Celebrate The Spirit of ’45 Day with the Detroit Tigers

Sunday, August 13, 2017 at 1:10. Celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the end of WWII with The Detroit Tigers, The Michigan WWII Legacy Memorial and WWII re-enactors in period uniform as the Detroit Tigers host the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park.

To purchase tickets, call Corey Thomas at 313-471-2240

Buy your ticket by July 20 and receive a special Hank Greenberg commemorative stamp and cachet (envelope) shown to the right. Read more about Hammerin’ Hank below.

A portion of the proceeds benefit The Michigan WWII Legacy Memorial.

Shortly after Pearl Harbor, Major League Baseball Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis wrote President Roosevelt, inquiring as to the appropriateness of continuing Major League Baseball in the face of the declaration of war.

Roosevelt’s famous answer was conveyed in the document known as the “Green Light Letter.” In part he wrote “if 300 teams use 5,000 or 6,000 players, these players are a definite recreational asset to at least 20,000,000 of their fellow citizens – and that in my judgment is thoroughly worthwhile.”

Nowhere was this more the case than in the factories of the Arsenal of Democracy where loyal Michigan workers rooted for their Tigers throughout the war years.

Detroit’s Hank Greenberg was a trailblazer for Major League Baseball players’ support of the war effort.

Greenberg served even before the US declared war, being drafted in early 1941. He was a superstar that proudly traded uniforms. After giving up the 1941 season, he was honorably discharged two days before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Within a few months he had re-enlisted. He returned to baseball In July 1945 after being honorably discharged for a second time. He then led the Tigers to the AL pennant when he dramatically hit a grand slam in the ninth inning of the last game of the season.

Then of course to cap off victory in Europe and victory in Japan, the Tigers captured the 1945 World Series, cementing their bond with these times.

Note that as a bonus, Sunday, August 13 is a Sunday Kids Day featuring a pregame interactive kids area and the “Every Kid, Every Sunday” giveaway guarantee where every fan 14-and-under will receive a free Victor Martinez poster. In addition, Kids Days will feature free rides for kids on the Fly Ball Ferris Wheel and Carousel, presented by Kroger, free face painting, and Kids Run the Bases following the game, weather permitting.