5:30 p.m. As
planned, we went
directly to the
Tigers' dugout to
watch batting
practice, and then
we were going to
have the picture
•=.
taken. This was the
same routine as the
previous pictures.
While waiting
for Gabe Kapler to
finish taking his
swings, John
Keating, Tigers'
pre-game
announcer from
FoxSports Detroit,
interviewed our
family about the
uniform and the
wonderful tradi-
tion and legacy of
three generations.
We received the
signal that it was
now time to walk
to the dugout for
the picture. Jeremy
looked calm and
ready for the
moment and
walked to the
dugout with confi-
dence. While
readying for the
pose, Kapler struck
up a conversation
with Jeremy about
the latest kids'
craze, Pokemon cards. (I wonder what Hank Greenberg said to my dad?).
When the photographer said smile, Jeremy delivered the goods. A big smile
came across his face as the photographer ripped off a whole roll of black and
white film. For Dana and me, it was a huge sigh of relief: same picture, same
pose, same scratchy wool uniform.

•

T he Detroit Tigers

will play their final
game in Tiger
Stadium on Monday,
Sept. 27. They move
to Comerica Park next
season after 87 years
in Detroit at Michigan
and Trumbull.

Postscript

As a father and avid baseball fan, it's an incredible feeling to be able to carry
on a family tradition in the tradition-laden game of baseball. I played in Tiger
Stadium as an 18-year-old Adray League All-Star, was a three-time captain of
my college baseball team (Babson College) and was selected to the Division III
All New England team in 1982. I currently play hardball on the Detroit Rockies
in the MSBL-Detroit.
My Cape Cod Baseball League team, the Y-D Red Sox, had our team picture
in Sports Illustrated in 1981. Baseball has meant a great deal to our family and
has been an important part of our lives. My dad played in high school and
coached our Little League teams; and my brothers and nephews began playing
when they turned 6 years old.
As a 7-year-old, my older son Alex was selected MVP in his summer baseball
camp and currently plays in the NFWB Baseball League. His brother Jeremy, at
age 4, has incredible hand-eye coordination and is looking forward to his first
season in tee-ball next spring.

9/24

1999

Detroit Jewish News

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