Prior to Oct. 6, Scott Wagner had been to two other Tigers games at Comerica Park this season.
Wagner, 31, the son of Brandon varsity baseball coach Ron Wagner, picked an opportune time to make his third trip this year to the corner of Witherall and Montcalm.
On that night before a sellout crowd, the Tigers defeated the New York Yankees 6-0 in Game 3 of the American League Division Series, putting the Tigers up two games to one. The Tigers would clinch the series the following day, defeating the Yankees 8-3 in Game 4.
Currently, the Tigers are playing in the American League Championship Series against the Oakland Athletics.
Wagner was one of several people with local connections that saw the Tigers in action during their series against the Yankees. After 12 straight losing seasons, the Tigers qualified for the American League playoffs for the first time since 1987, clinching the American League wild card berth with a 95-67 record this season.
Another local Tigers fan, Goodrich High School special education teacher Eric Peterson, attended Game 4 Oct. 7 with his wife, Karen, and some friends.
Peterson, 34, said he usually attends about two Tigers games each year, but increased his attendance this year to about ‘five or six.? He said the crowd’s enthusiasm, along with the performance of Tigers pitcher Jeremy Bonderman, made Game 4 one to remember.
‘It was the first game I’ve ever been to at a championship level,? he said.
Peterson and his group sat about eight rows up in the lower deck behind right field, not too far from where Tigers right fielder Magglio Ordonez and his Yankees counterpart, Bobby Abreu, were standing when their respective teams were on the field. Peterson said the fans were, naturally, kinder toward Ordonez than Abreu.
In addition, he said there were several media members, covering both the Tigers and Yankees, in the vicinity of Peterson’s group, including Mario Impemba, the play-by-play announcer for Tigers? telecasts on Fox Sports Detroit.
‘There were some people heckling the Yankee media members,? Peterson said.
As far as the series with the Athletics is concerned, Peterson likes the Tigers? chances, considering the quality of their pitching. Like their dad, son Ty, 5, and daughter Annika, 2, will be rooting for the Tigers; Peterson said their favorite Tigers player is third baseman Brandon Inge.
He also said he hopes to attend one of the scheduled ALCS games either Oct. 13-14.
Like Peterson, Wagner was old enough to remember ber the Tigers winning the World Series in 1984 by defeating the San Diego Padres. At the time, he was 10 years old and returning home from a trip to Northern Michigan. He recalled listening on the radio as the Tigers? Kirk Gibson hit his home run off Padres reliever Goose Gossage in the decisive Game 5.
This time around, Wagner was in a suite right behind first base at Comerica Park with about 20 of his friends. ‘It was just fun ? it was electric in that place,? he said.
On the downside, Wagner said he had to pay $27 for a six-pack of beer at the park, but on the upside, he and his friends met several Tigers personalities: Mickey Lolich, a member of the 1968 World Series champion Tigers; Darrell Evans, a member of the 1984 World Series champion Tigers; and Rod Allen, currently the analyst on Fox Sports Detroit telecasts of Tigers games.
John Lamerato, 26, an English teacher at Goodrich High School, was also old enough to have been alive when the Tigers last won the World Series, although he said he doesn’t really remember those days; instead, he has firm memories of the Tigers as also-rans, including seasons of 100-plus losses in 1989, 1996 and 2003.
However, he was fortunate enough to witness the Tigers? ALDS triumph, attending Game 4 with parents John and Linda Lamerato.
‘We were really lucky ? we sat three rows behind home plate,? he said. ‘It’s just one of those things where you can’t help but notice what’s going on. I didn’t leave my seat the entire game. When you see (Yankees players) Derek Jeter or A-Rod (Alex Rodriguez) on deck or in the batter’s box four or five feet from you, you can’t help but notice.?
Lamerato said he was in attendance when Comerica Park opened in 2000, and recalled his friends telling him what it would be like if the Tigers ever became a winning team.
On Oct. 7, he had that opportunity.
‘The crowd was hanging on every swing,? he said. ‘Beating the Yankees made it more special ? to see a team like the Tigers, who have legitimate chemistry and heart, which is something the Yankees didn’t have.?
After the game, Lamerato got a firsthand taste of the Tigers? victory champagne, courtesy of Tigers players Ivan ‘Pudge? Rodriguez and Kenny Rogers.
‘It was a little bit wet, but if it was during a victory celebration, it was worth it,? he said.
Like his Goodrich colleague Peterson, Lamerato said he plans to attend a scheduled ALCS game at Comerica Park, specifically Game 3 Friday, Oct. 13. He is optimistic the Tigers can go all the way and win the World Series.
‘I don’t see why not,? he said. ‘If you can beat the Yankees, you can beat anyone.?