Right-handed pitcher Spencer Turnbull made Tigers history by throwing the franchise’s first no-hitter in a decade, and the 8^th in franchise history, during a 5-0 win against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday, May 18. Turnbull is Tigers homegrown pitcher; he was drafted by the Tigers in 2014 and made his MLB debut in 2018.

“This is the greatest achievement in my life so far, at least in my baseball career,” Turnbull said. “Definitely the most exciting. It’s a landmark stamp on my career to this point. I don’t know how to think of it in historical terms. But personally, I’m just happy to have my name written on something that can never be taken away.”

Tigers catcher Eric Haase, a Michigan native born in Westland, Mich. who played baseball at Divine Child High School in Dearborn, Mich., was the first to congratulate Turnbull.

“Everything was working for him,” Haase said. “He was getting to the top of the zone. He was sinking it when he had to. And his spin, just like his last start, his spin the second and third time through the order really shined. Any time we can hide a weapon like that until the second and third time through, you see how it played out. They were off-balance all night.”

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said the excitement grew as the 28-year-old, who had never gone more than seven innings in his 49 starts, kept the streak alive.

“He adjusted as the night went on and just kept pounding the strike zone pretty relentlessly,” Hinch said. “He got stronger as the game got on. He got some quick innings in the middle which was important. We could all feel it, especially after Candy’s back-handed play. Now it was like, we’ve entered the ‘don’t talk about it’ phase of the no-hitter and we started counting outs.”

In honor of the achievement, the Tigers have launched a limited-time “No-Hit” ticket special, eliminating all fees on single-game Tigers tickets for the remainder of May and the month of June. These fee-free tickets are available at MLB.com/Tigers.

The last Tigers pitcher to throw a no-hitter was Justin Verlander, who threw two while playing for Detroit (on June 12, 2007 and May 7, 2011). Turnbull joins Verlander, Jack Morris (April 7, 1984), Jim Bunning (July 20, 1958), Virgil Trucks (Aug. 25, 1952 and May 15, 1952) and George Mullin (July 4, 1912) as the only Tigers pitchers to accomplish the feat.

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This Mother’s Day, the Detroit Tigers recognized Amanda Hofbauer, booking coordinator for 313 Presents, as Honorary Bat Girl for her fight against breast cancer.

Hofbauer started as booking coordinator for 313 Presents in 2012, helping to book shows at 313 Presents venues, including the historic Fox Theatre and award-winning Little Caesars Arena and DTE Energy Music Theatre, Comerica Park, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre and Michigan Lottery Theatre. She was diagnosed with stage-four breast cancer at age 32. Determined to survive, Hofbauer beat her two-year prognosis, and remains active in educating women on the importance of early detection.

Major League Baseball’s Honorary Bat Girl program was introduced league-wide in 2009 to raise additional awareness and support for the annual “Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer” initiative celebrated on Mother’s Day. Each MLB club selects their respective Honorary Bat Girl based on their personal connection to breast cancer; demonstration of commitment to the battle through education, awareness, fundraising or additional efforts and awareness; and demonstration of substantial local community impact.

To learn more about the program, visit MLB.com/HonoraryBatGirl.

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Jurassic Quest Drive Thru, the nation’s largest and most realistic dinosaur experience, will make its return to the parking area of DTE Energy Music Theatre on Friday, June 18 and run through Sunday, July 4. The family-friendly event includes more than 70 photorealistic dinosaurs returning from extinction to delight dino fans everywhere.

In August 2020, about 34,000 families experienced the drive thru exhibit during its four-week stay at DTE Energy Music Theatre, making it one of the most popular stops in North America last summer. After welcoming millions of guests to sold-out events across the country, Jurassic Quest Drive Thru will once again transform outdoor areas throughout the region into a fun-filled drive-thru experience.

“It is great to welcome back Jurassic Quest Drive Thru to DTE Energy Music Theatre,” Howard Handler, president of 313 Presents, said. “The event last year exceeded our expectations, and we look forward to creating more memories for our guests this summer. We continue to see the enthusiasm for live events remains strong, and this family-friendly drive through experience allows us to keep our guests entertained while following current safety guidelines.”

Adventurers must buy Jurassic Quest tickets from JurassicQuest.com in advance. Tickets cost $49 per vehicle of eight people or less, and include a 100-percent ticket guarantee in the event of show cancellation or postponement.

Audio tours come standard (special accommodations can be made for the hearing impaired). Visitors can choose between the original audio tour in English and Spanish, or a brand-new audio adventure led by Safari Sarah and her crew. Adventurers will also receive a safari-style digital souvenir photo of your car and family transported back into the Jurassic Period. In addition to the life-like dinosaur exhibits, there will be opportunities to visit with one-of-a-kind baby dinosaurs and the Jurassic Quest team of dino trainers. Special souvenir packages and other additional items can be purchased at check out.

Jurassic Quest takes extra precautionary measures to provide a clean and safe event and operates under COVID-19 safety protocols in accordance with county, state and CDC guidelines. Guests are to remain in their own vehicles and to wear masks in the event they exit the vehicle in allowed areas (restrooms). Social distancing rules are requested of all guests and maintained by Jurassic Quest crew. Equipment, dinosaurs and workstations are sanitized frequently and thoroughly throughout the entirety of the event. Event employees apply hand sanitizer and wash hands regularly throughout each day, in addition to wearing masks. A full list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found online at www.jurassicquest.com/drive-thru-faqs.

Dates and times include:

• Friday, June 18: 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Saturday, June 19: 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
• Sunday, June 20: 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 23: 1 p.m.–8 p.m.
• Thursday, June 24: 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Friday, June 25: 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Saturday, June 26: 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
• Sunday, June 27: 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 30: 1 p.m.–8 p.m.
• Thursday, July 1: 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Friday, July 2: 9 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Saturday, July 3: 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
• Sunday, July 4: 9 a.m.–8 p.m.

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Champion Foods, a manufacturer of premier-branded and private label products available in supermarkets across the U.S., has promoted 17-year veteran Jon Newsom to the role of Vice President and Managing Director.

Jon was previously Champion Food’s vice president of sales and marketing and played a key role in expanding relationships with various companies like Costco, Walmart, and Aldi. Jon is a graduate from the University of Michigan with a degree in business administration and management.

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Team sports can play a key role in childhood development by teaching and reinforcing the ideas of teamwork, honesty and responsibility. That’s why the Detroit Tigers, along with the Detroit Tigers Foundation, an affiliate of Ilitch Charities, have partnered with Bally Sports Detroit and USA Baseball to offer the virtual Fun At Bat At Home Series to kids, available through June 4.

Fun At Bat At Home is a free, interactive, five-week video series introduces kids in grades K-5 the fundamentals of baseball and softball. Hosted by Bally Sports Detroit studio analyst and former Detroit Tigers outfielder Craig Monroe, the program promotes fun and active lifestyles with an emphasis on character development, functional movement, literacy, active play and wellness.

The program features appearances from Tigers players, manager A.J. Hinch, PAWS and more!

Learn more at Tigers.com/FunAtBat.

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To commemorate his historic start in the major leagues, and as a thank-you to Tigers fans, Akil Baddoo entered the non-fungible token (NFT) market with a limited three-piece collection of exclusive digital artwork designed by renowned artist Dan Abrams of Athletes Logos.

NFTs are one-of-a-kind digital collectibles with a built-in certificate of authenticity. Each NFT is unique, and can only have one owner, making them highly collectible. The technology, which has existed since the mid-2010s, has become increasingly popular over the last few years with artists and athletes. Baddoo is the first Tigers player to offer such digital assets.

A portion of the proceeds from this limited-edition NFT sale benefited two community organizations: Detroit R.B.I. (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Youth Baseball and Softball program; and RISE, a national nonprofit with a strong Detroit presence that educates and empowers the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice and improve race relations.

“I’ve always been a person that is looking to give back and set an example for the young people that are watching me,” Baddoo said. “The NFTs were a way for me to do that, while at the same time thanking the city of Detroit for all the love and support they have shown me and my family during Spring Training and the start of the season. I’m thrilled that we were able to donate some of the proceeds from the NFT sale to the Detroit R.B.I. program as well as RISE, two organizations that are important to me for the work that they do and what they stand for.”

Baddoo wasted no time endearing himself Tigers to fans when he hit a home run in his first MLB at bat. The rookie outfielder then hit a grand slam in his second game and a walk-off single in his third, thereby making Major League Baseball history. Since then, fans can be heard yelling “DOOOOO” when he comes to the plate or makes a play, echoing the way fans would yell “LOOOOO” to cheer on legendary Tiger Lou Whitaker.

The limited NFT sale is now closed. Learn more about the exclusive NFT collection and purchase other limited-edition Baddoo items at www.akilbaddoo60.com.

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While walking her dog near her home in Detroit, Amy Peterson would talk with women staying at COTS, the Coalition on Temporary Shelter located in the city.  It was during those conversations that Amy became inspired to find a way to help women in need.

Several years later, in 2013, Amy co-founded Rebel Nell with a mission to provide employment, equitable opportunity, and wraparound support for women with barriers to employment.

Rebel Nell does this in a unique, one-of-a-kind way: it hires and teaches women to repurpose meaningful Detroit materials, including from iconic landmarks or even graffiti, into wearable art and jewelry.

When Amy started Rebel Nell, she was Assistant Counsel at the Detroit Tigers. “It was supposed to be a passion project – something I just did after hours,” Amy said. “But it just kept growing, and it became something I couldn’t stop thinking about.”

With encouragement of her colleagues, Amy eventually took the leap and became a full-time entrepreneur.  Since then, Rebel Nell has continued to expand and now includes a nonprofit arm, T.E.A. (Teach. Empower. Achieve.), which provides women with resources like stable housing, financial education, business classes and legal aid.

Over the years, the Detroit Tigers, Red Wings and the Ilitch companies have collaborated with Amy and Rebel Nell on various projects and jewelry lines, including the Dugout Collection and the Joe Collection, and look forward to doing so in the future.

“What’s important is that Rebel Nell continues to positively impact the lives of women facing barriers in the Detroit community,” said Amy. “Through art, we can provide women with safe spaces to hone their skills and help them live lives of independence.”

To learn more, visit RebelNell.com.

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The Detroit Tigers’ annual Jackie Robinson Art Contest seeks to educate and encourage young baseball fans on Robinson’s nine values: citizenship, commitment, courage, determination, excellence, integrity, justice, persistence and teamwork. At the April 20 Tigers home game at Comerica Park, the Tigers celebrated the winners of this year’s Jackie Robinson Art Contest, including grand-prize winner, 12-year-old Devin Mulligan from Saline Middle School.

Contest applicants were asked to submit an artistic expression that captured the spirit of one or more of Robinson’s nine values. As grand-prize winner, Mulligan received $1,500 and had his artwork featured on digital billboards on Jackie Robinson Day throughout Detroit, including the historic Fox Theatre Marquee, Little Caesars Arena and Bally Sports Detroit billboards. Second and third place winners Kyndall McMillion, 16, from Cass Technical High School; and Jackson Kennedy, 14, from Waterford Kettering High School, received $750 and $250, respectively.

An annual tradition, Jackie Robinson Day takes place the date of his debut in 1947. The day seeks to honor the legacy of the pivotal player who broke the color barrier in baseball’s modern era.

See each of the winning artists’ works and their own interpretations of them below.

1st place: Devin Mulligan: “I thought of ways to incorporate Jackie Robinson’s nine values into the drawing and I decided to use the words to make his uniform, hat, and bat. Jackie Robinson inspired me because despite how many times he got hate letters and was verbally abused, he kept pushing to be the best he could be.”

2nd place: Kyndall McMillion, 16-year-old from Cass Technical High School: “Jackie Robinson played major-league baseball during a time of segregation and faced many adversities on and off the field. These adversities caused Jackie Robinson to come up with nine values that he lived by in life. In this piece of art, I wanted to depict Jackie Robinson and all nine of his values. I drew Mr. Robinson holding his nine values in the shape of a bat because he held on to these values to make it in life. I had them stand out from the rest of the picture because these values are what made him stand out as a person. I feel that these values gave him the tenacity to overcome adversity and execute every swing that made him the legend that he is today.”

3rd place: Jackson Kennedy, 14-year-oldfrom Waterford Kettering High School: “My name is Jackson Kennedy. I’m 14 and I started drawing very early on. I learned about Jackie Robinson in school and learned a lot about his childhood and I know he stood for equality. To me as a person it means a lot because I’m transgender and its hard every day just like it was for him. We all have our struggles and at the end of the day, we are human and that’s what I try to express in my art and everyday life.”

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Detroit Tigers great Miguel Cabrera has volunteered to serve as a co-chair of the Protect Michigan Commission and help promote the state’s COVID-19 vaccination and education efforts, announced Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

“I am honored by Gov. Whitmer’s appointment as a co-chair of the Protect Michigan Commission and look forward to using my platform to increase awareness of how getting vaccinated can help slow COVID-19 infections,” Cabrera said.

“Based on what I know from getting vaccinated already, the shots are nowhere near as bad as the virus,” Cabrera said. “Our goal with the Commission is to get as many people vaccinated as possible, and I hope my support toward that end is successful.”

Cabrera, nicknamed “Miggy,” is an 11-time Major League Baseball All Star and two-time American League Most Valuable Player who joined the Tigers in December, 2007. He and the Tigers have offered to produce public service announcements in English and Spanish that will encourage Michiganders to get vaccinated and continue to practice preventative measures such as properly wearing masks, social distancing and frequent handwashing to reduce the spread of the virus until the vast majority of people have been vaccinated.

“We are grateful that ‘Miggy’ is stepping up to the plate to help inform Michiganders on the importance of getting their COVID-19 vaccinations,” Gov. Whitmer said. “We appreciate the Tiger organization’s advocacy because this is an all-hands-on-deck moment in our state’s effort to persevere and overcome the pandemic.”

Gov. Whitmer created the Protect Michigan Commission in January. The appointees represent a diverse array of industries, professions and backgrounds. Housed within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), they are charged with helping to ensure every Michigander has a plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19 once the opportunity becomes available. Their goal is facilitating at least 100,000 shots in arms daily.

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