WHO:  All Detroit Tigers from 1955 to 2012

 

WHAT:  Detroit Tigers Alumni Family Reunion

 

WHEN:  March 11-13, 2016

 

WHERE: Lakeland, Florida

 

WHY:  The Order of Professional Baseball Players is a very exclusive fraternity.  During a baseball career, players are together nine months a year.  Unlike employees in “The Real World” where employees leave the workplace and associates after the 5pm whistle blows, often as if the building is on fire.  During a career, for eight months a year, ballplayers work, eat, sleep, and travel together.  For all intents and purposes, the team is actually the ballplayer’s second family. 

 

Ballplayers shared each other’s joys and sorrows, highs and lows, and rode that emotional roller coaster that is a by-product of an industry where the success standard is based on a seventy percent failure rate.  Our professional baseball careers provided a vehicle to live our dreams.  Some of us realized the dream, a few exceeded their dream, and as in my case, many fell short of original expectations. 

 

In the words of former Tigers third base coach Joe Schultz, “many are called, but few are chosen”.   However the career played out, it is doubtful that any one of us would trade one second of the time playing professional baseball. As in the case of youth, this experience was not appreciated while playing. 

 

As I fade in to senior citizenship and call to mind my life experiences, the baseball years were the most joyful.   Seldom does a day past when there is not a thought of a game, road trip, or former teammate. A professional baseball career provides one with many fond memories.  However, the most joyous memories are from the relationships with former teammates. 

 

The former Tigers participation in the Reunion shares the feeling of joy to be able to reunite with the people who were such an important part of our lives.  Our gathering includes players with multi year major league service time to players with less than ten games in the rookie league. 

 

We are all truly “Tigers for Life”

 

John “Duke” Young

Detroit Tigers, 1971  

 

 

Tigers Family Reunion II- Lakeland, Florida

March 11-13, 2016

 

TENTATIVE ITINERARY

 

Thursday, March 10, 2016

1:00pm:  Check in and pre-registration at Imperial Swan Hotel

 

Day 1 – Friday, March 11, 2016

All Day: Check in and registration at Imperial Swan Hotel

12:00pm:  Shotgun Start Alumni Golf Tournament – Lone Palm Golf Club

 6:00pm – 10:00pm:  Meet & Greet Welcoming Reception at Lone Palm Golf Club

 

DAY 2 – Saturday, March 12, 2016

9:00am – 10:30am: Alumni Breakfast at Tigertown Dinning Hall

10:30am – Tiger Alums Tour Tigertown Facilities

TBAam -  Ladies Luncheon & Outing

12:30pm – Grapefruit League Game @ Marchant Stadium (Optional)

6:00pm – Alumni Awards Dinner – Imperial Swan Ballroom

 

DAY 3 – Sunday, March 13 2016

 8:00am – 11:00am – Alumni Buffett Breakfast at Imperial Swan

 9:00am - Announcements

 9:15am – Personal Reflections on Tigertown experience (open microphone)

10:45am - Dismissal