Marcel Parent, archivist of the Detroit Tigers, operates the wheel of the Pere Marquette 22 simulator at the maritime museum, with the help of museum manager Caleb Ackerman.
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
LUDINGTON — On Wednesday, local historian Dr. Bill Anderson gave a tour of Mason County historical and cultural preservation sites to Marcel Parent, director of curation and collections management for Ilitch Holdings Inc., the Detroit-based company that owns the Detroit Tigers.
Parent was visiting Ludington to tour the Mason County Historical Society’s museums and other local cultural assets while also discussing the possibility of Ilitch Holdings acquiring Anderson’s extensive collection of original Detroit Tigers photographs.
Ilitch Holdings Inc. serves as the umbrella organization for the Ilitch family’s business interests, which include the Detroit Tigers, the Detroit Red Wings, Little Caesars Pizza and Olympia Development of Michigan. The company also oversees real estate and entertainment ventures such as Little Caesars Arena and the surrounding District Detroit development.
Anderson, widely regarded as one of the most respected collectors of Tigers historical artifacts, said he wanted to show Parent how Mason County preserves and presents history to the public. The pair visited the Mason County Historical Society’s Rose Hawley Archives, Historic White Pine Village and the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum. They also toured the Mason County Sports Hall of Fame, located at White Pine Village, along with the sculptures at Ludington Waterfront Park.
Parent said the visit was driven by both professional interest and Anderson’s invitation.
Port of Ludington Maritime Museum manager Caleb Ackerman, left, shows some of the exhibits to Marcel Parent, center, along with Bill Anderson.
“Well, I’m up in Ludington because Bill invited me over,” Parent said. “Bill, of course, is one of the most celebrated Detroit Tigers historians, and he also has an extraordinary photography collection.”
That collection includes many of them rare “Type 1” photographs — original prints developed directly from negatives. Parent said the scope and uniqueness of the collection could significantly enhance the Tigers’ historical archives.
“He shared with me this vision of having his collection in one place, not subdivided, and for generations of Tiger fans to enjoy that,” Parent said.
Anderson’s connection to the Tigers dates back to his childhood. Born in Detroit, he was 4 years old when his parents divorced. He was raised by his aunt and uncle on a farm in Victory Township and never again lived with either parent. His passion for the Tigers grew out of rare but meaningful experiences with his father.
When he was 12, in 1950, his father took him and his brother to a three-game Tigers series in Detroit. Two years later, during a trip to a Detroit car race, Anderson had a chance encounter with Tigers outfielder Steve Souchock — moments that left a lasting impression.
During high school at Scottville/Mason County Central, Anderson rode a bus an hour from Victory Township to Scottville. The driver, Don Rankin, was also a Tigers fan and carried a transistor radio, reserving the front seat for Anderson so the two could listen to games together.
As a high school senior, Anderson even attempted to try out for the Tigers when a scout visited Ludington.
“It was haying season and my uncle told me I could only go to the tryouts when my chores were done,” Anderson said. “I rode the governor on that John Deere B and kept it running as fast as it would go, so I could get done. Unfortunately, when I got there the only person left was the scout, who told me tryouts were over. Well, I never really had a chance anyway. But that scout was Tommy Bridges.”
Bridges pitched for the Tigers from 1930 to 1946 and was part of the team’s 1935 World Series championship. Anderson did not make the team, but he did get Bridges’ autograph.
Anderson said his approach to collecting has always been rooted in historical storytelling rather than star power.
“I’ve been at this for about 55 years, and I approach collecting from a historian’s perspective,” he said.
He cited examples from his collection that illustrate broader social changes, including photographs showing the evolution of fan demographics and ballpark culture before and after racial integration in 1958.
“A picture is worth 1,000 words,” Anderson said. “That’s so dramatic, and it’s a great way to tell the stories.”
Parent said that type of visual documentation adds depth to how the organization can interpret its history.
“It’s so comprehensive that you see how the fans have changed at baseball games,” Parent said. “There’s a social and cultural element there which you can’t approach until you actually see a collection of pictures next to each other.”
Parent, left, and Anderson looks at an antique time clock at the Rose Hawley Archives.
Beyond reviewing the collection, the visit focused heavily on museum practices and visitor engagement — an area both men emphasized.
“In the museum world, that’s old school,” Anderson said of static exhibits. “Visitors want to be engaged, physically and emotionally.”
Parent said Ilitch Holdings places a strong emphasis on innovation and adopting best practices across its venues and exhibits.
“I’ve built my career on looking at what other people do and trying to take best practices,” he said. “There’s always a way to do better, and you have to find it.”
He added that experiencing museums and exhibits in person provides insights that cannot be gained through research alone.
“Being in the space with the objects, with the photographs, makes a tremendous difference,” Parent said.
For Anderson, the visit was both a professional collaboration and an opportunity to highlight Mason County’s work.
“For a small community, we’ve done a marvelous job with the visitor experience,” he said.
Parent agreed, saying the visit met his expectations.
“If Bill says he’s got stuff to show me, I should pay attention,” he said. “As I expected, it was something special.”
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