Although it may not be an official holiday on the calendar, if you grew up in and around the Motor City, you know that Tigers Opening Day is a tradition that goes back multiple generations. Opening Day is celebrated across many cities, and it marks the start of the Major League Baseball season.
For Detroit Tigers fans, it’s more than just a day of baseball. For some, Opening Day celebrates the unofficial arrival of spring, which means warmer days are soon to be here, and for Tiger fans, that includes the “Voice of the Turtle,” which was echoed by longtime Tigers Broadcaster Ernie Harwell for decades. For others, a Tigers Opening Day is an excellent excuse to get off work and head on down to the ballpark, which, from the confines of Comerica Park in Detroit, celebrates its 25th Opening Day.
Although the first pitch wasn’t scheduled to start until after 1 p.m., thousands of fans made their way down in the hours before, just outside the ballpark, to join 94.7 WCSX at The Elwood Bar & Grill and kick off the Tigers’ Opening Day festivities. The maestro of the microphone, WCSX’s Screamin’ Scott, was on hand to chat it up with all those rooting for the Motor City kitties. A rare appearance by WCSX superfan Tigerman was even spotted.
The Elwood Bar & Grill is about the closest you can get to Comerica Park without having a ticket to the game. It’s so close that some fans find themselves parking on the roof of the parking garage attached and watching a skyline view of the outfield walls being patrolled by potentially the next Al Kaline or Curtis Granderson, depending on what generation you talk to.
It doesn’t matter if this is your first Opening Day or 50th; anyone who comes down to celebrate a Tigers Opening Day will witness first-hand just how much the fans are “Crazy Bout Those Tigers” and will root for them until they bring a pennant back to the Motor City.
A special thanks to Elwood manager Liz and her hard-working waitstaff, as well as security personnel James and Bobby, who made sure everyone was having a safe and responsible good time. GO TIGERS!!