Major League Baseball announced this week that clubs can decide their own ticket refund policies for games not played due to the pandemic. The Detroit Tigers are offering a progressively fan-friendly policy, plus a unique way to honor first responders, front-line health care employees and other Detroit community organizations.

Those who held tickets for Tigers home games in April and May will have two options:

• Fans can receive a full refund for cancelled April and May games, or

• Fans can choose to leave funds on account that can be applied toward future games, upgrades, additional tickets, suite products, or unique behind-the-scenes experiences including: throwing out the first pitch, delivering the pregame lineup card, experiencing the batting cage, viewing fireworks from the dugout, becoming an honorary grounds crew member, watching the game from the press box and meeting our broadcasters, and much more.

Fans who choose to leave funds on their account will also be rewarded a 30 percent bonus credit, generally believed to be among the highest offered by any MLB club. Every ticket purchaser will be receiving an email from the Tigers with these options.

“We all miss baseball, and we recognize that these are challenging times,” said Chris Granger, Group President, Sports and Entertainment, Ilitch Holdings. “We truly appreciate our fans’ loyalty and wanted to raise the bar in providing them with the flexibility and peace of mind they deserve.”

In addition, season ticket holders who opt to leave money on their account will be eligible to participate in a new community goodwill program, Gift the Game. As part of this program, the Detroit Tigers will donate 25 tickets in the season ticket holder’s name to celebrate local heroes and non-profits.

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While the MLB season remains on hold, the game is still very much on the minds of fans. Detroit Tigers Manager Ron Gardenhire is a true and lifelong baseball man — both at home and on the field. For those wondering what a full day in the life of the Tigers skipper looks like, a video crew went behind the scenes to provide an inside and exclusive glimpse with this cathartic baseball escape:

The son of a U.S. soldier, Gardenhire was born in Germany and raised in Oklahoma. He took to baseball at a young age, playing in the informal summer youth games.

After attending University of Texas at Austin, he was drafted by the New York Mets, where he played for five seasons. Gardenhire finished his playing career for the Minnesota Twins, and after retirement, began his storied managerial career in the Twins’ farm system. He would go on to manage the Minnesota Twins for 12 years, winning the American League Manager of the Year Award in 2010.

Hired by the Detroit Tigers ahead of the 2018 season, Gardenhire brings both enthusiasm and experience to the position and works closely with Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Al Avila.

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Health care workers around the world are on the front lines in response to the ongoing crisis. In recognition of their heroic staff, Grand Blanc, Mich.-based McLaren Health Care has partnered with the Detroit Tigers and Little Caesars to have Little Caesars pizza delivered to their 14 Michigan hospital locations as a way to say “thank you.”

All told, the Detroit Tigers and Little Caesars donated more than 1,500 pizzas to feed all McLaren Hospital employees lunch and dinner across Michigan. Little Caesars used its Love Kitchen semi-trucks to help deliver the pizzas to McLaren’s largest locations in Detroit, Mount Clemens, Flint and Bay City.

Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire personally thanked the McLaren Health Care employees in a video shared by the Tigers Twitter account.

“On behalf of all of us with the Tigers, I want to send a thank-you to all the heroic healthcare providers at all McLaren and Karmanos Cancer Institute,” said Gardenhire. “You have continued to answer the call during this unprecedented time, and we are grateful for your dedication and sacrifice to keep the communities we live, and work in, healthy. We truly appreciate your dedication through these challenging times.”

This initiative is part of Little Caesars commitment to donating a million pizzas to healthcare workers nationwide. Customers can join the effort by using the Little Caesars app to #PieItForward and send a pizza to medical personnel, police and firefighters in their local areas.  

“We are very appreciative that two such outstanding Michigan icons as the Detroit Tigers and Little Caesars recognize the commitment and courage of our healthcare workers in rising up to this challenge,” said Phil Incarnati, President and CEO of McLaren Health Care. “We thank both organizations for their support of our valued employees who have been at the forefront everyday caring for patients throughout this COVID-19 crisis.”

The McLaren system includes 12 hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, a 450-member employed primary care physician network, and Michigan’s largest network of cancer centers, anchored by the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. Learn more at www.mclaren.org.

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Customers Can Also “Pie It Forward” to Local Hospitals, Police Stations,
and Fire Departments Using the Little Caesars App

• The 1 million pizza donation will be delivered by the company over the coming weeks, providing about 4 million meals to hospital workers and first responders across the country
• Chain kicks off national initiative tomorrow in hometown of Detroit
• Donation made possible by Little Caesars, its thousands of independent franchisees, and Ilitch Charities, a non-profit created by Little Caesars founders
• Customers can join the effort by using the Little Caesars app to send a pizza to medical personnel, police, and firefighters in their local areas
• Little Caesars recently announced contactless delivery and pickup through the Little Caesars app

Little Caesars, the global family-owned pizza chain that recently announced contactless delivery and carry-out, will donate and deliver a million pizzas to healthcare workers and first responders across the country over the coming weeks. The pizzas will be donated to hospitals, police departments, and fire departments around the nation starting Tuesday and will continue to be delivered throughout the following weeks. Prior to the nationwide outreach, servings will kick off tomorrow at the Detroit Medical Center in the company’s hometown of Detroit, an area that has been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 virus in recent weeks.

The 1 million pizzas could serve up to 4 million meals to front-line medical and first responder professionals at hospitals throughout the country. This unprecedented donation is made possible by Little Caesars, its thousands of independent hard-working franchisees and their locally owned stores, and Ilitch Charities, a non-profit whose goal is to positively impact lives and empower communities.

“Hospital staff and first responders are working around the clock to help keep us safe and healthy, and they are true heroes,” says President and CEO of Little Caesars, Dave Scrivano. “As a family company, we want to thank all of them in the best way we know how – by delivering a wholesome meal.”

Starting next Monday, when customers use the Little Caesars app or order on LittleCaesars.com, they will also have the opportunity to “Pie it Forward” by donating a pizza to their nearby hospitals, police, and fire departments at checkout. The customer-donated pizzas will be served locally by Little Caesars franchisees during the weeks that follow.

Little Caesars recently announced contactless options for both delivery and carry-out through the Little Caesars app. Pizzas are baked in 475-degree ovens to ensure food safety and never touched after baking. 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.

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Among the countless affected by the ongoing crisis are the kids who rely on regular meals from their schools. In an effort to fight against childhood hunger and food insecurity in the community, Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire and pitcher Matthew Boyd have each pledged $5,000 to Big League Impact as part of Home Plate, a partnership between Major League Baseball, the Garth Brooks Foundation and Big League Impact.

The Tigers’ donation was tripled by Home Plate, combining for $30,000 to the Detroit Public Schools Community District. The sum will help feed 1,400 students and their siblings through meal deliveries. “We are grateful for the support of the Detroit Tigers, especially during the COVID-19 crisis,” said Dr. Nikolai Vitti, superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District. “This generous donation will help feed many of the most medically fragile students in our district and is a powerful demonstration of the Tigers’ organization standing together with DPSCD in support of children and families who are in need.”

Many children lost daily meals they received while in class due to school closures as a result of the pandemic. Detroit Public Schools has been operating grab-and-go sites for food distribution, as well as food delivery for those need.

“No child should ever have to worry about where their meals are coming from,” Boyd said. “The real heroes are those people making the meals every single day, the people running these organizations year-round to feed these children. We’re just trying to do our little part.”

This is Boyd’s second donation to Home Plate. Both he and then-teammate Tyson Ross both contributed to DPSCD through the program last year, helping provide meals for 600 needy families over holiday break.

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Across communities, people continue to quietly and compassionately step up in support of one another during these difficult times. There have been countless acts of humble kindness. Donations of goods. Donations of money. Donations of time. Every gesture has an empowering and uplifting impact.

Kroger is making a meaningful effort to support their dedicated employees across the state of Michigan and throughout the country. As a way of acknowledging the hard work and dedication of their staff, Kroger recently worked alongside to Little Caesars to say “thank you” to employees at all 119 stores across Michigan.

Nearly 40 local Little Caesars franchisees delivered pizzas through the state to Kroger’s more-than-17,000 in-store employees in a heartening example of good people doing good things.

Additionally, thanks to long-term relationships with Kroger and Meijer, more than 2,000 Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings event colleagues have been provided with insight into temporary jobs at the various locations of the grocery store chains, which are experiencing increased demand.

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Dear Tigers Fans,

I hope this note finds you, your family and loved ones healthy and safe. I wanted to take this time and space to share a few personal thoughts on an icon; a gentleman who made an indelible impact on our community, our team and the game we all love — “Mr. Tiger,” Al Kaline.

We lost a true legend this week.

One of the greatest to ever wear the Olde English ‘D,’ Al was a rare gift to the game of baseball, and to all of us. For 22 years, he graced our fields. He could do it all on the diamond. And did. He had speed, power, and a mythical outfield arm. A perennial All-Star, World Series Champion and Hall of Famer, he was a truly brilliant ballplayer — destined for greatness from day one in the Major Leagues in 1953.

Al was a Tiger through and through, forging a 67-year bond with this organization, the city of Detroit, and our passionate fans the world over. Beloved broadcaster. Trusted team advisor. #6 was a champion in every sense of the word.

To know Al was to love him. On the field, he was a once-in-a-generation talent. Off the field, he was a true gentleman. Al had that unique ability to connect with people; to immediately put you at ease. He was affable. He was approachable. And he always made time for fans.

Like the city he was so proud to play for and represent, Al was humble and big-hearted. He rooted for the city with the same fervor that the city rooted for him. How fortunate we were to call him one of our own — a Detroit Tiger.

I’ve been moved by the countless memories and tributes many of you have shared these past few days. It’s brought back countless memories of my own. I’ll miss seeing him at the ballpark. I’ll miss walking the fields with him at Spring Training. And the stories — boy could he tell a story, as only someone who spent 22 years as a big leaguer can. I’d just sit back, smile and listen, relishing every moment of it.

The meticulous approach he took to his craft. The personal anecdotes spanning decades. The inside story on the historic moments. Classy and congenial, Al just plain made you feel good about things. He was more than just a trusted advisor; he was a friend. And I’ll miss him dearly.

These are difficult days for all of us. But I hope the many memories of this amazing man bring a little joy when we need it most. An uplifting escape. Let’s remember Al’s kindness, his humility, and his love for this community. No doubt, he would want us to continue to stand strong, resilient and #TogetherDetroit.

Chris

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A Statement from Detroit Tigers Chairman and CEO, Christopher Ilitch

Baseball lost a titan today. Anyone who knew Mr. Kaline would describe his gentle soul and passion for baseball as an unbelievably powerful combination, making him one of the most respected players in Major League Baseball history. My mother and father appreciated their special relationship with Mr. Kaline, who was a trusted advisor and dear friend for many years.

His dedication to Detroit was unparalleled, and Mr. Tiger’s positive contributions to the sport will forever be realized by baseball fans everywhere. The impact of his life is wide-reaching, and he will be greatly missed by millions in Detroit, the state of Michigan and the across the baseball community. The heartfelt condolences of the Tigers organization are with Al’s wife, Louise, and the entire Kaline family.  

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It was the elevator ride of a lifetime for Jenae Lodewyk, a first-year student at the Mike Ilitch School of Business and Wayne State University sophomore. All she had to do was sell herself in 86 seconds to top business executive while cruising the floors of Detroit’s historic Guardian Building in the Ilitch School’s annual Elevator Pitch Competition.

“I remember thinking that all that I could do when I walked into that elevator was share with the judges the life I’ve come from, who I am, where I’m looking to go and hope that they see me,” she says.

In the final round, she pitched her personal statement to a boardroom panel of judges from Ally, Deloitte, Detroit Pistons, Enterprise and Google, earning first-place.

“My professor encouraged me to enter and step out of my comfort zone. I was hungry to jump into any opportunity to help me grow as a student and a business professional,” she says. She chose Wayne State because it’s the most diverse public university in Michigan. “I felt coming here would force me out of my hometown bubble, open doors for me and make me a more cultured person.”

In addition to enrollment in the Ilitch School, Jenae works for the Detroit Red Wings on the Red Patrol team. “They are very selective with who they want representing their fans,” she says. “Everyone is truly there to lift the community and I love that.”

Jenae says her long-term plan is to work in human resources in sports and entertainment. “I also want to do diversity and inclusion, because that is my passion.” To this end, she recently accepted a summer internship position for the Detroit Pistons to do just that.

Jenae walked away from the competition with much more than the top prize and honors. She says she has a new mentor at Google looking out for her, a summer internship in human resources at the Detroit Pistons and many Detroit leaders interested in hearing and seeing what she does next.

The Mike Ilitch School of Business, a vital addition to Wayne State University and The District Detroit, was created with a $40-million donation by Mike and Marian Ilitch. Since the gift announcement, the school’s total enrollment has increased by 40 percent, Graduate MBA enrollment has nearly doubled and now more than 4,000 students are closer to the downtown Detroit business community.

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