On August 14, the Detroit Tigers, in their game against the Cleveland Indians, welcomed 32,845 fans to Comerica Park – their largest crowd of the 2021 season – for the 16th annual ¡Fiesta Tigres! Celebration.
The celebration, which recognizes and honors the contributions of Hispanic and Latin American players and coaches to the game of baseball, featured live entertainment on the concourse, Latin-themed décor and displays, and foods and drink that represents Latin American culture. Pre– and in-game programming paid homage to current and former players and coaches of Latin American descent, and, the first 10,000 fans that entered Comerica Park received a complimentary Tigres replica jersey, courtesy of Miller Lite.
Prior to the game, the Tigers and Nike came together to provide a special day to 30 youth softball players from the Clark Park Coalition, a recreational center offering sport, enrichment, and vital resources to families of southwest Detroit.
The softball ball players, ages 6 and older, were from the “Lady Diamonds” and “Diamond Girls” programs, where they receive introductory instruction and recreational play opportunities. Their day began with a trip to the Detroit-based Nike Community Store, with each player receiving, courtesy of Nike, a bag of complimentary merchandise as well as $100 to spend on additional merchandise.
After, the softball players, their coaches and families arrived early at Comerica Park and were greeted by Tigers infielder Jeimer Candelario. The young players were then able to watch Detroit’s batting practice, participate in the pregame ceremony honoring current and former Hispanic players, coaching and executive staff, and cheer the Tigers on to victory.
“With special thanks to Nike, the Tigers were happy to provide a memorable day to these young athletes as part of our ¡Fiesta Tigres! Celebration,” said Kevin Brown, Director of Community Impact for the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings. “We are pleased that youth baseball continues to thrive in southwest Detroit’s vibrant Clark Park community as we help ensure sports access, experiences and resources for children throughout Detroit.”
To learn more about the Latin American influence on the Tigers’ current 40-man roster, visit the Equality page on tigers.com for a feature story available in both Spanish and English.
