Friday, July 10, 2009
Game Time - 7:05pm
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Game Time - 7:05pm
Join the Detroit Tigers on Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11, 2009 as they take on the Cleveland Indians and celebrate the contributions of Negro League players to the game of Baseball.
Saturday, July 11, features the 15th Annual Negro Leagues Tribute Game and a Detroit Stars Commemorative Cap giveaway for the first 10,00 fans!
All fans can enjoy fireworks displays after each game (weather permitting).
Event Schedule
5:30- 6:30PM
- Kadir Nelson Book signing "We Are the Ship - The Story of Negro League Baseball."-Gate A
Read about his work »
5:40- 6:40
- Detroit Stars Singing Competition
The Detroit Tigers have partnered with Radio One for the third annual Detroit Stars Singing Competition. The top ten finalists will compete in the Big Cat Court and sing Motown songs in honor of Motown's 50th anniversary. J Blak of Radio One will serve as the masters of ceremonies. Detroit Stars Singing contest judges include:
- Vickie Winans, Detroit native and six- time Grammy nominee, CEO, Gospel Singer-songwriter, and music producer
Derrick Coleman, Detroit native and player for the Pistons from 2004 and 2005 was chosen as first draft pick in 1990 by the New Jersey Nets. He played for the US national team in the 1994 FIBA World Championship, winning the gold medal.
- Alan Lee, Fox 2 Morning Anchor
- Audley Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Motown Museum
- The top two finalists will advance to the finals and perform Saturday night after the Baseball game.
Est-6:45
- On Field Ceremony
The Detroit Tigers are continuing the celebration of African Americans and their numerous contributions to the game of baseball. The ceremony will include the "Passing of the Bat" ceremony featuring Daniel Fields, from U of D high school and drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 6th round of the 2009 Amateur Draft , and Victor Roache from Lincoln high school, also drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 25th round of the 2009 Amateur Draft. Both Daniel and Victor participated in the 2009 Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association East-West All-Star Game.
Cecil Kaiser (former NL player), Willie Horton (Tigers great), Rod Allen(former Tigers outfielder and analyst on Fox Sports Detroit's telecast), Marcus Thames, Curtis Granderson, Edwin Jackson, Dontrelle Willis and 100 youth baseball players from the Rosedale Grandmont Little League in Detroit will also be participating. The youth baseball players were selected through Team Tigers, a need-based online registration program that is part of Play Baseball Detroit. Established in 2008, Play Baseball Detroit is a comprehensive urban youth baseball outreach program dedicated to encouraging and supporting youth baseball and softball programs in the greater Detroit community.
6:54
- Ceremonial First Pitch:
Derrick Coleman
Karen Stearnes Dye, granddaughter of Norman "Turkey" Stearnes
6:57
- National Anthem performed by Vickie Winans
Additional In-Park Events
- Detroit Tigers Foundation 50-50 Raffle -- Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is the charity partner for Friday & Saturday's 50-50 raffle.
Raffle tickets will be sold from the time gates open until the last out of the second inning.
- Negro Leagues merchandise will be sold by Tony Dee's Negro Leagues Apparel (Sections 125,108) and Head & Toe Apparel (Section 133).
- Fireworks, sponsored by Pepsi, will take place immediately following the game.
- Motown music will be played throughout the evening.
5:30-6:00
- Negro Leagues Player Roundtable - Outside of the Big Cat Court
The roundtable, hosted by John Mason, will give fans the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session with former Negro Leaguers.
5:30-6:30
- Willie Horton "The People's Champion" Book Signing- Gate A
Est-6:45
- On Field Ceremony
Ceremony honoring former Negro Leagues players hosted by famed radio announcer John Mason
During the 15th Annual Tribute Game, the Detroit Tigers will don the uniforms of the Detroit Stars and the Cleveland Indians will don the uniforms of the Cleveland Buckeyes
6:54
- Ceremonial First Pitch:
Former Negro Leagues player Mel Duncan
Rhonda Davenport Johnson, Sr. Vice President and Regional Manager for Comerica Bank
6:57
- National Anthem will be performed by the Mosaic Youth Theatre
Additional In-Park Events
- Negro Leagues merchandise will be sold by Tony Dee's Negro Leagues Apparel (Sections 125,108) and Head & Toe Apparel (Section133).
- Fireworks will take place immediately following the game.
- Fireworks, sponsored by Verizon Wireless, will take place immediately following the game.
- Motown music will be played throughout the evening.
- Detroit Tigers Foundation 50-50 Raffle -- Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is the charity partner for Friday & Saturday's 50-50 raffle.
Raffle tickets will be sold from the time gates open until the last out of the second inning.
Post-Game
- The two finalists from Friday night's Detroit Stars Singing Competition will perform in a "Sing-Off" on-field immediately following the game and prior to the start of the fireworks. Reggie Reg of Radio One will be hosting the competition. The two finalists will be judged based on the applause of the game day audience. The winner receives a $1,000 prize and the opportunity to sing the National Anthem at a future Tigers game.
Other
- Edwin Jackson, Marcus Thames, Dontrelle Wills, Curtis Granderson have purchased tickets for Rosedale Grandmont Little League, allowing kids from the inner city to be able to enjoy the game of baseball.
Negro Leagues Weekend Honorary Chairs
- Willie Horton, Gates Brown, Lloyd McClendon, Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, Michigan Chapter of Negro Leagues Baseball Players, Curtis Granderson, Edwin Jackson, Marcus Thames, Dontrelle Willis
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