Wayne Gretzky Wanted To Be A Detroit Tiger
You didn’t read that wrong. Wayne Gretzky wanted to play shortstop for the Detroit Tigers. With Tigers single game tickets on sale today (Wednesday at 10am) — we started looking up stories about the 1984 Tigers (40th anniversary). In the midst of Gibby and Sparky and Trammell, the name Wayne Gretzky came up…wait. what?
Wayne Gretzky Wanted To Play Baseball
Back in 2017 Wayne Gretzky appeared on the Dan Patrick show when he started about playing other sports besides hockey. The conversation quickly turned to his love of baseball – and towards the end of the conversation he talks in detail about his love of the Detroit Tigers. Wayne Gretzky wanted to play shortstop for the Detroit Tigers.
Wait. What? Here’s what he said: “My favorite sport, believe it or not, was baseball.” Asked whether, talent notwithstanding, he would’ve chosen to be a baseball player or a hockey player, he didn’t hesitate: “I would’ve taken baseball all day long. I would’ve loved to have been the shortstop for the Detroit Tigers. I grew up such a big Tiger fan, Ernie Harwell and listening to Tiger games.”
👀@OfficialGretzky pic.twitter.com/pchEGL160m
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) February 9, 2017
Gretzky Wanted to Join The Detroit Red Wings
As we try to process the vision of Gretzky wearing the old english D for the Tigers – what about joining the Red Wings? In the ESPN 30 for 30, Gretzky talked about Edmonton letting him choose a team for the trade…and it was down to two: Los Angeles and Detroit (his wife wanted him to come here BTW). Can you imagine him on the ice wearing the 99?
Focusing on this season for the Tigers
Are we the only ones really excited to see what this team has in store for the AL Central in 2024? Gearing up for opening day on April and this team has a real chance to win the division. And have you seen some of the tech upgrades at Comerica Park?
Favorite Michigan Sports Illustrated Covers
Bill Laimbeer - Pistons Bad Boy (Nov. 5th 1990)
If you were in Detroit you loved him. Outside of Michigan, he was probably the most hated player in the NBA…and we didn’t give a sh*t. The Bad Boys were exactly that – they’d knock you on your ass and complain to refs if a foul was called. Bill Laimbeer was our pain the butt, and we love him.
UNITED STATES – OCTOBER 25: November 5, 1990 Sports Illustrated via Getty Images Cover, Basketball: Closeup portrait of Detroit Pistons Bill Laimbeer (40), Detroit, MI 10/25/1990 (Photo by Theo Westenberger/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Magic Johnson vs Bird - April 2nd, 1979
Where were you when these two giants squared off in 1979? Magic and Bird changed the way we watched basketball..the entire country wanted to see who’d win the game (and the game within the game between these two).
UNITED STATES – MARCH 26: April 2, 1979 Sports Illustrated via Getty Images Cover, College Basketball: NCAA Final Four, Michigan State Magic Johnson (33) in action, making dunk vs Indiana State Bob Heaton (30), Salt Lake City, UT 3/26/1979 (Photo by Rich Clarkson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Megatron - Oct. 10th, 2011
Calvin Johnson was a man playing among boys. I still laugh at some of the catches he made in the NFL (even when defenses tried everything to stop him). This catch against Dallas just a reminder of how amazing Megatron was…and what a blessing to have him in Detroit.
October 10, 2011 Sports Illustrated via Getty Images Cover:
Football: Detroit Lions Calvin Johnson (81) in action, making catch and scoring game winning touchdown vs Dallas Cowboys Terence Newman (41) at Cowboys Stadium.
Arlington, TX 10/2/2011
CREDIT: David E. Klutho (Photo by David E. Klutho /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images)Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay - Jan 17th 1957
This was a tough one. So many great Red Wings covers – but something about these two on the cover of Sports Illustrated back in the early days makes me smile. How many hockey players saw that picture and said “I want to be in the NHL”…or said “there’s no way in hell I’m messing with them”
UNITED STATES – JANUARY 17: March 18, 1957 Sports Illustrated via Getty Images Cover, Hockey: Closeup portrait of Detroit Red Wings Ted Lindsay (15) and Gordie Howe (9) in locker room, Detroit, MI 1/17/1957 (Photo by Richard Meek/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Desmond Howard - Sept. 14th 1991
When it comes to Michigan football it’s all about the swagger. And NO ONE backed it quite like Desmond Howard – scoring the game winner against Notre Dame back in 1991. Wolverine legend.
September 23, 1991 Sports Illustrated via Getty Images Cover: College Football: Michigan Desmond Howard (21) in action and victorious, scoring touchdown vs Notre Dame Greg Davis (26) during 4th down. Ann Arbor, MI 9/14/1991 CREDIT: Duane Burleson/AP (Photo by SI Cover /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Alan Trammell - Oct. 13th 1984
The 1984 Tigers (love this pic of Trammell going yard against the Padres in the World Series). I hope everyone in Detroit understands how amazing this team was, and how Sports Illustrated captured so many pics of Trammell and the gang during that season. One of the greatest teams in MLB history.
October 22, 1984 Sports Illustrated via Getty Images Cover: Baseball: World Series: Detroit Tigers Alan Trammell (3) in action, hitting home run vs San Diego Padres. Game 4. Detroit, MI 10/13/1984 CREDIT: John Iacono (Photo by John Iacono /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images)
