Tigers spreading holiday cheer in community

This story was excerpted from Jason Beck’s Tigers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

In a year when Tarik Skubal became one of the biggest faces of the Tigers on the field, dominating opponents on his way to the American League Cy Young Award, what he said about making a difference off the field still resonates entering the holiday season.

“A lot of people have made sacrifices for me in my life to get me in this position,” he said in September. “To be able to give back in any capacity is important, and to me it's just the beginning. I look forward to getting more involved in this community and giving back and making an impact that can be sustainable.”

While the Tigers brought joy to Metro Detroit and Michigan with their first winning season since 2016, first playoff berth in a decade and first postseason series win in 11 years, they brought more to the community, including a spirit of giving that continues year-round.

Skubal was the Tigers’ nominee for MLB’s Roberto Clemente Award, given annually to the player who best represents the game through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions on and off the field.

Skubal and his wife Jessica have focused on supporting women and families at risk of domestic violence. Through Alternatives for Girls, a Detroit-based nonprofit helping women escape violence, homelessness and other dangerous situations while making decisions to turn their lives around, the Skubals provided support for residents of Dr. Maya Angelou Village, a housing development opened this past summer for homeless and at-risk women and families. The Skubals provided a welcome gift by covering the cost of essential household items, from bedding to cleaning supplies to pots and pans. The Skubal Snack Burger that the Tigers released for Players Weekend in August raised more money for the cause.

Skubal wasn’t the only one stepping up. Tigers television play-by-play broadcaster Jason Benetti brought Tigers players and professional comedians together in July for a night of comedy to benefit The Children’s Center art therapy program, which focuses on youth mental health. The Tigers’ annual Gloves for Kids program helped collect and distribute equipment to Little League baseball and softball and other youth organizations, giving kids access to play the game.

After the holiday season, Benetti will team with Tigers radio play-by-play broadcaster Dan Dickerson, White Sox radio broadcaster Len Kasper and Blue Jays broadcaster Dan Shulman for Hot Stove Stories: Rounding the Bases, hosted by NBC Sports broadcaster and Michigan resident Mike Tirico. They’ll share stories, give insights and answer questions, with proceeds benefitting the Jamie Daniels Foundation to support substance abuse prevention.

The morning event is set for Tuesday, Jan. 14 from 7:30-10 a.m. at the MotorCity Sound Board. Tickets are $100 and include breakfast. For more information, click here.

The Tigers Foundation also continued its efforts to promote youth baseball and softball. Kerry Carpenter and Spencer Torkelson joined 50 special needs children from the area in September in Southfield for a Baseball Fantasy Camp for Kids in conjunction with the Miracle League. The Tigers’ Nike RBI senior baseball and softball teams both won regional titles in July to advance to the RBI World Series in September.

The Tigers will get into the Christmas spirit coming up with their Hometown Holiday Assist, teaming up with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings and Meijer to provide several families in need with a shopping spree and gift cards to ensure a memorable holiday. Tigers pitcher Sawyer Gipson-Long participated in last year’s event.

“I would rather do nothing else than this,” he said then. “And I want to use the Tigers and baseball as my platform to give back.”