Post by Todd B. on Oct 15, 2006 8:53:10 GMT -5
Article published Oct 15, 2006
Tigers sweep A's
www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061015/NEWS01/110150011
Monroe's (and Ida's -ed) Bobb Vergiels could have been singing "Get Me to the Ballpark on Time."
The Detroit Tigers' public address announcer almost didn't get to the biggest game of his career.
Mr. Vergiels didn't let his American League playoff duties at Comerica Park Saturday afternoon prevent him from also serving as the public address announcer for Wayne State University's noon football game.
He needed a police escort to arrive in time to announce the Tigers' thrilling 6-3 victory over Oakland that gave Detroit its first American League pennant in 22 years.
"The police officer drove me down Woodward Avenue to the ballpark," he said. "What I had feared was correct. There were so many people that it was virtually impossible to get near the ballpark. It's a good thing I was in a police car."
Mrs. Vergiels immediately changed from his Wayne State green jacket to his Detroit Tiger orange.
"A fan saw me and said, ‘If I was from Oakland, I would be ashamed too,' " he said. ;D
While Tiger fans in the stadium and throughout Michigan celebrated after the game, Mr. Vergiels calmly told the Comerica Park faithful to please stay in their seats.
"We just kind of marvelled in the moment," he said. "I had to stay up in the box because I had announcements, but it was so good for me to see all the young people jumping up and down. It was so moving to see people like the Ilitches, the Dombrowskis and Al Kaline high-fiving everybody because those are the people who suffered through the bad times."
Mr. Vergiels began his PA duties in 2004, just after the Tigers had gone through the worst season in American League history. He and free-agent catcher Ivan Rodriguez arrived at the same time. Manager Jim Leyland, who many give most of the credit for the turnaround, came to Detroit two years later.
"My father always told me that if Jim Leyland and the Tigers ever got together, they would be the class of baseball," Mr. Vergiels said. "Dad's been gone eight years now, and we have become the class of baseball."
Brian Cousino of Monroe played minor league baseball in the Tiger system with Mr. Leyland.
"He's made such a difference to the attitude of this team," Mr. Cousino said. "Winning breeds winning, and losing breeds losing. When you've got the great teams, it doesn't matter what play you call or who you put in."
Mr. Cousino said his wife Jan's favorite player is Magglio Ordonez, the Tiger who hit the pennant-winning three-run homer Saturday.
"It was awesome," he said. "I'm so excited watching these grown men jumping up and down. They say they're professional athletes, but don't tell me they're not excited like kids. What people fail to realize is this team is just three years away from losing 119 games."
In fact, the Tigers had posted 12 straight losing seasons before this summer. Mr. Cousino, who coached Ida to two state softball titles, considers this a great Tiger team. He predicts Detroit will win the World Series in five games.
"Having been in the state finals four times - winning twice and losing twice - there's a big difference," he said. "When you lose, there's that hollow feeling that you haven't accomplished anything.
"I'm just tickled that Detroit fans are talking baseball at this time in October."
Jefferson High baseball coach Dave Sontag said what makes this pennant special for him is "my (three) kids have never watched the Tigers win. They don't know what it's like to win the World Series or win a big game."
Mr. Sontag said the manager seems to be pushing all the right buttons.
"It all starts with Jim Leyland," he said. "He makes players on the roster feel like they're part of it. Look how he rotated his lineups in this series and how everything worked. He gives the guys so much confidence that they feel like they're letting him down if they don't come through."
He believes the Tigers will win the World Series because of their superior pitching.
Mr. Vergiels - who also is PA announcer for Toledo Storm hockey and Eastern Michigan University football and the press box announcer for the Detroit Lions - said his Tiger duties change significantly during the postseason.
"It's a Major League Baseball production now, so there's far fewer reads for me," he said. "In the playoffs, I have the best seat in the house, and I don't have to work quite as hard."
Game One of the World Series will be Saturday night at Comerica Park, and Mr. Vergiels' booming voice again will be heard.
"It will be like the All-Star Game. There will be times when it will be me talking to the world," he said. "Oh, yeah, you get nervous, but nerves can do two things to you. If you let them, they will destroy you. But they also can raise you up."
Tigers sweep A's
www.monroenews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061015/NEWS01/110150011
Monroe's (and Ida's -ed) Bobb Vergiels could have been singing "Get Me to the Ballpark on Time."
The Detroit Tigers' public address announcer almost didn't get to the biggest game of his career.
Mr. Vergiels didn't let his American League playoff duties at Comerica Park Saturday afternoon prevent him from also serving as the public address announcer for Wayne State University's noon football game.
He needed a police escort to arrive in time to announce the Tigers' thrilling 6-3 victory over Oakland that gave Detroit its first American League pennant in 22 years.
"The police officer drove me down Woodward Avenue to the ballpark," he said. "What I had feared was correct. There were so many people that it was virtually impossible to get near the ballpark. It's a good thing I was in a police car."
Mrs. Vergiels immediately changed from his Wayne State green jacket to his Detroit Tiger orange.
"A fan saw me and said, ‘If I was from Oakland, I would be ashamed too,' " he said. ;D
While Tiger fans in the stadium and throughout Michigan celebrated after the game, Mr. Vergiels calmly told the Comerica Park faithful to please stay in their seats.
"We just kind of marvelled in the moment," he said. "I had to stay up in the box because I had announcements, but it was so good for me to see all the young people jumping up and down. It was so moving to see people like the Ilitches, the Dombrowskis and Al Kaline high-fiving everybody because those are the people who suffered through the bad times."
Mr. Vergiels began his PA duties in 2004, just after the Tigers had gone through the worst season in American League history. He and free-agent catcher Ivan Rodriguez arrived at the same time. Manager Jim Leyland, who many give most of the credit for the turnaround, came to Detroit two years later.
"My father always told me that if Jim Leyland and the Tigers ever got together, they would be the class of baseball," Mr. Vergiels said. "Dad's been gone eight years now, and we have become the class of baseball."
Brian Cousino of Monroe played minor league baseball in the Tiger system with Mr. Leyland.
"He's made such a difference to the attitude of this team," Mr. Cousino said. "Winning breeds winning, and losing breeds losing. When you've got the great teams, it doesn't matter what play you call or who you put in."
Mr. Cousino said his wife Jan's favorite player is Magglio Ordonez, the Tiger who hit the pennant-winning three-run homer Saturday.
"It was awesome," he said. "I'm so excited watching these grown men jumping up and down. They say they're professional athletes, but don't tell me they're not excited like kids. What people fail to realize is this team is just three years away from losing 119 games."
In fact, the Tigers had posted 12 straight losing seasons before this summer. Mr. Cousino, who coached Ida to two state softball titles, considers this a great Tiger team. He predicts Detroit will win the World Series in five games.
"Having been in the state finals four times - winning twice and losing twice - there's a big difference," he said. "When you lose, there's that hollow feeling that you haven't accomplished anything.
"I'm just tickled that Detroit fans are talking baseball at this time in October."
Jefferson High baseball coach Dave Sontag said what makes this pennant special for him is "my (three) kids have never watched the Tigers win. They don't know what it's like to win the World Series or win a big game."
Mr. Sontag said the manager seems to be pushing all the right buttons.
"It all starts with Jim Leyland," he said. "He makes players on the roster feel like they're part of it. Look how he rotated his lineups in this series and how everything worked. He gives the guys so much confidence that they feel like they're letting him down if they don't come through."
He believes the Tigers will win the World Series because of their superior pitching.
Mr. Vergiels - who also is PA announcer for Toledo Storm hockey and Eastern Michigan University football and the press box announcer for the Detroit Lions - said his Tiger duties change significantly during the postseason.
"It's a Major League Baseball production now, so there's far fewer reads for me," he said. "In the playoffs, I have the best seat in the house, and I don't have to work quite as hard."
Game One of the World Series will be Saturday night at Comerica Park, and Mr. Vergiels' booming voice again will be heard.
"It will be like the All-Star Game. There will be times when it will be me talking to the world," he said. "Oh, yeah, you get nervous, but nerves can do two things to you. If you let them, they will destroy you. But they also can raise you up."
