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04/03/2007
Tiger fans from northern Michigan turn out to see A.L. champsDETROIT — Don't count Jeff Chimner and his son Jonathan among the born-again Detroit Tigers fans who rediscovered their love for baseball last summer. The Chimners never lost faith, not even through the Tigers' wretched stretch of 12 straight losing seasons from 1994-2005. That's what made the team's surprise run to the 2006 American League championship so much more enjoyable. "We were on the bandwagon before the bandwagon had wheels,” Jeff Chimner said prior to the Detroit Tigers' 5-3 season opening loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park. "We've always been fans, win or lose.” The Chimners, of Traverse City, aren't alone. Bellaire's Brian and Barb Steinmacher attended their "sixth or seventh” consecutive Tigers' home opener, Barb said, and Traverse City's Bernie Macek watched his 18th consecutive opener, his 26th since 1966. "True, it's more exciting when you have a good team,” Barb Steinmacher said of the difference between last season and this one. "Other people come just to be here, and it is fun being part of it. But we're here for the Tigers, No. 1.” The Chimners, who scored standing-room-only tickets online, hung out behind the Tigers dugout during pregame and watched the team take batting practice. As the players came off the field, first baseman Sean Casey tossed them a ball, a gesture that made Jonathan's first opener even more memorable. "We've been to games before, but this is our first opener together,” Jeff Chimner said. "I just wanted Jonathan to see an opener. I wanted him to experience it.” "It's perfect,” Jonathan said. The two said it helped that Easter break is later than normal this year, so Jonathan, 17, a junior at Traverse City West, isn't missing classes this week. For the record, Jeff didn't skip out of work with the Social Security Administration. "I got it approved a long time ago,” he said, smiling. Jeff said the loss of pitching ace Kenny Rogers, out at least half the season after undergoing surgery for a blood clot in his pitching arm, has been softened by Detroit's deep pitching staff, as well as a newly acquired power hitter. "Getting (Gary) Sheffield more than makes up for it,” Jeff said. "I still can't believe they got him. He's going to have a big year.” Jonathan Chimner, who plays second base and outfield for TC West, said he expects the Tigers to have another successful season, but he fell short of predicting a championship. "I hope they do,” he said. "I don't know if they will, though.” Barb Steinmacher, who sat high above the diamond in section 339, is optimistic Detroit can get back to the Fall Classic. "They have a great lineup,” she said. "I think they'll go far.” Judging from the buzz in and around the ballpark before the game, most fans believe the same thing. "It almost feels like the end of last season,” Steinmacher said, referring to the electricity in the stands. If that happens and the Tigers' success continues, the team's fan base will grow even more. Jeff Chimner wouldn't be surprised. "The same thing happened with the Red Wings,” he said. "They were bad for a long time, but once they started getting good, everyone was a fan.” Still, Steinmacher said there's plenty of room on the bandwagon. "Some people may come only because the Tigers are winning, but they may leave as true fans,” she said. "Like the rest of us.”
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