A Tiger Fact

**Admin** Fri Feb 25, 2011 6:04 pm

Feb. 25th marks the 25th anniversary of this exhibition game and both teams are taking this opportunity to honor Tiger alum, Joe Niekro. From 1970-1972, Niekro proudly wore the Tiger uniform and soon decided that Lakeland was the place he always wanted to call “home.” After retiring from his 22 years in the Majors, Niekro enjoyed coaching his son, Lance, who then played for the Moccasins earning a first-team All-Sunshine State Conference selection, a first-team All-South Region selection and a third-team All-America pick, before being drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 2nd round in 2000.