James 'Eat Em Up Tigers' Van Horn to be buried in Detroit Tigers casket
Sep 1, 2017The Olde English "D" was emblazoned on the silver trim encircling the base of the casket, another on the inside of the lid.Van Horn, 66, a diehard Detroit sports, and specifically Tigers fan, was a mainstay of Comerica Park and fan favorite. He'd energize crowds on their way to the stadium with his infectious chant, "Eat 'em up Tigers, Eat 'em up," which he recited while wearing an enlarged rubber Incredible Hulk hand that held a change cup. He was a beloved panhandler who earned some media attention in life, and even more in death.Van Horn died early Saturday when he and Michael "Dreadlock Mike" Alston, 55, also a well-known Detroit panhandler, were struck and killed on Gratiot near Russell by a dark-colored Dodge Avenger with out of state license plates. The driver left the scene and has not been identified.For the last two days, fans, friends and family — more than 100 based on the signatures in the guestbook — have streamed through the C.W Morris – J.W Henry Funeral Home in Highland Park to pay their respects.On Thursday, Van Horn lay peacefully in his Detroit Tiger casket wearing a black pinstripe suit with a Tiger-orange tie. On his head was a Detroit Tigers baseball cap.A dollar bill was placed between his hands that lay on his stomach and on his chest there were two more. A small American flag stuck up from the nook of his left arm.Van Horn's famous mantra, "Eat 'em up Tigers," was inscribed on a large fan-taken picture of Van Horn wearing his green Hulk hand and a T-shirt with his own likeness that stood near the head of his casket. "Love always, your great-grandchildren," read the tag to one of several large bouquets of purple, peach and white flowers at the foot of the casket. "With sincere sympathy and love, the wives and significant others of the Detroit Tigers," read another."Family," "Dad," and "Grandpa," were printed in gold on ribbons flowing from the arrangements. Brenda Horton, 53, looks over James Van Horn 'Eat em' up Tigers' in his Detroit Tigers casket during Thursday's visitati... (MLive.com)
