Tigers owner Mike Ilitch dies

[Grant77]

He was one of the best owners in all of sports, he also owned the Red Wings and other clubs. Very unfortunate news, my thoughts are with his family.

[G-Snarls]

Snap

[Jonn]

That guy would do anything for his sports teams. I wish we had an owner like that. RIP

[jays4life19]

Sad to hear. RIP.

[jaysfan2014]

He will be missed in Detroit for his commitment to try to bring a World Series to Detroit again and his years with the Red Wings..

 

Wait and see what happens with the Tigers organization--there is a risk of a major fire sale with Illitch gone, as the team can no longer afford their current payroll without Mike Illitch backing it.. it's not certain the son, Chris Illitch, who will inherit the team, will support a high payroll.

[Gary]

Slumlord.

[guylaroche5]

This sucks, there are very few owners out there that prioritize the product on the field above all else. It's a damn shame that the kitties could never win under his tenure despite having some of the most stacked lineups + rotations of the past decade. He will be missed.

[vdartanian]

Maybe Little Caesars will finally hi-grade that nasty pizza of theirs.

 

In all seriousness guy was probably everything a fan wanted to see as an owner...seemed passionate about the on field product, and a fan as well who wasn't afraid to invest his own coin to create championship caliber teams. Not a fan of Detroit teams in any sense of the word, but respected Ilitch as an owner. RIP sweet prince!

[TBJ12]

Sad news.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Exactly the type of owner every fan should want for their team. He cared so much about the success of his teams.

[Bobthe4th]

If he's been ill for awhile then it possibly explains the lack of moves by the Tigers this offseason.

 

They were never going to be sellers while he was still alive, but expect a fire sale to take place now.