Detroit Tigers Honor Retiring Club House Manager Jim Schmakel

It was very, very fun while it lasted, but the Detroit Tigers are no longer the best team in the entire MLB.  Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays both have more wins than the Tigers’ 66 w's- and the Dodgers and Cubs both also have 66 wins.  The good news is that the American League Central Division – in which the Tigers reside- is, perhaps, the worst division in the league thus far this year.  So, the Detroit Tigers still have a commanding 6-game lead in that Division – even after losing their most recent series with fellow AL Central Minnesota Twins 2-1.  And a divisional lead is all that matters to us at this point.

SEPARATELY:

Earlier this year, the Tigers made this announcement about retiring Club House Manager Jim Schmakel:

“After an extraordinary six decades as a clubhouse manager for the Detroit Tigers, Jim Schmakel has decided to turn the page and start a new chapter in his life. Throughout his remarkable career, Jim has had the honor of providing support to countless managers, players, coaches, umpires, batboys, staff members, and many others throughout baseball…

"The Detroit Tigers organization extends its heartfelt gratitude to Jim for his decades of service and wishes him and his wife all the best. To acknowledge his incredible contributions, the Tigers will hold a 'Special Recognition Day' in his honor during the 2025 season.”

We are happy to report that the promised Special Recognition Day is tonight - when the Detroit Tigers host the Los Angeles Angels.    The crowd will be filled with friends of Jim Schmakel and there is expected to be yet another party celebrating his career somewhere downtown afterwards - perhaps Nemo's on Michigan Avenue.  We’d like to wish Jim Schmeckel the very best in his retirement years…