LZ Granderson to throw out first pitch for WMU Night at Comerica Park

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University alumnus LZ Granderson, journalist and commentator for ABC News and ESPN, will throw out the first pitch of the Detroit Tigers game Wednesday, June 28, when the Tigers' home field hosts WMU Night at Comerica Park.

The Detroit native and 1996 WMU graduate will take the field along with WMU President John M. Dunn and President-Designate Edward Montgomery. Dunn is retiring from the presidency July 31, and Montgomery will officially take the reins on Aug. 1.

Granderson will make the ceremonial pitch in front of a stadium full of Broncos eager to celebrate the WMU-Detroit ties. This year's event, which pits the Tigers against the Kansas City Royals, marks the second year WMU has had its own Comerica Park presence. Game time is 7:10 p.m.

Granderson has returned to campus a number of times in recent years to speak and be recognized by his academic program as a distinguished alumnus. He has credited his experiences as a student reporter at the Western Herald and WIDR as "instrumental in developing his voice as a journalist" and he characterizes himself as a proud WMU graduate.

"Here at Western, I was able to just wander, not be lost but wander and just kind of explore that part of my creativity, then, also, that part of storytelling," Granderson said in a 2014 interview. "What I did in college, I'm happy to say, is what I'm doing in my adult life."

Hear Granderson's story about how the lessons he learned during his WMU days led to his success in the video below.

For more information about WMU Night at Comerica Park, visit mywmu.com.

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.

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