I suppose Johnny Damon technically fits the eligibility requirements, but the Tigers will probably post someone at the gate to keep him out:
You can try out for the Tigers on March 4 in Lakeland.
— anthony fenech (@anthonyfenech) February 11, 2013
You must be between the ages of 18 and 23 or have previous professional baseball playing experience and you must bring your baseball mitt.
— anthony fenech (@anthonyfenech) February 11, 2013
Wood bats, helmets and baseballs will be provided by the Tigers.
— anthony fenech (@anthonyfenech) February 11, 2013
It’s hard to imagine in this day and age that legitimate, professional-level baseball talent can go unnoticed so that a player could latch on like this via a tryout. But weirder things have happened. I mean, Ron LeFlore got discovered while he was in prison.
-
- darthicarus - Feb 11, 2013 at 5:05 PM
-
Pretty sure the Tigers have been doing this for years. I’ve played MLB The Show, so I think that qualifies me for “professional experience” (at least that’s what it appears the Astros count as experience)…time to find my mitt!
-
- giocatore4 - Feb 11, 2013 at 5:07 PM
-
If Johnny Damon lived on Mars he might be between the ages of 18-23.
-
- frank433 - Feb 11, 2013 at 6:54 PM
-
You missed the “or have previous professional playing experience” part me thinks.
-
- historiophiliac - Feb 11, 2013 at 5:09 PM
-
I will be sorely disappointed if none of you bums shows up to tryout. Do me proud, HBT Nation!
-
- indaburg - Feb 11, 2013 at 5:16 PM
-
Hmm… doesn’t say anything about being male… I’m about an hour from Lakeland…
-
- historiophiliac - Feb 11, 2013 at 5:17 PM
-
GO!!!!!!!
Take pictures. Make a scene. Pleeeeeaaaase.
-
- indaburg - Feb 11, 2013 at 7:17 PM
-
It was meant to be. I just bought a baseball glove last week too. Well, actually, it’s a fastpitch glove, but that’s close enough, right?
-
- historiophiliac - Feb 11, 2013 at 11:47 PM
-
They didn’t say what kind of glove.
-
- proudlycanadian - Feb 11, 2013 at 5:37 PM
-
How old are you? Approximations not allowed!
-
- historiophiliac - Feb 11, 2013 at 5:59 PM
-
Oh, snaps, PC!
-
- cur68 - Feb 11, 2013 at 6:22 PM
-
‘burg might be cool here. As a rule, only a total cretin would ask a lady her age. Anyhow, she laughs at fart jokes. That’s pretty juvenile. I say go for it.
-
- indaburg - Feb 11, 2013 at 7:18 PM
-
Who are you calling a lady?!
-
- weaselpuppy - Feb 11, 2013 at 5:45 PM
-
LeFlore is still one of the most incredible stories in baseball history…first guy to lead each league in steals, 200 hit guy plucked out of State Prison….
-
- antifreeze27 - Feb 11, 2013 at 7:14 PM
-
Don’t forget about Ricky Vaughn, who was discovered in the California Penal League!
-
- ikedavisnose - Feb 11, 2013 at 6:16 PM
-
Hey if they can discover Sidd Finch then anyone can be discovered
-
- chacochicken - Feb 11, 2013 at 7:31 PM
-
Ugggh, who wants to play in the AL central…
-
- chrisbrunson17 - Feb 11, 2013 at 8:22 PM
-
The twins signed a guy to a minors contract a few years back after one of these at Hammond stadium in fort Myers.
-
- joerymi - Feb 11, 2013 at 9:20 PM
-
Bet Brandon Inge shows up with a beard and glasses, then registers with the name Fausto Carmona. Hey, it’s available.
-
- hojo20 - Feb 11, 2013 at 9:57 PM
-
If the first drill was “pickle” I would turn some heads…..until it was time for BP.
-
- johnnyhamer - Feb 12, 2013 at 2:22 AM
-
Leon Sandcastle!
-
- levistahl - Feb 12, 2013 at 9:30 AM
-
My baseball glove in Little League was a Ron LeFlore model. I guess after the TV movie LeFlore was . . . seen as enough of a role model that he could endorse Little League gloves?
(I’ve still got it–and, even stranger, still use it. It’s kind of like using a dead ball-era glove, barely big enough to cover your hand but remarkably effective nonetheless: all you really need to play the outfield is webbing.)
