Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire gave some hints as to how his team would acknowledge the Black Lives Matter movement prior to tonight's opener against the Cincinnati Reds at The Great American Ballpark, and they made good on it.
“Major League Baseball actually did this shirt, put it in everybody’s locker. We all know what we’re trying to do here and that’s awareness, making people aware of what’s been going on in our country,” Gardenhire said while wearing a Black Lives Matter t-shirt.
Several members of the team knelt during the National Anthem, including Jeimer Candelario, Niko Goodrum, Joe Jimenez, Cameron Maybin and Christin Stewart. First base coach Dave Clark joined them.
Prior to the anthem, a video from The Players Alliance (made up of over 100 current and former black players) was played on the venue's scoreboard. During the video, all players from the Tigers and Reds both knelt while clutching a black rope.
BONUS CONTENT
Michael Fulmer’s comeback start with Tigers is aligning with a special day in Detroit
It has been a long road back for Detroit Tigers SP Michael Fulmer, who has gone nearly 2 years without pitching against hitters from another team.
But on Wednesday, Fulmer took the mound for the Tigers in a Summer Training game against the Cincinnati Reds, and now he is lined up perfectly to make his first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery. That start looks like it will come on what is an unofficial holiday in Detroit.
Opening Day.
Though Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire would not confirm that Fulmer will be starting the Tigers home opener on Monday against the Kansas City Royals, he did not deny it either.
