May 28, 2004: Detroit, Michigan

September 28, 2003, the final day of the 2003 Major League Baseball regular season: ESPN cut away from regularly scheduled programming to bring its audience the final inning of the Detroit Tigers vs. Minnesota Twins game. The Twins had already clinched the American League Central Title and were assured of playing the New York Yankees in the Division Series. The story in Motown was the hometown Tigers, who were three outs away from avoiding baseball infamy. As the Tigers recorded the final out of the 9-4 win, the home crowd erupted and the Tigers ran out on to the field as if they had won their Division. It prompted Tigers announcers Mario Impemba and Rod Allen to toss away their 1962 New York Mets footage and celebrate the end to an auspicious season. Since that “historic” September afternoon, the Detroit Tigers organization stepped up its efforts to upgrade the team by signing catcher Ivan Rodriguez, outfielder Magglio Ordonez, and relief pitcher Troy Percival. These players brought a winning attitude to a city rich in baseball history, one that hosted the 2005 All-Star Game. [Read more…]