HOMESTAND FEATURES 11TH ANNUAL NEGRO LEAGUES WEEKEND, JACKIE ROBINSON DAY RECOGNITION, JUSTIN VERLANDER “APRIL IN THE D” MINI BOBBLEHEAD AND PRINCE FIELDER DETROIT STARS MINI FATHEAD

DETROIT – The Tigers return home from their nine-game road trip to begin a nine-game homestand at Comerica Park Tuesday night. The Kansas City Royals (April 23-25) will visit Comerica Park for the first time this season, the Atlanta Braves (April 26-28) will make their only stop in Detroit this season and the Minnesota Twins come to town (April 29-May 1). First pitch for Tuesday and Wednesday’s games against the Royals are 7:08 p.m. and Thursday’s is 1:08 p.m. Friday’s game against the Braves begins at 7:08 p.m., while Saturday’s begins at 1:05 p.m. and Sunday’s begins at 8:08 p.m. Monday and Tuesday’s games against the Twins begin at 7:08 p.m. The final game of the homestand on Wednesday will begin at 1:08 p.m.

SUPER SPRING SPECIAL: Upper box infield tickets for $13 (normally $26) for Monday-Thursday games in April and May. Tickets are available in advance or at ticket windows on game day. Tickets are subject to availability.

Tuesday, April 23 – Kansas City Royals @ 7:08 p.m. (Gates open at 5:30 p.m.)

·Game Ball Delivery: Master Sergeant Troy Gearhart of the United States Army from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania will deliver the game ball. He recently returned from his third deployment including tours of duty in Kuwait and Iraq. He has proudly served the United States Army for 23 years.
·MLB Autism Awareness Initiative: Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States. An estimated one in 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum – a ten-fold increase in prevalence over the last 40 years. To recognize April as Autism Awareness month, the Detroit Tigers have joined Major League Baseball and Jack’s Place for Autism in support of research, advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families, and helping raise awareness and educating the community about autism. Jack’s Place for Autism will have an awareness table on the concourse at Comerica Park.
·Jackie Robinson Day: In keeping the memory of Jackie Robinson alive and celebrating the 66th Anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball, the Detroit Tigers hosted the 17th Annual Detroit Tigers Jackie Robinson Art, Essay and Poetry Contest. A Tigers player will join contest winners and Jackie Robinson Foundation Alumni and Scholars from the University of Michigan as they are honored during an on-field, pregame recognition. The contest was open to middle and high school students from the Detroit metropolitan area. Students entered the contest by submitting an original essay, poem or work of art in honor of Robinson, who broke the segregation barrier in baseball and was a social activist who fought for equal opportunities beyond the playing field.
oArt: Alexys Levins of Chesterfield, 8th grade, representing Anchor Bay Middle School and Chloe Jennings of St. Clair Shores, 12th grade, representing Lakeshore High School
oEssay: Anja Nelem of Waterford, 6th grade, representing Pierce Middle School and Rajiea Sultana, of Detroit, 12th grade, representing Cass Tech High School
oPoetry: Julia Meguid of Shelby Township., 6th grade representing Monfort Elementary and Qayyim Carr, of Southfield, 10th grade representing University High School Academy
·Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars First Pitch: Monique Malone, a senior from the Ohio State University majoring in Political Science and French, and Khyara Harris, a senior from the University of Toledo, majoring in Communications and Psychology will throw the ceremonial first pitch. Jackie Robinson Foundation alumnus, Shani Allison will also be in attendance.
·Jackie Robinson Most Diverse Business Partner Award: In 1998, Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig, authorized the creation of the Diverse Business Partners program, an economically driven business initiative established to cultivate new and existing partnerships with minority- and women-owned businesses, by increasing opportunities for minorities and women to participate in the procurement activities of Major League Baseball. Irene Zannis, owner of Seaway Painting, L.L.C., will be presented with the Jackie Robinson Most Valuable Diverse Business Partner award (MVDBP) during an on-field, pregame recognition. Seaway Painting L.L.C., a national industrial painting company, is a single-source contractor responsible for painting, sand blasting, water blasting and a number of other maintenance services. The Detroit Tigers have partnered with Seaway and its partners since 2008 as Seaway has provided service to maintain Comerica Park, most notably painting and general maintenance of the facility to ensure a pleasant experience for fans at Comerica Park.
·Jackie Robinson Day On The Road: Tigers players and coaches participated in the league-wide Jackie Robinson Day celebration by wearing uniform number 42 to honor Jackie Robinson on April 16 at Seattle.

Wednesday, April 24 – Kansas City Royals @ 7:08 p.m. (Gates open at 5:30 p.m.)

·Recently retired Detroit Lions kicker, Jason Hanson, will throw out a ceremonial first pitch.
·The first 10,000 fans to enter Comerica Park will receive a Justin Verlander “April in the D” Mini Bobblehead, courtesy of FOX Sports Detroit.
·MLB Autism Awareness Initiative: Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States. An estimated one in 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum – a ten-fold increase in prevalence over the last 40 years. To recognize April as Autism Awareness month, the Detroit Tigers have joined Major League Baseball and Jack’s Place for Autism in support of research, advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families, and helping raise awareness and educating the community about autism. A pregame ceremony featuring Jack’s Place is scheduled for today’s game.

Thursday, April 25 – Kansas City Royals @ 1:08 p.m. (Gates open at 11:30 p.m.)

·Game Ball Delivery: Sergeant Reyes Saldana of the United States Marines from Davison, Michigan will deliver the game ball. Sergeant Saldana recently returned from his first deployment to Afghanistan, where he earned a Purple Heart. He has proudly served the United States Marines for three years
·Aquafina School Incentive and Reward Program: This season, the Detroit Tigers Foundation, an affiliate of Ilitch Charities, and Aquafina have teamed up to donate over 10,000 tickets to area schools to reward students for a variety of achievements, including serving on the safety patrol squad and maintaining perfect attendance for a marking period. Detroit Public Schools will receive approximately 1,000 tickets through this program and the Archdiocese of Detroit will receive over 2,000 tickets that are distributed to Detroit area Catholic Schools. Students from the Aquafina School Incentive and Reward Program will attend the game. 1,000 students participating in the program will receive sling bags, courtesy of Aquafina.
·Weather Day: As part of the club’s 2013 Class Outside Series 1,400 students will be in attendance for a special pregame educational presentation. Weather Day events will teach students the science of weather and its role in the game of baseball.
·MLB Autism Awareness Initiative: Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United States. An estimated one in 88 children in the U.S. is on the autism spectrum – a ten-fold increase in prevalence over the last 40 years. To recognize April as Autism Awareness month, the Detroit Tigers have joined Major League Baseball and Jack’s Place for Autism in support of research, advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families, and helping raise awareness and educating the community about autism.

Friday, April 26 – Atlanta Braves @ 7:08 p.m. (Gates open at 5:00 p.m.)

·Detroit Stars Singing Competition: The Tigers have partnered with Radio One for the seventh annual Detroit Stars Singing Competition. The competition will take place at the Big Cat Court starting at 5:30 p.m. 12 finalists will be judged by celebrity judges including Duke Fakir of the legendary Motown group the Four Tops, Lee Thomas, an entertainment reporter for FOX 2 WJBK, and Dionne Farris, acclaimed R&B singer and songwriter. The winner receives $1,500, the opportunity to sing the anthem at an upcoming Tigers game and will be honored during the pregame ceremony on the field.
·Negro Leagues Weekend Pregame Ceremony: The Tigers are celebrating African Americans and their numerous contributions to the game of baseball. The ceremony will include the “Passing of the Bat.” The national anthem will be performed by Joyce Stearns Thompson and Rosalyn Norman-Brown, daughters of National Baseball Hall of Famer Norman “Turkey” Stearns.

Saturday, April 27 – Atlanta Braves @ 1:05 p.m. (Gates open at 11:00 a.m.)

·The first 10,000 fans to enter Comerica Park will receive a Prince Fielder Detroit Stars Mini Fathead, courtesy of Comerica Bank.
·19th Annual Negro Leagues Tribute Game: The Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves will suit up wearing the throwback uniforms of the Detroit Stars and Atlanta Black Crackers. Several former Negro Leagues players will participate in a special Q&A Roundtable, hosted by famed radio announcer John Mason of WCHB AM 1200, at the Big Cat Court, at 11:20 a.m. The Tigers will also pay tribute to the former Negro Leagues players during a pregame ceremony hosted by Mason.The Tigers will honor former Negro Leagues players Joe Douse and Alton King with a moment of silence.
·Game Ball Delivery: Specialist Mason Turrell of the United States Army from Clinton Township, Michigan will deliver the game ball. He recently returned from his second tour of duty including deployments to Iraq and South Korea. He has proudly served the United States Army for four years.

Sunday, April 28 – Kids Day – Atlanta Braves @ 8:08 p.m. (Gates open at 6:30 p.m.)

·All kids 14-and-younger will receive an “Every Kid, Every Sunday” Miguel Cabrera Triple Crown Knit Hat, courtesy of Belle Tire.
·Former Detroit Tigers player, Larry Herndon, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
·Detroit Tigers African American Legacy Award: A special pregame ceremony honoring 1984 World Series Champion, Larry Herndon, as the 2013 recipient of the Detroit Tigers African American Legacy Award, awarded by the Black McDonald’s Owners and Operators Association. The ceremony also includes a presentation of a Testimonial Resolution to Larry Herndon by Councilman Pro Tempore Gary Brown.

All Sunday home games are Kids Days at Comerica Park. All kids 14-and-younger will receive a free promotional item as part of the “Every Kid, Every Sunday” giveaway guarantee, can enjoy free rides on the Comerica Bank Carousel or the Fly Ball Ferris Wheel, courtesy of Kroger, can take part in free face painting, have the chance to win a bicycle and are invited down to the field for Kids Run the Bases, courtesy of Aquarian, following the game.

Monday, April 29 – Minnesota Twins @ 7:08 p.m. (Gates open at 5:30 p.m.)

·Detroit Grand Prix Driver, J.R. Hildebrand, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Tuesday, April 30 – Minnesota Twins @ 7:08 p.m. (Gates open at 5:30 p.m.)

·Capuchin Friar, Br. Bob Malloy, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Wednesday, May 1 – Minnesota Twins @ 1:08 p.m. (Gates open at 11:30 a.m.)

·Aquafina School Incentive and Reward Program: This season, the Detroit Tigers Foundation, an affiliate of Ilitch Charities, and Aquafina have teamed up to donate over 10,000 tickets to area schools to reward students for a variety of achievements, including serving on the safety patrol squad and maintaining perfect attendance for a marking period. Detroit Public Schools will receive approximately 1,000 tickets through this program and the Archdiocese of Detroit will receive over 2,000 tickets that are distributed to Detroit area Catholic Schools. Students from the Aquafina School Incentive and Reward Program will attend the game. 1,000 students participating in the program will receive sling bags, courtesy of Aquafina
·History Day: Approximately 1,000 students will be in attendance for a special educational series by the Detroit Tigers. History Day events will teach students the rich history of Michigan, Detroit and the Tigers.