The Detroit Tigers announced that Lou Whitaker’s No. 1 will be retired in a pre-game ceremony at Comerica Park on Saturday, August 6, 2022, presented by Bally Sports Detroit. The Tigers proudly salute Lou Whitaker for his on-field accomplishments during his 19-year Major League career, all spent in the Motor City.

One of the best players to ever wear the Old English D, “Sweet Lou” Whitaker’s career honors include five All-Star Game appearances, four Silver Slugger Awards, three Gold Gloves and being named American League Rookie of the Year in 1978. Whitaker teamed with Hall of Famer Alan Trammell to form the longest-running double play combination in Major League Baseball history as the duo anchored Detroit’s middle infield for 19 seasons.

Fans can be a part of the celebration with the corresponding “Double Play Deal” ticket package, which includes:

• Ticket to the Detroit Tigers home opener on April 8 vs. the Chicago White Sox
• Ticket to the Lou Whitaker Number Retirement Game on August 6 vs. Tampa Bay (6:10 PM), including that day’s gate giveaway (Lou Whitaker Replica 1984 Road Jersey)

The ticket package will be available while supplies last and starts at just $65. For more information or to purchase tickets, fans can visit Tigers.com/DoublePlay.

Lou Whitaker’s career has been filled with awards and superlatives:

• American League Rookie of the Year (1978)
• 5 times All Star (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987)
• 3 times Gold Glove Award (1983, 1984, 1985)
• 4 times Silver Slugger (1983, 1984, 1985, 1987)
• World Series Champion (1984)

With soft hands, great movement, fluid body motion and strong and steady throws, Whitaker was one of the best second basemen of the 1980s defensively. With a longevity and consistency that is matched by very few in Major League Baseball history at second base, his fielding percentage of 0.9837 over 19,068 innings is simply outstanding. Whitaker played 2,390 games for the Tigers, third most in franchise history, and fourth best for a second baseman in MLB history.

While he was known for his incredible defensive skills, Whitaker brought excellence to all facets of the game. Not surprisingly, he ranks among the Tigers All-Time Leaders in over a dozen categories, including hits, home runs, RBIs, stolen bases, runs scored, total bases and more. His career WAR (wins above replacement) of 75.1 is better than all but six second basemen in MLB history.

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This Valentine’s Day, Little Caesars is making it easy to capture a pizza lover’s heart with a collection of unique merchandise at HotNReadyShop.com. From jewelry gifts (to dress up date night or pizza night) like Hot-N-Ready necklaces and pizza slice earrings, to items that make an evening in extra cozy like pizza slice blankets, Crazy Bread lounge sets and Little Caesars heart hand t-shirts, nothing says cheesy romance like Little Caesars.  

For more about the merchandise line, which was first launched last fall, watch this video with Little Caesars Director, Global Brand and Creative, Jaime Pescia.

As an added treat, Little Caesars is also testing Crazy Bread Bouquets for Valentine’s Day in the Charleston, South Carolina area, allowing local customers to send cheesy, buttery-tasting bouquets made of the iconic breadsticks to their Valentines from February 7-14.

Little Caesars continually aims meet their customers where they are by creating fun and engaging offerings. Recently, the brand introduced The Batman Calzony, a bat-shaped product inspired by Gotham City’s Caped Crusader available for a limited time.

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Recently, Red Wings General Manager Steve Yzerman sat down with Bally Sports Detroit to discuss the exciting new generation of hockey players on the team and in the league.

Yzerman says that every year, the new players are “a little bit better athletes, they’re a little bigger, they’re a little stronger, they’re a little more skilled.” In fact, Red Wings’ Lucas Raymond currently leads the NHL in points by a rookie with 35 points, and Moritz Seider is tied for fourth place with 29 points.

Check out Steve Yzerman’s interview with Bally Sports below.

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In honor of Black History Month, the Detroit Tigers will host weekly charity auctions throughout the month of February featuring collections of Tigers and MLB Hall of Fame autographed items with proceeds benefitting Detroit’s Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

Auctions feature many of the great African American players to wear the Old English D, including Lou Whitaker, Willie Horton, Chet Lemon, Larry Herndon, Price Fielder, Cecil Fielder, Torii Hunter, Curtis Granderson and Gary Sheffield. Other auction items include baseballs signed by Hall of Famers Dave Winfield, Fergie Jenkins, Jack Morris and Alan Trammell, as well as additional autographed jerseys, bats, baseballs, photos and bobbleheads.

The auctions will take place weekly at https://Tigers.Auctions.MLB.com/ on the following schedule: auction #1: February 7-13, auction #2: February 14-20, and auction #3: February 21-27.

The Detroit Tigers and Ilitch organization have proudly maintained a long-standing relationship with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, providing financial and in-kind donations as well as engagement opportunities with players and colleagues. In recent years, Tigers African American players and coaches visited the museum during the team’s Winter Caravan where they toured the facility and interacted with students from Detroit Public Schools Community District. The Detroit Red Wings worked with The Wright to bring the NHL Black Hockey History Tour to the museum, and the Ilitch organization partnered with the museum on a virtual learning and celebration surrounding the Juneteenth Holiday led by Jonathon Jones, Manager of Youth & Family Programming at The Wright Museum.

More information on the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History can be found here.

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each year, the Little Caesars Love Kitchen, a mobile 18-wheel truck that serves hot pizza to those in need at no cost, returns to the company’s hometown of Detroit during winter to offer help to Detroiters in need in its coldest months.

“Food insecurity is something that affects many in our city and the Love Kitchen is one way to help provide meals to those in need,” said Lisa Ruthven, who manages the Little Caesars Love Kitchen. “We are honored to serve alongside many nonprofits who are caring for those in need all year ‘round and build on our legacy of community impact each year.”

Throughout the month of February, the Love Kitchen is scheduled to visit more than a dozen community organizations throughout the city of Detroit. Among the planned stops are multiple Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries locations, an organization that has spent more than 100 years providing food, shelter and services to those in need, with services and programs designed to help them live productive and restored lives.

“Guests at our various locations in the Detroit area deeply appreciate the pizza treat they get from Little Caesars Love Kitchen, and we are happy they are getting yet another treat. Thank you, Little Caesars, for the love you show the homeless, ” says Dr. Chad Audi, Detroit Rescue Mission president and CEO.

Additional servings include the Salvation Army, Central United Methodist Church, St. Patrick Center, the Barack Obama Leadership Academy and SAY Detroit, Boys & Girls Club, Michigan Veterans Foundation, Capuchin Soup Kitchen and Covenant House.

For 37 years, the Little Caesars Love Kitchen has traveled across the United States and Canada to donate and serve pizza meals to those in need in the 48 contiguous states and four Canadian provinces. In addition to serving those in need daily, it has responded to natural disasters such as the Western Kentucky tornado in 2021, as well as provided meals in national times of need, such as Sept. 11, 2001. An estimated 50,000 Little Caesars franchise owners and employees have volunteered their time to support the program and feed over 3.7 million people in their local communities. The Love Kitchen exemplifies Little Caesars strong tradition of giving back to the communities where the company operates.

Learn more at LittleCaesars.com/LoveKitchen.

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Permanent comedy club will fill a niche in the city and occupy the City Theatre space inside Hockeytown Cafe.

Detroit’s comedy fans have something exciting on the way. Detroit House of Comedy, a comedy and entertainment venue at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Montcalm Street, will open in this summer in The District Detroit as Detroit’s only permanent comedy club.

The Detroit House of Comedy will be run by co-owners John Tobin and Rick Bronson and will host stand-up, improv and podcasts from established local, regional and national headliners, as well as up-and-comers with a focus on supporting comedians from Detroit and throughout Michigan.

The Detroit House of Comedy is patterned after Laugh Boston which rose to the forefront of the Boston comedy scene in recent years and the Plano House of Comedy in Texas. In addition to Laugh Boston, Tobin owns Nick’s Comedy Stop and a production company, John Tobin Presents. Bronson owns multiple House of Comedy locations in the U.S. and Canada. The two have more than 60 years of comedy and entertainment experience.

“I’ve had a long-time affection for Detroit and a deep respect for its people. We are really looking forward to providing top quality and wide-ranging entertainment for hard working Detroiters and the city’s many visitors,” said Tobin. “Stand-up comedy and its many off shoots bring joy and laughter to people by looking at life through diverse voices with different points of view. Comedians are always challenging the status quo and the absurd, and we feel that people, particularly today, are really looking for that kind of entertainment.”

The Detroit House of Comedy adds to the bustling entertainment offerings within The District Detroit, including the Columbia Street dining and retail destination, the iconic Fox Theatre, Comerica Park and the award-winning Little Caesars Arena.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Detroit House of Comedy and their premier brand of entertainment to The District Detroit,” said Stefan Stration, Vice President of Development at Olympia Development. “We know there is a huge market need for comedy in the city, and their highly interactive format combined with a roster of national headliners creates an ongoing must-see experience.” The 300-seat Detroit House of Comedy will be housed in the former City Theatre located inside Hockeytown Café and is expected to host multiple shows per week.

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Horcoff Spent Last Six Seasons as Red Wings Director of Player Development

Detroit Red Wings executive vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman today announced that Shawn Horcoff has been named Red Wings assistant general manager and general manager of the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League.

Horcoff will work alongside Yzerman on all hockey operations matters for the Red Wings, in addition to being responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Griffins, including personnel decisions, contract negotiations and player movement.  

“I’m very excited for my new role with the Red Wings and look forward to continuing the winning culture and tradition in Grand Rapids,” Horcoff said. “I’ve been very fortunate to establish relationships with the players, coaches and front office personnel within the Red Wings organization over the last six years and I’m excited for the opportunity to continue developing our prospects in Grand Rapids and helping them become impactful players at the NHL level.”

Horcoff, 43, spent six seasons as the Red Wings’ director of player development – in addition to the last three seasons as assistant director of player personnel – after joining the Red Wings prior to the 2016-17 season following a 1,008-game NHL career. As director of player development, Horcoff oversaw and evaluated Detroit’s prospects playing at the junior or collegiate level or in Europe. He was also tasked with running the team’s Development Camp, held immediately following the annual NHL Entry Draft.

“Shawn has a tremendous work ethic and has done a great job developing the prospects within our organization, helping them prepare for the next steps in their careers,” said Yzerman. “The relationships he’s formed within the organization – and throughout the hockey community – make him a valuable asset to our future both in Detroit and Grand Rapids, and I look forward to continue working alongside him.”

As a player, Horcoff was originally a fourth-round pick (99th overall) of the Edmonton Oilers in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and went on to skate in the NHL for 15 seasons (2000-16), logging 511 points (186-325-511) and 624 penalty minutes. An NHL All-Star in 2008, Horcoff spent most of his NHL career with Edmonton (2000-13), serving as team captain from 2010-13 and producing a career-high 73 points (22-51-73) in 2005-06, while helping the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Final. Horcoff also spent two seasons with the Dallas Stars (2013-15) and spent his final NHL campaign with the Anaheim Ducks in 2015-16. Horcoff also has ties to the state of Michigan, having racked up 152 points (50-102-152) in 155 games with the Michigan State Spartans from 1996-00. The Spartans were two-time CCHA champions (1998 and 2000) during Horcoff’s collegiate career, which he capped off by winning the CCHA Player of the Year in 1999-00.

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Little Caesars, home of the HOT-N-READY^® and the Crazy Calzony™, is partnering with the all-new film The Batman to bring fans of the legendary comic book character for a global promotion featuring a one-of-a-kind new product, The Batman Calzony. The Batman is coming to theaters in North America March 4 and internationally beginning March 2, 2022.

The Batman Calzony is created by combining a pizza lover’s own dynamic duo: calzone and pizza. This bat-shaped product features a tantalizing flavor profile of buttery-tasting, calzone crust filled with garlic white sauce, cheese, and julienned pepperoni, combined with a pepperoni pizza and served with a side of Crazy Sauce®. The new menu item will be available for $7.99 starting January 24.

“Anyone can now bring superhero vibes to pizza night by trying the new The Batman Calzony, “said Jeff Klein, chief marketing officer at Little Caesars, “It’s the most delicious part of our partnership with the upcoming film The Batman.”

The Crazy Calzony was originally introduced by Little Caesars in August 2021 as a limited-time offer, adding an instant classic to the chain’s already storied menu.

Customers can order The Batman Calzony for delivery using the Little Caesars app, or pre-pay and then conveniently collect their order using Pizza Portal® pickup (a heated, self-service mobile order pickup station) at any participating Little Caesars Locations. Customers can stop in between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to pick up The Batman Calzony without preordering.

*Plus tax where applicable. Available at participating locations. Prices may vary. Prices may be higher in AK, HI, CA and third-party online sites. Delivery available from participating locations with online orders only. Delivery fees apply. Small order fee for orders less than $10.

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Formerly known as DTE Energy Music Theatre, and welcomes United Wholesale Mortgage and Trinity Health as proud partners

2022 summer concert season will mark renowned venue’s 50th anniversary

313 Presents is excited to announce that DTE Energy Music Theatre – the nation’s top amphitheatre in 2019 – located in Clarkston, Michigan, is going back to its roots with the venue’s original name and will now be known again as Pine Knob Music Theatre. They also welcome United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) and Trinity Health as new Proud Partners. The renaming couldn’t come at a better time as the 2022 summer concert season will mark the renowned venue’s 50th anniversary.

As part of their rebranding, 313 Presents unveiled a new venue logo with a font that offers a vintage feel and art that captures the beloved, scenic landscape symbolic of Michigan’s premier summer concert destination. Designed by Troy-based Simons-Michelson-Zieve Inc. (SMZ), Pine Knob Music Theatre’s new logo pays homage to the venue’s rich 50-year history with a fresh new touch, and embodies 313 Presents’ mission to provide access to amazing entertainment and alive moments inspired by the soul of Detroit.

Pine Knob Music Theatre is continually ranked among the top amphitheaters in the world and is a preferred venue for many of the nation’s top touring acts. Ranked #1 in the world in Pollstar’s 2019 Year-End Rankings, the venue plays host to world-class entertainment events, concerts, comedy, family shows and community functions.

Pine Knob Music Theatre’s 2022 summer concert season will mark its 50th anniversary, as the iconic venue opened its doors on June 25, 1972 with a matinee performance by David Cassidy. At the time of its opening, Pine Knob was the largest amphitheater in the U.S., becoming one of the most active and successful outdoor venues in the country. Through hosting acts ranging from rock, pop, country and contemporary, Pine Knob became a template for other outdoor venues to follow.

313 Presents has entered into multi-year corporate partnership agreements with United Wholesale Mortgage and Trinity Health, making them the official Proud Partners of Pine Knob Music Theatre. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

United Wholesale Mortgage – the No. 1 wholesale mortgage lender in the country for seven consecutive years, and recognized as a best place to work in metro Detroit – becomes the exclusive mortgage partner of Pine Knob Music Theatre, and will have exclusive naming rights to Pine Knob Music Theatre’s UWM West Entrance/Exit, UWM West Parking Lot and UWM West Box Office.

UWM’s unique business model focuses on providing independent mortgage brokers with superior service through state-of-the-art technology that enables a faster, easier and cheaper mortgage experience for consumers across the nation. This partnership will help the wholesale mortgage lender reach new local and national concertgoers who attend events at Pine Knob Music Theatre, further catapulting awareness around the benefits of independent mortgage brokers, in addition to promoting UWM as a top workplace in Michigan. Follow UWM Life on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Trinity Health is the official and exclusive health care partner of Pine Knob Music Theatre. The VIP area of Pine Knob Music Theatre will now be branded as the Trinity Health VIP Entrance/Exit, Trinity Health VIP Parking Lot, Trinity Health VIP Box Office and Trinity Health Ivy Lounge.

Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, Catholic health care systems in America. It is a leading health care provider in Michigan and one of the state’s largest employers. Its eight hospital locations include the five hospitals of Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, located in Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Howell, Livonia and Pontiac, and the three-hospital Mercy Health system, operating in Grand Rapids, Muskegon and Shelby. The health system provides the full continuum of care for patients, offering them safe, high-quality medical services close to home.  This includes access to ambulatory care locations, home health agencies, a hospice agency and senior living communities throughout the state.

Committed to bringing care to where patients live and work, the partnership will help elevate Trinity Health’s brand within the communities it serves. For more information on medical services available at Trinity Health, please visit www.TrinityHealthMichigan.org.

313 Presents will incorporate its Proud Partners throughout its updated branding components.  

“We are beyond thrilled to welcome United Wholesale Mortgage and Trinity Health as Proud Partners of Pine Knob Music Theatre,” said 313 Presents President Howard Handler. “These two premier Michigan-based organizations share our passion for providing unparalleled service and understood the importance the Pine Knob brand resonates in our community and they embraced the opportunity to help bring it back to life in a new and exciting way. This is only the beginning as we look to our 50th anniversary and beyond to engage and bring the best in live entertainment and activation to our guests.”

“As a company rooted in metro Detroit for the last 35 years, we are thrilled to be a Proud Partner of Pine Knob Music Theatre, and look forward to everything we will accomplish together during this historic rebrand, and beyond,” said Sarah DeCiantis, UWM’s Chief Marketing Officer. “At UWM, we make it a priority to stay embedded in our local community, and are excited for this opportunity to further promote our award-winning workplace, in addition to educating consumers around the benefits of working with an independent mortgage broker.”

“Like myself, colleagues from across our health system have fond memories of having spent many summer nights with friends and family out at Pine Knob Music Theatre,” said Rob Casalou, President and CEO of Trinity Health Michigan and Trinity Health Southeast Regions. “I congratulate the 313 Presents team on bringing back such an iconic name and look forward to promoting good health and good music together here in our community.”

In 2001, then Palace Sports & Entertainment, announced a title partnership with DTE. With a dedicated partner on board, that would go on to span 20 years, the venue continued to build its industry recognition and propel to prominence as the world’s best-selling amphitheater in the world.

“We are grateful to DTE for their commitment,” said Handler. “Through their partnership, we were able to provide incredible experiences and memories for our guests that will long remain a part of our venue’s rich history.”

Follow Pine Knob Music Theatre Presented by Proud Partners United Wholesale Mortgage and Trinity Health on Twitter at @PineKnobMusic, Facebook at Pine Knob Music Theatre and Instagram at @PineKnobMusic.

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