Now that the holidays are over and football (the college game, at least) is shuffling off the stage (Go Blue, by the way), it's time to start thinking about baseball again. (Though I'm sure we ever really stopped, thanks to Dave Dombrowski.) I didn't realize it until I heard a local radio ad this morning, but the Tigers Winter Caravan starts up in just over a week, with an extra tour route added to the itinerary this year. And with TigerFest selling out so fast, this might be the one chance you have this winter to shake a Detroit Tiger's hand.
Here's the caravan schedule, hopefully with a visit near you:
Sunday, Jan. 13
11-11:30 a.m.: Bishop Charles H. Ellis and Greater Grace Temple Visit
(Greater Grace Temple, Detroit)
10-11:45 a.m.: Offices of the Detroit Police Department's Central District
10:30-11:45 a.m.: Southwest Detroit Business Association Community Assembly
(Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Detroit)
1-3:15 p.m.: Windsor Regional Hospital Event (Windsor, Ontario)
3-7 p.m.: Toledo Mud Hens Event (Toledo, Ohio)
Monday, Jan. 14
11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Children's Hospital of Michigan (Detroit)
1-3:15 p.m.: Boys & Girls Republic & Lutheran Child and Family Services (Farmington Hills)
3-5 p.m.: Anderson Theater, Henry Ford Museum (Dearborn)
4:45-7 p.m.: Wayne State University Community Rally (Detroit)
WEST BUS
Sunday, Jan. 13
12:30-2:30 p.m.: Michigan State University, Breslin Center (East Lansing)
5:30-9:30 p.m.: West Michigan Whitecaps Banquet (Grand Rapids)
Monday, Jan. 14
12-1:30 p.m.: Hope College, Holland & South Haven Community Rally
(DeVos Field House at Hope College, Holland)
5:30-7:30 p.m.: Eastern Michigan University Rally
(EMU Convocation Center, Ypsilanti)
NORTH BUS
Sunday, Jan. 13
3-5:30 p.m.: Traverse City Community Rally
(Central High School, Traverse City)
5:30-6:30 p.m.: Munson Medical Center Visit
(Traverse City)
Monday, Jan. 14
12:15-2:45 p.m.: Mount Pleasant Community Rally
(Rose Arena, Mount Pleasant)
3:45-5:45 p.m.: Saginaw Valley State University & Saginaw Chamber of Commerce Rally
(Ryder at SVSU, Saginaw)
4:30-6:30 p.m.: Frankenmuth Reception
(Bavarian Inn Lodge, Frankenmuth)
I imagine the Tigers will announce the players and staff that will appear at each stop very soon. I'm eyeing that EMU tour stop, as that's the closest to my neighborhood. If anyone else has plans to check out the Winter Caravan, leave a comment and maybe some of us can meet up at one stop or another.
Also, Billfer has some details on two other stops in Bay City and Mount Pleasant whose proceeds will benefit the Special Olympics.