Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus put on a show while getting tossed from a game earlier this week against the lowly Minnesota Twins. Now he and the Tigers are looking to create a positive spin on an otherwise lamentable moment for the Tigers manager.
While arguing in demonstrative fashion with home plate umpire Doug Eddings on Monday night, Ausmus ripped off his hoodie and placed it over home plate, suggesting since the home plate umpire apparently could not see the plate anyway, so why not keep it warm. That abandoned sweatshirt was gathered by a Tigers equipment staff member and returned to the ejected manager. Deciding to create some good will out of the situation, Ausmus donated the hoodie to the Detroit Tigers Foundation so it could be auctioned off for a good cause.
According to the auction’s description, all funds raised from the auction will go directly to the Tiny Tigers t-ball program, which is funded by the Detroit Tigers Foundation and Detroit Police Athletic League. And, to keep it authentic, it has not been washed, which means you get the authentic smell of an irate Major League Baseball manager and some dirt from home plate. Now that is a piece of Tigers memorabilia every diehard fan will want to showcase, right?
As of this writing, the auction price has passed the $4,000 mark with just under a week left to receive bids in $10 minimum increments.
[Deadspin]