Tigertown

Down Montcalm Street, on the sidewalk that rings Comerica Park, Steve Nelson is kneeling down and peering at the field through a row of green bars. Nelson has not really slept in four days, and because his view of the game is obstructed he cannot see the pitcher, the catcher or the hitter. "But I've got everything else," he says with a grin. The infield dirt, the outfield grass, the ball flying, the crowd rising, the centerfielder chasing and that priceless fountain over the fence spitting a stream of water into the sky.

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Joe Posnanski on the magic of Ernie Harwell (left) and Joe Lemire on the heat of Justin Verlander at SI.com/bonus