Detroit Tigers Dodge Loss Record; Ticker Tape Parade Planned
DETROIT (Disassociated Press) September 29, 2003 – A funny thing happened on the way to the record book. Major League Baseball’s Detroit Tigers, on a pace all season long to break the modern big league record for most losses in a season set by the New York Mets in 1962, put together an amazing two game winning streak at the end of the campaign to thus avoid the ignominy of being baseball’s all time worst. The Tigers finished with a record of 43-119; the 1962 Mets were 42-120.
“This should give us great momentum going into next season,” said Detroit Manager Alan Trammel. “I think now we have a real shot of going 44 and 118 next year – or maybe even 45 and 117!”
All across Detroit, fans proudly sported T-shirts proclaiming We’re Not the Worst! “Detroiters are always proud to not be the worst at something,” stated Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. “Whether it’s not having the worst crime rate, or the worst murder rate, or not having the worst unemployment rate, not being the worst is always a reason to celebrate.”
The Mayor declared Wednesday to be Tiger Day in Detroit, and a ticker tape parade is scheduled on that day for Woodward Boulevard. With Detroit not being any kind of financial center, a lack of ticker tape for the event exists, but it won’t be a problem, insists Kilpatrick. “There’s plenty of paper trash right in the street,” the Mayor explained. “We’re suggesting that fans pick it up, tear it up, and just throw it up into the air.”