Michael Ilitch Sr. (July 20, 1929 - February 10, 2017), also known as "Mr. I", was an American entrepreneur and restaurateur.
Ilitch was born in Detroit in 1929 to Macedonian immigrants Sotir and Sultana Ilitch.
After returning to Detroit, Ilitch signed with the Detroit Tigers organization for a reported $3,000 and played four seasons (1952-1955) in the minors, primarily as a second baseman in the Tigers, New York Yankees, and Washington Senators systems.
In 1982, Ilitch purchased the Detroit Red Wings from Bruce Norris for US$8 million.
Over the next two decades, Detroit returned to perennial playoff contention, winning the Stanley Cup in 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008 and appearing in the Finals three times between the 1994-95 and 1997-98 seasons.
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The Red Wings added two more championships in 2002 and 2008.
For the 2007-2008 hockey season, the team won the President's Trophy for the best record in the NHL for the sixth time-the most of any NHL team since the President's Trophy was introduced in 1985-1986.
The Red Wings made the playoffs for 25 consecutive seasons through 2015-2016.
The 25 consecutive playoff berths were the longest active streak of post-season appearances in all of the North American professional sports, before ending in the 2016-2017 season.
It is tied for third all-time in NHL history after 29 consecutive appearances by the Boston Bruins from 1967-1968 to 1995-1996, 28 consecutive trips by the Chicago Blackhawks from 1969-1970 through 1996-1997, and is tied with the 25 consecutive appearances by the St.
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Ilitch was one of the early team owners in the Arena Football League, starting up the Detroit Drive in 1988.
The Drive were one of the most successful teams in the early days of the AFL, both on and off the field.
After acquiring the team, Ilitch expressed interest in moving the struggling team to a new ballpark.
In 2000, his expectations were realized when the team moved from Tiger Stadium into the newly built Comerica Park.
He financed approximately 60% of the $350 million facility; the taxpayers of the greater Detroit-Wayne County and federal grants covered the balance.
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When the Tigers won the AL Wild Card under manager Jim Leyland and general manager Dave Dombrowski in 2006, they made the playoffs for the first time since 1987.
They also reached the World Series for the first time since 1984, but the Tigers eventually lost in five games to the St.
One of Ilitch's first philanthropic efforts was the Little Caesars Love Kitchen, established in 1985.
The traveling restaurant was formed to feed the hungry and assist with food provisions during natural disasters.
The program has been recognized by former Presidents Bill Clinton, George H. W.
In 2008, the charity was renamed Ilitch Charities and its focus was broadened.
After civil rights icon Rosa Parks was attacked in her Detroit apartment in 1994, Ilitch quietly paid years of Parks's rent to enable her to live in a safer part of Detroit. He continued doing this until Parks died in 2005.
Ilitch died on February 10, 2017, at the age of 87 in Detroit, Michigan.
The Red Wings wore a patch on their right shoulders in his memory, which featured his nickname “Mr.
The Detroit Tigers also wore a black patch with his nickname "Mr.
To provide their various enterprises with professional and technical services, Ilitch and his wife held the titles of chairman and vice chairwoman, respectively.
The combined total revenues for these enterprises in 2007 reportedly exceeded $1.8 billion.
Ilitch had fallen off Forbes magazine's annual list of the "400 Richest Americans", but in 2006 he returned to the list at No. 242. As of December 2016, he was No. Christopher Ilitch was named to the new post of CEO and president.
In an era of experimentation in sports leagues, the Detroit Wheels were a football team that played in the World Football League for the 1974 season.