and Detroit PAL renamed a Tiny Tigers youth baseball team the Detroit Stars for their 2020 season in honor of the Negro League team that played at historic Mack Park. The Tiny Tigers program is presented by the Tigers Foundation in partnership with Comerica Bank. The new jerseys were revealed at the Corner Ballpark Presented by Adient, where the kids learned about the history of the Detroit Stars, including key players that made meaningful contributions to the game of baseball.

“We’re all about helping youth find their greatness,” Detroit PAL CEO Robert Jamerson said. “Thanks to the Detroit Tigers Foundation and the Detroit Tigers — they truly understand the importance of grass-roots organizations like Detroit PAL.”

Festivities on Sunday, Aug. 16 included the announcement of the “Negro Leagues Summer Slugger Challenge” winner, featuring current Tigers shortstop Niko Goodrum. The interactive challenge encouraged fans to submit a video on what they’d learned about Detroit Stars legend Norman “Turkey” Stearnes, a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame and one of the most famous players from the Negro Leagues. The virtual program is part of the “Summer Slugger,” a free baseball-themed educational course aimed at preventing students from losing critical math and literacy skills during the summer months.

Also, a special edition of Sunday Kids Day provided young Tigers fans with informational activity sheets and games dedicated to the Detroit Stars and the rich history of the Negro Leagues. Learn more about the Sunday Kids Day and how it keeps young baseball fans connected to the game we love at Tigers.com.

Sunday’s celebrations concluded with special screenings of the Tigers vs. Indians game and the film “The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings” at the Chevy Plaza in partnership with Comerica Bank. The film was screened as part of “The District Detroit Movie Nights” presented by Chevrolet, a free outdoor cinema series running through Sept. 6.

Throughout the weekend, the Tigers released a special collection of social media content that included cutouts of Negro Leagues players in the dugouts, quotes from former Negro Leagues players on the centennial of the Negro Leagues, Miguel Cabrera’s tip of the cap to the Negro Leagues, and more. Find links to the official Detroit Tigers social media accounts on Tigers.com.

The Negro Leagues began in 1920 when Andrew “Rube” Foster led eight independent Black Baseball team owners in a meeting. More than 20 players from the Negro Leagues have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, including Jackie Robinson (1962), Satchel Paige (1971), Josh Gibson (1972), Monte Irvin (1973), Ernie Banks (1977), Willie Mays (1979), Hank Aaron (1982) and Larry Doby (1998).

For more information on the Tigers’ African American Heritage Celebration, visit the new African American Heritage page at Tigers.com.

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