By Matt Harding
The ceremony
The Tigers picked up the final game of the three game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, winning 8-3. However, the focus before the game would be on the number retirement ceremony for George "Sparky" Anderson, longtime Detroit manager. Many former Tigers were on hand to celebrate the occasion including: Al Kaline, Willie Horton, Lou Whitaker, Dan Petry, Ernie Harwell's old broadcasting partner Paul Carey, and Kirk Gibson and Alan Trammell, whose team was in town for the series. (Gibson is the manager of the team while Trammell is his bench coach; a reversal of roles from their days on the Tiger's coaching staff).
Sparky fans came out in droves to watch the ceremony.
Photo by Matt Harding / In Play! Magazine
The Sparky flag will be given
to the Anderson family after the 2011 season.
Photo by Matt Harding / In Play! Magazine
The jersey presented to the Anderson family.
Photo by Matt Harding / In Play! Magazine
The unveiling of Sparky's #11.
Photo by Matt Harding / In Play! Magazine
The game
Brad Penny pitched 6.2 innings for the Tigers, allowing two runs on eight hits, walking only one and striking out two batters. Al Alburquerque gets the win, his fifth of the year, pitching 1.1 innings giving up two hits and no runs.
The contest was 2-1 after the seventh inning, in favor of the D-Backs. But, in the bottom of the eighth, the Tigers pounced, scoring a whopping seven runs. The Diamondbacks, with two more hits than the Tigers, lose by five runs, 8-3.
Take a look HERE for more photos from the ceremony and photos of the game itself.
