Detroit Fans Catch 'Tigers Fever' After Team Clinches AL Central
DETROIT (WWJ) - Now it's on to the playoffs!
The Detroit Tigers clinched their third consecutive American League Central Division title Wednesday night with a 1-0 road win over the Minnesota Twins.
The win means baseball fans in Detroit and throughout Michigan are coming down with a case of "Tigers Fever."
Even before the sun rose Thursday, fans packed The D Shop at Comerica Park to get their hands on commemorative blue and orange t-shirts that read "We Own The Central," -- the same official apparel worn by the team during the postgame clubhouse celebration.
PHOTOS: Detroit Tigers Celebrate Clinching AL Central
Fans like Chris Johnson and Tim David were waiting to buy their memorabilia before 6 a.m.
"We've done it the last three years," Johnson said.
"Yeah, it's something we do every year now," David said with a laugh.
"Every year we have to do it," Johnson chimed it. "It's part of our superstition."
Phyllis Plummer was especially amped when she rolled into The D Shop during the pre-dawn hours.
"I just woke up in the middle of the night and the TV was on, I saw that the t-shirts were out and I said "Oh! What? The Tigers won! Let me go get one,'" she said.
Lando Jerdine, manager of The D Shop, said they have a special offer for fans who spend $200 or more on merchandise.
"We're offering what we're calling our commemorative shot glass set. Along with that shot glass set comes a heavy-duty value box, so if you're not into shot glasses you can use it as a jewelry box. The whole purpose is to say thank you to our fans," he said, adding it's an offer fans can only get in person at The D Shop.
The D Shop is located at the ballpark, near the corner of Witherell and Montcalm, and will be open until 7 p.m. Thursday. The shop will also have extended hours all weekend -- open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
If you can't make it to the store, you can buy all your playoff gear online at www.shop.mlb.com.