I come before you today writing this article in a different amount of circumstances then what I originally plan to write about. I was going to write about the Detroit Tigers spring training just a few days away from starting down in Lakeland, Florida basically it would cover my outlook for this team for the upcoming season.

And then the most shocking news broke on Friday night that owner of the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Redwings has passed away at the age of 87. A very sad day for people not only in Detroit but across the state of Michigan. Mr. Ilitch came from humble beginnings. He was born in Detroit, Michigan on July 20, 1929. He attended Cooley High School in downtown Detroit and then after graduation he went into the U.S Marine Corps for four years. His dream was to play baseball when he returned back home to Detroit. It was all made possible when the Detroit Tigers offered a contract he accepted and played second base with the team but his playing career did not last long due to injuries of the knee.

Mr. Ilitch wanted to go after owning his own pizza restaurant that came true when he bought his first store in 1959 with the help of his wife Marian it was located in Garden City, Michigan the restaurant was named Little Caesars Pizza Treat eventually Ilitch grew his pizza empire from being a little store to now being known as a national pizza chain in 50 states and 19 intentional countries.

Mr. Ilitch had a passion for sports and for the city of Detroit. He brought the struggling Detroit Red Wings franchise in 1982 a bold move not many would have taken. His first decade or so was very rough not being able to make money on the team and begging fans to come to the arena and watch the games. He went even as far as giving vehicles away to the fans that would show up. As time went on Ilitch leadership and management of the team became to change in a positive direction and the Wings began to win in a big way 15 years after Ilitch brought the team they won their first Stanley Cup championship in 1997 after waiting 42 years a proud accomplishment, to say the least. After that, the Redwings won Stanley Cups in 1998, 2002, 2008. The Redwings have been one of the most successful franchise in the NHL appearing in 25 consecutive playoffs appearances the longest such streak in professional sports. Mr. Ilitch is far from done with his major investments to the city of Detroit.

Mr. Ilitch wanted to help another struggling franchise in Detroit when he brought the Detroit Tigers back in 1992.The Detroit Tigers were in a similar situation as when Ilitch brought the Red Wings a failing historical winning franchise that needed help to get back on track. The Detroit Tigers continued to lose on the field so he needed to bring hope back to the fans so he decided to build a new ballpark in 2000 called Comerica Park, leaving Tiger Stadium. It grew some criticism from the fans but insisted that the move was necessary and it would benefit the fans. Mr. Ilitch funded most of the new ballpark instead of asking taxpayers to help flip the bill. Mr. Ilitch was one of the main people involved with having the 2005 MLB All-Star game played at Comerica Park. After the Detroit Tigers had one of the worst records in MLB history in 2003 (43-119) Mr. Ilitch knew the fans of the tigers deserved better and this play on the field would never again happen under his leadership. So when not many players did not want to play in Detroit for many reasons.

Mr. Ilitch went out and challenge that theory and he was rewarded when future hall of fame player Ivan Rodriguez an all-star catcher joined the team in 2004 the message seemed to be clear at this point of time he wanted to win and spend money no matter what the price tag was he wanted to bring high profile players in. After that Ilitch signed players like Carlos Guillen in 2004, Magglio Ordonez, Placido Polanco, in 2005. And before the 2006 season, he needed an experienced person that could help this young team become winners and the tigers hired Jim Leyland. In 2006 Ilitch acquired the likes of Todd Jones and Kenny Rogers to add a more veteran presence on the team. The 2006 season was a very magical journey for the tigers and a young team that was hungry began to win when nobody else could predict it. Young stars began to emerge Justin Verlander a young star rookie pitcher and eventually would become one of best pitcher in baseball for years to come and he is the longest tenured tiger player on the team right now. The Tigers went on to cap the 2006 season walk off Home Run from Magglio Ordonez to sweep the Oakland Athletics in the ALCS to advance to their first World Series in just short time the tigers became one of the best teams in the MLB.

Mr. Ilitch continues to spend the money to get more players in Detroit in one of the greatest trades in baseball history the tigers acquired star first baseman Miguel Cabrera in 2008 this move will continue the success for the tigers for years to come. All the success within the Tigers organization could have not been done without General Manager Dave Dombrowski Mr. Ilitch trusted in him to get all the right pieces in place and he did. Detroit Tigers have won 4 straight division American League Central titles from 2011-2014 and went back to world series in 2012. I was going to mention all the players from the Red Wings and Tigers that have played for Mr. Ilitch that have made a huge impact with those organizations but that list would be too long.

Mr. Ilitch had other investment also he purchased Olympia Entertainment in 1982, he purchased Fox Theater and renovated it to have it become one of the best theater in the country. To show Ilitch commitment to the city of Detroit he moved his corporate headquarters. He created Olympia development which now helped in the creation of the District Detroit a sports and entertainment district that will provide a reason to either live or come downtown to see the rebirth of the city. He has operated the Ilitch holdings companies to overlook all his businesses. He founded the Little Caesars Amateur Hockey League for young kids that inspire to become hockey players. Ilitch charities have helped many lives. Mike And Marian donated money to the school of business at Wayne State University in 2015. Mr. Ilitch has been inducted into the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003. Michigan Sports Hall of Fame 2004, U.S Hockey Hall of Fame 2004. I would also like to say that they was so much more I could have put about Mr. Ilitch in the story but due to the length of it being very long it was very hard to add anything else.

Mr. Ilitch touched so many lives in a positive impact not many billionaire owners would have done so. He invested in the city of Detroit when no one else would. He cared for everyone no matter if you were the best player on the team or the guy walking down the street. But one thing for sure is his footprint on Detroit will be felt for generations to come with the building of Little Caesars Arena the new home for the Red Wings and Detroit Pistons. It is unfortunate that he will not see the project complete but for one thing for sure he will be smiling down from Heaven RIP Mr. Ilitch.