Tigers hit two million mark at Comerica

Tigers hit two million mark at Comerica
By Jason Beck and Chris Vannini / MLB.com | 08/21/11 1:30 PM ET

DETROIT -- With Sunday's crowd, the Tigers pushed past the two million mark in attendance, measured by tickets sold each game. They've hit that mark every year since 2005, the season in which the Tigers hosted the All-Star Game, and the season before Detroit went to the World Series.

So far, the Yankees, Red Sox, Twins and Angels are the only other American League teams to hit the two million mark in each of those same seasons. The White Sox and Mariners have streaks going, but haven't hit two million yet this season.

The Tigers have 18 home games left after Sunday, starting with next week's homestand against the Royals and White Sox. At the rate they've been drawing lately, it appears likely they'll surpass last year's attendance of 2,461,237, as well as their 2009 attendance of 2,567,165.

Manager Jim Leyland noted the atmosphere in the ballpark. He had friends in town from out of state on Saturday, and the skipper said they were amazed at the electricity in the park. Leyland believes that makes a difference with players as well.

"The electricity is so great sometimes, I think it does make guys concentrate better," Leyland said.

The flip side is that it could make for an abrupt transition from the crowds of the last few days to the upcoming series at Tampa Bay, where the Rays have struggled to draw friends for much of the year. Tampa Bay entered Sunday ranked last in attendance despite owning the American League's fourth-best record.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. Chris Vannini is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.