Battle Creek Enquirer from Battle Creek, Michigan • Page 17

BASEBALL Wednesday, April 1 4, 1 993 Battle Creek Enquirer 3C A look at Tigers' 1993 home opener Ilitch taking a look at options for new stadium The Associated Press Staff Photos by Kevin Hare catcher Terry Steinbach on a second-inning error. JWELCOI --iwSj; Fryman scores past Oakland A's DRAWING THE LINE: A grounds DETROIT Detroit Tigers owner and pizza magnate Mike Ditch said earlier he hasn't de- cided whether to build a new ballpark. But there are signs he is pur-suing the notion. i He has hired architects and planners with expertise in ball- i parks and shopping districts to study his vision of a possible new park and more developed Fox Theater district Before Ilitch can move either the Tigers or his Red Wings hockey team, he would have to get out of leases Mike Ilitch: Tigers owner that tie the Tigers to their current ballpark on Michigan and Trumbull and the Red Wings to Joe Louis Arena. Both leases run until 2008.

"They really have got top-notch people. It lends credence to the fact that (Ilitch) is seriously studying the alternatives," said Larry Marantette, president of ANR Development Corp. that helped develop the Harbortown development along the Detroit river front "I think there's no secret he wants a new stadium," said Henry Hagood, director of Detroit's Community and Economic Development Department Hagood's office has been studying proposals for an Ditch-created entertainment district that would include a ballpark not far from the historic Fox Theater, which Ditch renovated and made home to his Little Caesars Enterprises offices. Ilitch also hired Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings and Merrill architects and planners to create a master plan for the district around the Fox Theater. Ditch also retained HOK Sports Facilities of Kansas City, the nation's top designer of baseball stadiums, to study a new park.

He also hired Birmingham architect Victor Saroki to explore the design of a shopping district near the Fox. A new ballpark is projected to cost about $150 million or more, and it would take three years to build. New ballparks tend to draw more fans. Tigers' attendance has been lagging and the club needs to bring in more money to pay for big player contracts and other rising costs. A stadium in a larger entertainment district would help fill up Ditch's other investments, including his restaurants, parking and the Second City comedy club opening later this year.

Bill Dow, a member of the Tiger Stadium Fan Club, says his group will fight Ditch. "If it goes to a public vote, we'll continue to educate the taxpayers that it doesn't pay to subsidize multimillionaire corporate owners in their private businesses," Dow said. Ditch acknowledged prior to Tuesday's home opener that he's studying all of the new stadium options. Detroit Said Anderson: "Gibby and me have a special relationship. We've been very good for each other.

I enjoy being around him all the time." Sparky near milestone Anderson collected career win number 1,999 The 24-year managing veteran goes for No. 2,000 Thursday afternoon against Oakland at Tiger Stadium. "I never thought about it. I don't think anybody does," he said of his success. "That would be like a man who starts out working for any company and ends up being president.

You don't think that way. "I don't think Bill Clinton ever thought he'd be president. You don't think that way, you just go about your business." There's no denying Sparky's talent as a skipper. But luck has also played a role along the way, he said. "I believe people are picked out when they're born and good things are going to happen to them," Anderson said.

"Other people work their tails off and it seems like nothing good happens to them. "There are people in this world who are lucky and I know I'm one of them." WELCOME HOME: Terry Hasty of Sterling Heights helps welcome Kirk Gibson back to Detroit. ANOTHER RUN: Detroit's Travis stop, who was off to a slow start after missing the last two weeks of spring training with the flu. "We can score a lot of runs," Fryman said. "That's one of the great things about playing for the Tigers.

As an individual, you don't feel the pressure to perform every day. A lot of guys can drive in runs and hit the baU out of the park." Tettleton, who socked a 3-run shot off the left field foul pole in the third, finished with 4 RBI. "We seem to get on a roll and these games happen," Tettleton said of Detroit's explosion. Slugging first baseman Cecil Fielder was 4-for-4, all singles, and scored twice in four innings. Anderson pulled him out with the Tigers leading 15-2 in the fifth.

"We'D score our runs," Anderson said. "That's one thing Mike (Moore) and the other pitchers wiD learn. If they hold the other team to four or five runs, they'D have a chance to win." 1 l- crew member gets the field prepared before Tuesday's game. Gibson enjoying Tigers rock the A's in '93 home opener return to Cecil Fielder: 4-for-4 Sparky Anderson: 'Lucky' man "I put all my eggs in one basket on that first at-bat," Gibson said. "I was looking for something inside and he made me look like an idiot by throwing one right down the middle.

If I guessed right, I would have looked like a genius." Gibson walked in the second and struck out again in the fourth inning. He finally got in on the offensive fun with an RBI double, also in the fourth. Coming home to Tiger Stadium was emotional for the former Michigan State star and Detroit Manager Sparky Anderson. "I could say this game didn't mean anything to me, but it did," Gibson said. p5 GIBSON, From 1C basebaU.

You can have aD the hitters in the world, but if you can't get them out or hold them, you're not going to win." HarweU is just one of the many changes that new Tiger owner Mike Ilitch and his wife Marion have introduced. "The new regime has brought about a feeling of peacefulness that we didn't have before," HarweU said. "I think the fact that Mr. Ditch has comitted himself to a winner has meant a lot to the players. They know that they are going to get a lot of help from the front office." Gibson returns Kirk Gibson returned to Tiger Stadium after a long hiatus.

Judging from fan reaction, he never should have left. Gibson starred for Detroit from 1979-87, playing on the Tigers' 1984 World Championship team. He departed as a free agent and led the Los Angeles Dodgers to a World Championship and earned National OPENER, From 1C Moore's disappointing debut with the Tigers wasn't a reason for concern. "That's like being concerned about Jack Morris Toronto's not concerned about him," he said with a smile. By the time evening rolled around, Anderson's patience had been rewarded.

"I thought (Moore) was better," the Tiger skipper said. "Michael needs to build some arm strength. That's the reason we let him go seven, otherwise he would only have gone six. He was tired in the seventh, no question about it." For the past three seasons, solid pitching has been much harder to come by than solid offense for Detroit. Tuesday, the Tigers again flexed their offensive muscles.

Fryman led the way for Detroit, going 3-for-5 with a 3-run homer, with 5 RBI. It was an encouraging performance for the young short- Travis Fryman: 5 RBI Kirk Gibson: Fan favorite Tigers notebook League Most Valuable Player honors in 1988. After injury-plagued seasons in Kansas City and Pittsburgh, Gibson was resigned by Detroit this past offseason. In his first at-bat back at Tiger Stadium, he received a standing ovation from the Tiger faithful. "It was much appreciated," Gibson said.

"It brings out the boy in me." Gibson proceeded to strike out looking at a third strike fastball from Oakland starter Storm Davis..