Community
Providing Detroit's youth with the proper sporting equipment to participate in organized baseball and softball has been an important part of the Detroit Tigers Play Baseball Detroit program.
On behalf of this year's Gloves for Kids program, the Tigers partnered with ABC Warehouse, 97.1 The Ticket and Fox Sports Detroit and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund to collect new and gently used baseball and softball equipment totaling over 2,700 pieces, including 575 gloves and 239 bats.
On August 29, a collection was held at Comerica Park where more than 600 pieces of equipment were donated.
Detroit Tigers centerfielder, Curtis Granderson, who undertook the role of spokesperson for the 2009 Gloves for Kids program, along with teammates Brandon Lyon, Gerald Laird, Adam Everett, Ryan Raburn, Zach Miner and Clete Thomas made appearances at local ABC Warehouses to sign autographs in exchange for equipment donations.
Gloves for Kids is a true community collection program as the equipment donated from people all around the metro-Detroit area go directly to the local youth in need of baseball and softball gear.
To celebrate Gloves for Kids and the community that supports it, the Tigers hosted a pregame ceremony with Mickey York of Fox Sports Detroit, Jay Towers and Bill McAllister from the Jay & Bill Morning Show on 97.1 The Ticket, representatives from ABC Warehouse and youth baseball players from Rosedale Grandmont Little League.
In addition to receiving new and gently used equipment, the Rosedale Grandmont Little League also received $3,100 from the Detroit Tigers Foundation as well as a $5,000 grant from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund to purchase new equipment.
The Tigers continue to support the growth and preservation of baseball and softball throughout the Detroit area and are proud to be part of an initiative, like Play Baseball Detroit and Gloves for Kids, that successfully delivers the necessary equipment to youth in need.
