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A Jewish woman devotes her life to the Detroit Tigers.

IRWIN COHEN

She applied to several gradu-
ate sports management pro-
grams and decided on Wayne
ust as baseball teams try
State University "because I
to have the best players
heard that Detroit was such a
on the field, it's very
great sports town."
important to have competent
Bobrowsky arrived here on
personnel throughout the
Aug. 26, 1992, the day Mike
organization. And if all the gen-
Ilitch purchased the Tigers. She
eral managers picked their best
began an internship with the
people for one team, Celia
club in 1993 while attending
Bobrowsky of the Detroit Tigers
Wayne State. One of her duties
would be a department head.
that spring was to assist veteran
Bobrowsky is director of com-
announcer Ernie Harwell with
munity affairs — the Tigers
his fan mail.
Care Department — a position
Harwell had been released in
that demands up to 100 hours
1991, but returned to the
per week during the baseball
Tigers in '93.
season. There's no such thing as
"He received hundreds of let-
a typical day for the 40-some-
ters every week welcoming him
thing Bobrowsky, who often
back," says Bobrowsky. "I
represents the club at charitable
would leave the office at 11
functions.
p.m. with Ernie's mail in hand,
"No two days have been the
sort it at home and have it
same in the 12 years I have
ready the next morning for him
been with the Tigers,"
to respond. He answered every
Bobrowsky says. "I normally
one of those letters and it was
attend 75 or more of our 81
fun to help him do that."
home games. During.the week,
Bobrowsky earned her mas-
when the team is in town and
ter's degree in sports manage-
playing an evening game, I
ment from Wayne in 1995. She
arrive at work at 9 a.m. and
advises anyone desiring to work
often stay until after the game
in a sports office to get your
ends."
foot in the door.
On weekends, she usually
"That often means working
arrives 3-4 hours prior to game
for no or very little pay, often
time.
in- an internship," she says.
During the games, she'll often
She says a related degree is
be in her office, meeting with
helpful, but most important is
fans, sponsors, special guests
"one needs to really love what
and the players' families.
he or she is doing and have a
"Many of our duties in the
passion for it."
community affairs department
Bobrowsky has a full sched-
center around the players and
ule, but tries to make the most
their families," she says. "While
of her rare, spare time. A single
office work takes up 90 percent
woman, she enjoys reading,
of my day, I normally will be on
bird watching, nature trips,
the field at least once a day and
opera and foreign films. She
in the clubhouse two or three
wants to learn to play the violin
times a day, dealing with the
and a favorite pastime is a quiet
players, coaches and our club-
dinner with good wine and
house manager.
laughs.
"I still get that special feeling
Celia Bobrowsky can work 100-hour weeks during the season. She's shown at Comerica Park.
After many lean years,
every time I step onto the field,
Bobrowsky is optimistic about
even though I've done it for
spring training to talk to players and
the Tigers under General
and often attended New York Mets
almost a thousand games."
their wives about the upcoming sea-
Manager Dave Dombrowski. "It's so
games at Shea Stadium with her
During the off-season, Bobrowsky is
son's community programs.
father. She developed a love of baseball much fun to see the team progress
part of the Tigers' tour of Michigan
For nine years, she assisted at the
under his leadership," she says. "Our
and baseball lore.
cities. She supervises the annual corn-
Tigers' annual Fantasy Camp in
organization and this community is
"About 15 years ago," she says, "I
munity outreach winter caravan of
Florida, and became friends with the
very lucky to have him. It's just a mat-
decided I wanted a change in my life.
players, coaches and staff. And she
Tiger alumni and the campers.
I wanted to combine my love of sports ter of time before we win a World
makes a trip to Lakeland, Fla., during
Bobrowsky grew up in Connecticut
Series — I have no doubts."
and community service."

Special to the Jewish News

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„TN

7/ 7

2005

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