July 20th – What a ballpark! Looking at the stadium from the outside, there is no doubt as to what team plays there – Tigers are everywhere and it is beautifully done. Once inside the stadium, we enjoyed walking around the statutes in the outfield honoring Willie Horton, Ty Cobb, Hank Greenberg, Charlie Gehringer and Al Kaline. From there we walked around to the Home Plate entrance where we found the Big Cat Court, which is a food court just inside the entrance with a Detroit Tiger Carousel in the center. Of course I had to ride it!! This was the start of the Negro League Weekend and the Tigers were honoring Norman “Turkey” Stearnes. His family members were presented a plaque before the game and through the evening various “Did you know facts” were shown on the Jumbotron. For example, Country Singer Charlie Pride played in the Negro Leagues for the Birmingham Black Barons and the Memphis Red Sox in the early 1950’s. The game got off to a great start with Gary Sheffield hitting a home run in the first inning but the Royals would not be denied.