Matt Vierling rudely interrupts pizza delivery with Tigers' first Comerica home run of 2024

The pizza propaganda continued in the fourth inning of the Tigers' 2024 home opener.

The Tigers' new home run celebration has not been without its detractors, with the Free Press notably calling it "cringe marketing" in a headline. When a player hits a home run, he grabs a spear thrust through a couple of limp pizzas and parades it through the dugout.

If it looks a lot like recreating the Little Caesar's logo to you, it's because it is. Spencer Torkelson alluded to it being an ode to the fact that the Ilitch family that owns the Detroit Tigers is best known for being the founders of Little Caesar's.

Tigers' Matt Vierling delivers a home run while a pizza is delivered to the booth

Only an advertising company could have dreamed up what happened Friday at Comerica Park. Entering the bottom of the fourth inning, a pizza box was brought into the television booth and handed to new play-by-play man Jason Benetti.

That's when Matt Vierling got a good swing of a pitch off White Sox starter JP Sears that flew 358 feet to left field while Benetti was opening the lid on the box.

"How 'bout tasting that?" Benetti exclaimed.

Cut to Vierling parading through the dugout with three pizzas on a pole.

Everything is coming up Tigers! And Ilitch family, truly.

Is it silly? Yes. Is it a bit cringey? Yes. Is it undoubtedly great marketing for Little Caesar's? Yes! Yes!

It's been a delightful Opening Day in Detroit so far, with the Tigers on auto-pilot against the hapless Athletics while a full capacity crowd at Comerica Park celebrates the sudden resurgence of their team.

Detroit returned home from its opening week road trip 5-1 after winning the first five games of the season. There's a 2006 feeling in the air.