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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