JANUARY 11 • 2024 | 35
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notable, the role I played in
overseeing the authentica-
tion of the artifacts related to
Miguel Cabrera’s major career
milestones (500 home runs,
3,000 hits). Making sure the
artifacts were collected, secured
and authenticated in real-time
was important to Miguel, our
organization and Major League
Baseball. Handing the 500th
home run baseball to Miguel in
the Clubhouse in Toronto was
one of the greatest privileges of
my career.
JN: What is the history of the
Tigers’ Jewish Heritage Day?
JF: In 2013, it was the
80th anniversary of Hank
Greenberg’s rookie season
with the Tigers. We planned a
special event to celebrate that
milestone. It felt good to help
share that story and to celebrate
with the local Jewish commu-
nity. The following season,

2014, was the 80th anniversary
of Greenberg observing the
Jewish High Holidays while
leading the Tigers to the 1934
American League pennant, and
I advocated for the first Jewish
Heritage Game. We formed a
small committee — including
members of the local Jewish
community — and Jewish
Heritage Day at Comerica Park
was born. It has become an
annual event at Comerica Park.
I’m proud to have played a role
in creating the tradition.
JN: What do you like best
about working in Detroit?
JF: I find great joy working
in the city and partnering with
community organizations and
schools to refurbish baseball
fields and donate baseball
equipment and Tigers tickets to
children and students.
We have renovated nearly 80
ball fields in the greater Detroit

community. We have donated
tens of thousands of dollars
in youth baseball and softball
equipment and hosted count-
less camps and clinics in the
community.
JN: What connection points
might you have to the Jewish
community?
JF: I am a graduate of Hillel
Day School in Farmington
Hills and a Camp Tamarack
camper. I grew up playing at
the West Bloomfield JCC and
singing in the youth choir at
Congregation B’nai Moshe. I
had my bar mitzvah at Adat
Shalom and was married at
B’nai Moshe. My family and I
are now members at Temple
Shir Shalom and are active
with Friendship Circle and
Jewish Federation. My family
enjoys Shabbat dinners with
family and friends. Our sons’
bar mitzvahs at Temple Shir

Shalom were particularly
meaningful.
JN: How does your upbring-
ing or early mentors relate to
the work you do now?
JF: I grew up hearing that
the man I’m named for (my
great-grandfather) was a Tigers
fan, who introduced a love for
baseball to my father. I grew
up playing catch with my dad
and brothers and listening to
Ernie Harwell call Tigers games
on the radio. The only day I
skipped of law school during
my first year, was to take my
dad to the final game at Tiger
Stadium.
Around the time I was in
middle school, I read an article
about Irwin Cohen, a member
of the Detroit Orthodox Jewish
community who worked for
the Tigers. I have since met
Irwin, read many of his books,
and had the honor of helping

continued on page 36

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