Watch CBS News

Tigers Stars Dance The Tango And Rumba For Charity

By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak

JOE LOUIS ARENA (CBS DETROIT) - Detroit Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter gave his teammate a new middle name Thursday night at the "Dancing with the All-Stars" charity event.

"Andy Freakin' Dirks!"

After the left fielder from Kansas swiveled his hips and danced the sensual rumba for the charity event "Dancing with the All-Stars," Hunter, an emcee for the night, hooted in utter disbelief and amusement.

Dirks was one of just two Tigers players to compete after slugger Miguel Cabrera was scratched because of the hip flexor issue that has caused him to miss six games in July. Though Cabrera did not dance, he did buy at least one auction item - a Jim Leyland jersey for $1,500.

The other baseball representative was second baseman Ramon Santiago, who danced the tango and ultimately won the event, much to the excitement of his teammates.

Dirks and Santiago were the only athletes to compete, but several other Tigers watched their wives take the dance floor, their hysterically inscrutable expressions displayed on the big screens for all to see. Anibal Sanchez's wife Ana danced the salsa and Max Scherzer's fiancee danced the foxtrot. Igor Larionov's daughter Diana danced the cha cha with Jordan Cowan.

The Lions were represented as well, by Ryan Broyles' wife and Matthew Stafford's girlfriend.

Before the event, guests perused and bid on items from One Direction dolls to wine bottles to Christmas decorations to signed Detroit sports memorabilia. A signed Miguel Cabrera jersey went for $4,000, and so did VIP tickets to the semifinals of ABC's Dancing with the Stars.

Proceeds from the event went to Jack's Place for Autism Foundation, which was started by former TIger and current broadcaster Jim Price, and his wife Lisa, whose son Jack has autism.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.