Tigers host holiday dinner, shopping spree for children

TROY, Mich. — Rod Allen patiently stolled through the aisles at the sporting goods store at Oakland Mall, checking out the selection of new baseball gloves. The former Tigers player and longtime team television analyst wasn’t shopping himself, as much as he was waiting on a friend who had a list to pick out.

It’s the kind of task that can give a reluctant, impatient holiday shopper a bout of nerves. Some might wish they could be anywhere else. This early December evening, however, was a reminder that holiday shopping is a gift itself for many, especially those who struggles to put presents under the tree.

The shoppers were close to 50 children from the South Oakland Shelter as well as HAVEN, a program that provides shelter and counseling for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

The tag-alongs were Allen, Tigers’ broadcaster Dan Dickerson, former Tigers pitching coach Jeff Jones, their wives and front-office employees, who donated their time and money to make the event possible along with a donation from Fox Sports Detroit.

“It just reminds you — and it sounds trite, but it does — about how fortunate we are in our jobs and having a job that we love and getting paid for it,” Dickerson said. …

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