Our Detroit Tigers start their hunt for a World Championship tonight at Yankee Stadium! Those of us over a certain age will certainly remember the excitement of past World Series for the Tigers. The 1984 series was the most recent successful run, but I will always remember the 1968 series as a magical time. Kaline, Cash, Northrup, Stanley, Freehan, McAuliffe, Lolich and McLain were just some of the Tigers on that team that came from behind night after night to pull out a game in the late innings — much like this year! And after every win we would hear their very own fight song Go Get 'em Tigers! If you want to sing along you can find the words below. And to quote the late, great Sparky Anderson from 1984 "Bless You Boys!"

We are rocking it baseball style here in the D! Our Detroit Tigers are on a roll. Let's hope they can carry this into the playoff season starting shortly. Have you got tickets yet? Until it's time for the next game, check out our great books and DVD's on the Detroit Tigers.

Hey Tigers fans! Join me in congratulating our pitcher, Justin Verlander, on his amazing no hitter this past weekend against Toronto! This doesn't happen every day, and it has only happened twice in the career of Mr. Verlander and only a handful of times in all of Detroit Tigers history! While waiting for the next game to start, be sure to check-out one of our awesome baseball books, to keep you busy until the announcer once again yells, "Play Ball!"

Hey Tigers fans! Did you get the chance to see our team beat the Chicago White Sox this weekend? Truly a weekend of great baseball! A little chilly for the season, but you could feel the excitement with each of our boys crossing over homeplate. Be sure to check out the Official Detroit Tigers website for all the latest on our team and you chance to order tickets and be at the game! Now that baseball season has begun, I can smell spring in the air!

Now that Spring is finally here and Opening Day is only a couple of weeks away, it's time to get back into the baseball swing of things! You can do that by watching some of the many great baseball themed films and documentaries in the Library's collection — or by reading up on your own Detroit Tigers. Batter up!

Feature Films

The Bad News Bears — In the orignal version, Walter Matthau is a grumbling beer-guzzling former minor-league pitcher who gets roped into coaching a band of half-pint misfits somewhat loosely called a team.

April 15, 2011 will celebrate the 64th Anniversary of Jackie Robinson's color barrier breaking achievement as a player for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Detroit Tigers invite Michigan schools to participate in the 15th Annual Jackie Robinson Art, Essay and Poetry Contest, celebrating this hero of Baseball. For more information, click here to be taken to the webpage on the Detroit Tigers website. Entries are due by 5:00PM March 4, 2011 and need to be submitted to:

Detroit Tigers, Inc.
Attn: Sam Abrams
Manager of Player Relations, Youth and Sports Programs
2100 Woodward Ave.
Detroit, MI 48201

Good luck!

Only six more chance to see the Detroit Tigers this year at Comerica Park and it happens this week and weekend. Experience Fan Appreciation Weekend when the Tigers take on Minnesota and get free givaways beginning Friday. Don't miss out on a camouflage baseball hat, a knit hat or free poster, order tickets today!

While the skies maybe a bit on the gray side this morning, here's hoping the weather holds for the Tigers to host the Cleveland Indians tonight at Comerica Park. Don't have tickets? Well, then, come and check out our great books on both the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians. Get your gloves ready… it's going to be a great game!

Kids, do you like Baseball? Do you find yourself rooting for the Tigers at the Detroit Zoo and wondering where their balls and gloves are hidden? Do you want peanuts and hot dogs for every meal? If this is you, then check out Baseball A to Z by Michael P. Spradlin. It's a new book in our picture book section. Be the next person to add your name to the hold list. You wouldn't want to be sliding into home without reading this book first!

Want to go back in time? Then experience a vintage baseball game as the Early Risers Base Ball Club of Detroit and the Northville Eclipse Base Ball Club play in a fundraiser for ALS in Canton. Players will wear period reproduction uniforms and the game will be played using the rules and customs of the 19th century. ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease is one of the most common neuromuscular diseases worldwide, and people of all races and ethnic backgrounds are affected.

On glorious wings : the best flying stories of the century by edited and introduced by Stephen Coonts

Up in the air by Walter Kirn

Summerland by Michael Chabon

Dear American Airlines by Jonathan Miles

Detroit's own Tigers are leaders in the American League Central Division and are in an exciting race with the Minnesota Twins for the pennant. The chase is sure to go wire to wire when the Twins come to town in a four game series. The September 28th issue of Sports Illustrated features the Tiger franchise and it's positive effect on the city of Detroit.

Now that Labor Day weekend is upon us, grab some friends for some rousing sporting events. You could have backyard foot races, play a little badminton, toss a few horseshoes, or get a baseball or football team together. Check out our wide variety of sports books to help you learn how to play a new sport or brush up on the rules of an old favorite! Have a great weekend!

Imagine baseball being played without gloves, sliding,  spitting, bunting or cursing. In this weekend's World Tournament of Historic Baseball teams compete using the early rules of baseball from 1867. This annual event is fun for the whole family with lots of baseball, food and music. In addition, meet some old and new Tigers like Zach Miner, Mickey Stanley and Mickey Lolich. For a schedule of events click here.

Summer is still in the air, so fans, that means the Tigers are not done yet! So far their away record hasn't been so slick, but there is hope. In our series against the Texas Rangers, we did take one of the three games that we played. Not stellar, but one is better than none. Hopefully in the next series we have coming up against Cleveland we will add more wins to our belt. While you wait in a hot dog fueled anticipation, be sure to check out these titles we have on the Detroit Tigers to help pass the time until first pitch!

Hey sports fans! Join us next week, July 12-14, 2009, in beautiful Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis, MO. for the 80th Major League Baseball All-Star Game! This the the game that showcases the best of the best from the American and National Leauges braving the heat to swing their bats in the ever-popular Home Run Derby and of course at the plate when they send their high fly balls over the left field fence in an attempt to bring victory to their team. For more information check out ESPN.com for all your sporting needs, highlights, and updates. Go American League!! (Home of our Detroit Tigers, afterall!)

Mark Fidrych was introduced to the Detroit area back in 1976.  He was energetic, unique, and talented.  Fans everywhere watched his antics on the field from talking to the ball to kneeling down and smoothing out the mound. He won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 1976 and went on to spend his major league career with the Detroit Tigers. Remember Mark Fidrych in his book No Big Deal published in 1977. 

The Tigers Home Opener is this coming Friday, April 10th.  Even if you don't have tickets to the big game, you can get into the baseball spirit with a hotdog, popcorn, and a family-friendly baseball movie from CPL.  Some of my favorites are The Sandlot, Angels in the Outfield, and Rookie of the Year.  Batter Up!

 At least in Lakeland Florida where the Detroit Tigers have begun Spring Training.  Mark your calendar for the Tiger's home opener on April 10th against the Toronto Blue Jays.  In the meantime, browse through the library's collection and transport yourself into spring with

* = autobiography

• Aaron, Henry
  • Hank Aaron, by James Tackach
  • Hank Aaron, by Lauren Spencer
  • Hank Aaron: Brave in Every Way, by Peter Golenbock
  • Henry!: The Sports Career of Henry Aaron, by James Hahn
• Abbott, Jim
  • Jim Abbott, by John Rolfe
• Anderson, Sparky
  • Sparky Anderson, by Bruce Weber
• Bench,Johnny
  • Johnny Bench, King of Catchers, by Louis Sabin
• Berg, Morris