Tigers push past two million at Comerica

Tigers push past two million at Comerica


By Jason Beck / MLB.com

08/22/10 6:49 PM ET

DETROIT -- Tigers manager Jim Leyland is used to having big crowds in the summertime at Comerica Park. But with the way the Tigers have struggled lately, even he had to marvel when he looked around the stadium Sunday afternoon.

"I told [third-base coach] Gene Lamont, 'Look at this crowd. It's unbelievable,'" Leyland said. "I know we disappointed them a little bit, obviously, but you just can't say enough about them. I know I keep repeating what a great baseball town it is, but it was a beautiful day, a nice win. And you look up and you see all the people in the seats, it's just a wonderful, wonderful thing."

Sunday's crowd of 35,104 pushed the Tigers above two million in attendance for the sixth consecutive season, the seventh time in 11 years at Comerica Park and the 13th time in franchise history. They have 16 home games left to build on that.

Leyland went out of his way to praise Detroit and the draw it can be earlier in the weekend, saying many players don't realize how good a place it is to play until they get here. He has frequently noted Detroit and St. Louis as the two best baseball towns in the country. He said the fans are the biggest reason for it.

"I think in some towns, baseball is kind of the poor sister to the other sports," Leyland said. "In Detroit, I think baseball is right at the top -- not necessarily better than the other sports, but it's right there with them. It's not like the forgotten sport. This is a true baseball city. There's no question about that."