FanPost Friday recap: How you became a fan

Last Friday we gave you this FanPost prompt: Tell us how you became a Detroit Tigers fan. We got a good turnout this week! Here’s what you said.

sluggonauts: “I spent most my childhood growing up outside NYC, my mom was from Toledo. In summer 1978 on a trip to Toledo, my grandfather, a lifelong Tigers fan, took me to my first game. Bottom of ninth, two outs, down a run, Ron Leflore gets on first. We are all chanting, ‘Go Ron Go.’
Hoping he steals, then the light hitting Lou Whitaker can get him home with a single. To everyone's surprise...BOOM. Lou hits his first career homerun. Place went crazy and the energy was off the charts. After the game, my grandfather doesn't ask me, but tells me I'm a Tiger's fan.”

Razor Von Okham: “I guess being born a male in the suburbs of Detroit is the biggest reason, but i have always been proud to sport the Olde English D, no matter how many games they lose. It was the summer of '79, against the Twins, who were even worse than the Tigers back then. My father took me and honestly, I will never forget the green grass when coming through the concourse — I've never seen anything so beautiful in my life. It just grabbed my attention and has had a hold of my soul ever since.”

subic sailor: “I have always been a Tiger fan since I lived in Battle Creek. But when I was 10 my dad brought us to Tiger Stadium for the first time. Was not impressed — looked like an old warehouse. All my cathedral dreams were shattered but were soon brought back the minute I walked into the stadium.
I knew right then nothing will keep me from loving my Tigers.”

ADrain: “2006 was the first time that I consistently watching the Tigers. I remember getting the Free Press "Who's Your Tiger" cards from my piano teacher that summer, collecting the Guillen, Pudge, Granderson cards. I distinctly remember the ecstasy of the Tigers winning the ALDS over the Yankees, but the excitement of that season culminated in the ALCS. At the start of the ALCS, my mom told me that she had obtained tickets to Game 4 of the series, and I was pumped. Then of course, it became clear that the Tigers would have a chance to go to the World Series with a win that night. It was a chilly brisk afternoon that got colder as the evening wore on. I don't remember a lot from that game, but of course I remember the 9th inning clear as day. The excitement of praying for a Maggs hit and then hearing the crack of the bat. My confession is that I never saw the ball leave the park. I was only 7 and everyone around me jumped up, blocking my vision. But I heard my uncle yell "this one is gonna go!" and then the eruption of the crowd. The screaming.
From that moment forward, I was a diehard Tigers fan.”

Kid Slovak: “I was born and lived in NE Ohio until 2003 and was a devout Tribe fan for all of that time. I love the game and spent many great days and nights in Cleveland Stadium and then Jacobs Field.
A promotion and transfer resulted in a move to southeast Michigan and the Metro Detroit area. No more local Indians TV games. Bummer, but I love baseball so I watched the Tigers play. It was weird — the team kinda sucked but the fans, oh the fans didn't seem to care about that so much. Rather than playing to an empty ballpark like the Indians in their off years, the Tigers enjoyed decent crowds and great fan support.
I can't really explain it, but I began to appreciate the Tigers and their great history more and more, to the point where I suddenly realized I had unconsciously switched to supporting the Tigers wholeheartedly and wanted them to whip that team from Ohio.”

Be sure to go back and read the full posts, if you haven’t yet, as I condensed them down a bit. Thanks for participating!