TIGERS HOME OPENER FRIDAY AGAINST RED SOX – 18TH SEASON AT COMERICA PARK 

Home Opener Features First Pitch by Detroit Tigers Great and 2017 Hall of Fame Selection Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez and National Anthem Performance by Wayne State University Quartet.

Baseball returns to Detroit on Friday, April 7 as the Tigers begin their 2017 campaign at Comerica Park, in the heart of The District Detroit, one of the largest sports and entertainment developments in the country. The seven-game homestand will feature the Boston Red Sox from April 7 through April 10 and the Minnesota Twins April 11 through April 13. First pitch for all games is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. Opening Day is sponsored by BallPark.

Friday, April 7 vs Boston Red Sox at 1:10 p.m. Gates Open at 11:00 a.m.

• All fans on Friday’s game will receive a “Mr. I” button upon entry to the game. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats at 12:30 p.m. for opening ceremonies.
• The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by former Tiger and 2017 Hall of Fame Selection Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez.
• The national anthem will be performed by the Wayne State University Quartet.
• Honor Guard Introduction: The United States Marine Corps color guard.
• Military Flyover: Four A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthog” aircraft from the 107th Fighter Squadron and part of the 127th Wing located at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, MI.
• The game ball will be delivered by Technical Sergeant Louis Jones of the Selfridge Air National Guard from Detroit. Technical Sergeant Jones is an Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic for the 191st Maintenance Squadron and has served nine tours of duty in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and most recently Operation Freedom Sentinel. He has proudly served in the United States Armed Forces for 36 years.
• God Bless America will be performed by Staff Sergeant Amy Gould of the 126 Army Band during the 7th inning stretch. Flyover pilots and ground support will be introduced at that time.
• Detroit Tigers Foundation 50/50 Raffle: The Detroit Tigers Foundation 50/50 Charity Raffle continues at Comerica Park this season at all Friday and Saturday home games.
• Read the current Traffic Advisory

Saturday, April 8 vs Boston Red Sox at 1:10 p.m. Gates Open at 11:30 a.m.

• The first 10,000 fans will receive an April in the D Trapper Hat, sponsored by FOX Sports Detroit.
• The Detroit News will distribute 2017 schedule cheer cards outside all gates, prior to the game.
• Tigers Alumni Saturdays, presented by Comerica Bank: New for the 2017 season, the Tigers will honor an alumni each Saturday home game. This Saturday Tiger Alumni and Hall of Famer Al Kaline will particpate in a Q&A from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m at the Big Cat Court and throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
• The Detroit Tigers partner with JACK’S PLACE for Autism to raise awareness for Autism. Representatives from JACK’S PLACE for Autism along with beneficiaries of JACK’S PLACE will participate in a pregame on-field ceremony, and a public service announcement will run about JACK’S PLACE prior to all home games in April.
• Detroit Dog Rescue Ticket Package: This ticket package includes a game ticket, t-shirt, dog bandana and a $5 donation to Detroit Dog Rescue.
• Verlander’s Victory for Veterans: This season, for each Saturday home game, Justin Verlander hosts Veterans from Veterans Affairs Medical Centers throughout the state of Michigan. These Veterans sustained injuries or illness in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom or in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. The Veterans along with their families cheer on the Tigers from the comfort of Verlander’s personal luxury suite. After serving our country, the special day provides American veterans the opportunity to enjoy a Tigers game with their family. Veterans from the Detroit VA Medical Center will enjoy 18 luxury suite tickets and free parking, along with food an beverage, complements of Verlander. Veterans receive a personalized welcome letter from Verlander and a Verlander’s Victory for Veterans t-shirt.
• The ceremonial first pitches will be thrown by Elsa Freeman, representing Pepsi and Terry Anthony, representing FOX Sports Detroit.
• The national anthem will be performed by vocalist Chas Burtchett.

Sunday, April, 9 vs. Boston Red Sox at 1:10 p.m. Gates Open at 11:30 a.m.

• Kids Opening Day: The Detroit Tigers, in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will host the eighth annual Kids Opening Day. This festive event is designed to engage young Tigers fans and will feature exciting activities including face painters, jugglers and stilt walkers. The Detroit Tigers hosted a contest to encourage families to submit essays on the topic of how children can stay healthy during the summer. The 21 contest winners will participate in Kids Opening Day honorary activities such as Kid’s Take the Field, honorary ticket takers, grounds crew members, TV and radio broadcasters, PA and lineup announcers and various other gameday roles.
• All kids 14-and-under will receive a Detroit Tigers Baseball Card Set, courtesy of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Along with the giveaway, cheer cards will be distributed at gates for an in-game contest.
• Goodfellows Ticket Package: This ticket package includes a game ticket, hoodie and a $5 donation to The Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund.
• The ceremonial first pitches will be thrown by Kids Opening Day contest winner, Payton Wiggins, Kids Opening Day BCBSM winner, Remington Lowing, escorted by Andy Hetzel, BCBSM Vice President, Corporate Communications.
• An additional ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by former Red Wings player Nicklas Lidstrom, in honor of the last game at Joe Louis Arena on Sunday.
• The national anthem and God Bless America, during the 7th inning stretch, will be performed by the Detroit Opera Theater Children’s Chorus.
• All Sunday home games are Chevy Youth Baseball Sunday Kids Days at Comerica Park. All kids 14-and-under will receive a free promotional item as part of the “Every Kid, EverySunday” giveaway guarantee, enjoy free rides courtesy of Kroger on the Comerica Bank Carousel or the Fly Ball Ferris Wheel, take part in free face painting, have the chance towin a Chevrolet Silverado Ride On and are invited down to the field for Kids Run the Bases courtesy of Aquafina following the game, weather permitting.

Monday, April, 10 vs. Boston Red Sox at 1:10 p.m. Gates Open at 11:30 a.m.

• The first 10,000 fans will receive a 2017 Tigers Magnet Schedule, courtesy of Comerica Bank.
• Space Day: Prior to the game vs. the Boston Red Sox at 1:10 p.m. the Tigers will host Space Day, the first of seven installments of the Tigers Class Outside Series, presented by Oakland University. Join the Tigers to explore our universe and galaxy utilizing the giant HD Comerica Park videoboard. Representatives from The Michigan Science Center will be on hand with a special presentation about the wonders of space.  The Michigan Science Center (MiSci) is a unique, fun and dynamic hands-on museum, offering programs that inspire children and their families to discover, explore and appreciate science, technology and math in a fun, dynamic learning environment. Through an interactive approach to science with engaging, hands-on exhibits, shows and activities, MiSci strives to help launch the next generation of Michigan’s engineers, scientists and innovators, and significantly impact the cultural and economic renewal of Detroit and Michigan. This year’s special guest presenter will be former NASA Astronaut and Navy Captain Mike Foreman. Foreman flew on two Space Shuttle missions, STS-123 on the space shuttle Endeavour in 2008 and STS-129 on the space shuttle Atlantis in 2009. He spent 637 hours in space including over 32 hours carrying out five spacewalks to help construct the International Space Station.

• Awards Presentation: Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera will be presented with his 2016 Silver Slugger Award prior to Monday’s game.

• Military Veterans Program (MVP) – Fox Sports Detroit broadcaster Mario Impemba continues to thank the men and women of the United States Armed Force with the MVP (Military Veterans Program) — Mario Impemba’s salute to those who served. Through the program, Mario invites those who served and the families impacted by the service of a loved one in support of our nation to attend Monday home games at Comerica Park. New in 2017- a group of 20 Veterans (of all eras) and families will be treated to a Detroit Tigers game in a luxury suite, receive ballpark fare catering, a “MVP” t-shirt, an autographed photo of Tigers broadcaster Mario Impemba, and complimentary transportation to and from the ballpark. Additionally, the guests will have the opportunity to participate in a private meet and greet with Impemba in the suite. Guests from Disabled American Veterans from St. Clair Shores, Michigan will attend the game on April 10.
• Comerica Bank Hatch Detroit Check Presentation: Prior to Monday’s game, Comerica Bank will present a $50,000 check to Hatch Detroit, which champions and supports independent retail businesses in Detroit.
• The game ball will be delivered by Private First Class Joshua Shoults of the United States Army, from Hazel Park, MI. Private First Class Shoults is a Combat Engineer in the 2nd Brigade Engineer Battalion. He most recently served in Kuwait and has earned the Army Achievement Medal. He has proudly served the United States Army for nearly one year.
• The ceremonial first pitches will be thrown by BJ Harvey, representing Comerica Bank and Dennis Villarreal, representing Pepsi. Also throwing a ceremonial first pitch is former astronaut Mike Foreman.
• The national anthem will be performed by vocalist Technical Sergeant Mario Jimenez of the United States Air Force.

Check here for the complete Detroit Tigers season schedule.