ase
all
A Family Tradition
With Tiger Stadium about to close,
a family continues a time-honored tradition.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF RICK LOEWENSTEIN
RICK LOEWENSTEIN
Special to the Jewish News
riving south on Detroit's Lodge Freeway, weav-
ing through the inevitable new construction, I
knew that this trip to "the old ball park at the
corner," to Tiger Stadium, was going to be emo-
tional. Baseball has been a part of our family life since the
early 1900s, and tonight I was going to carry on a family
tradition with the Detroit Tigers and a scratchy wool uni-
form.
The tradition started in 1935 when my grandfather's
friend, Tiger great Hank Greenberg (my grandfather had
food and Hank liked to eat), gave my dad a child's-size,
authentic-looking, Detroit Tigers uniform made of real
wool.
During that summer, my dad, wearing the uniform, had
his picture taken with the original Hammerin' Hank on the
steps of the Tigers' dugout. Our dad told us that he was 4
years old when the picture was taken.
Then in 1961 and 1964, my brother Mark and I each
had our pictures taken with our favorite Tiger, Rocky "the
Rock" Colavito. To close out the second generation of pic-
tures, my brother Mike had his picture taken with Bill
Freehan in 1966 — same pose, same age, same scratchy
wool uniform.
Just seeing us in a picture with the Rock and Freehan,
next to a picture with our dad and Hank, made us feel like
we were all part of the family that won the world champi-
onship two years later.
The third generation of pictures started in 1993 with
my nephew Max and Mickey Tettleton, and continued
with my other nephew Joey and future Hall of Famer Alan
Trammel in 1994. In 1996, Tram graciously posed again,
this time with my other nephew, Matthew. It was really
uncanny to be there and witness this tradition. It seemed to
have a life of its own.
In 1997, it was my son Alex's turn. We tried to have his
Rick Loewenstein is a West Bloomfield resident and chief execu-
tive officer of Gleaners Community Food Bank in Detroit.
9/24
1999
112 Detroit Jewish News
picture taken in '96, but as a typical 4-
year-old, he fell asleep on the way to the
ballpark. When he finally woke up, he
refused to go anywhere near the dugout.
So, after a year of practicing (and a great
night's sleep), Alex finally had his picture
taken with infielder Travis Fryman.
The following year in 1998, my broth-
er flew in from Chicago with his son
Judd to have his picture taken with pitch-
er Justin Thompson — same pose, same
age, same scratchy wool uniform.
As I approached the stadium this
month, my mind was racing. Only 15
home games left in historic Tiger
Stadium, and tonight my son Jeremy was
scheduled to have his picture taken with
rookie Gabe Kapler.
Kapler has had so much publicity for
his physical prowess. I hoped it wouldn't
jinx him. He's got a beautiful swing. He's aggressive. I
indulgently mused that maybe he is the reincarnation of
Greenberg.
My wife Dana and I had everything planned. We tried
the uniform on Jeremy the previous week and it fit perfect-
ly. The Tiger organization had again honored a tradition
started with Hank Greenberg. Our photographer, Glenn
Triest, was confirmed and the Tigers' PR department was
ready and willing to make the picture happen.
How perfect: the last sibling of the third generation in
the last season at Tiger Stadium in the last year of this cen-
tury!
I was brought back to reality when I looked in the
rearview mirror, only to find Jeremy had fallen asleep. My
heart sank. We arrived at the parking lot next to the stadi-
um, Lindenbaum's Lot, and sure enough, Jeremy was still
out cold.
He finally woke up and we began getting him dressed
(this time Dana had brought an undershirt) in the 64-year-
old scratchy wool uniform.
I started to get the chills as we entered the stadium at
Above left:
1935: Marshall Loewenstein
and Hank Greenberg
Above right:
1999: Jeremy Loewenstein
and Gabe Kapler
Far right, top to bottom:
1996: Matthew Loewenstein
and Alan Trammel
1997: Alex Loewenstein
and Mavis Fryman
1998: Judd Loewenstein
and Justin Thompson
1961: Mark Loewenstein
and Rocky Colavito
1966: Mike Loewenstein and Bill Freehan