Detroit Tigers lose to Seattle Mariners: Takeaways from Game 5 of ALDS
Evan Petzold and Jeff Seidel break down the Detroit Tigers’ 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners in Game 5 of the ALDS on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025.
Even the ultimate pro can feel the frustration of the fans in the heat of the moment.
Detroit Tigers radio announcer Dan Dickerson was caught swearing into a live microphone during a commercial break immediately following the Tigers 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners in Game 5 of the ALDS on Friday, Oct. 10. The incident followed a walk-off RBI single from Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco that scored shortstop J.P. Crawford from third base and ended the Tigers’ season.
The hot mic incident was caught on social media and spread early morning on Saturday, Oct. 11. Per the shared recording, Dickerson appeared to be venting about the need to recap the game with his radio partner Dan Petry.
You can listen below (WARNING: Explicit language):
“I don’t have to do a game … ah (expletive),” he said, swearing one more time over the air before realizing his error. “(expletive) this game recap … oh, I’m sorry, was that out loud?”
The social media reaction to Dickerson’s moment has been generally supportive of him, with many fans sharing the announcer’s frustration with how the Tigers’ season ended. Illitch Sports + Entertainment, which owns the Tigers, had no comment on the situation.
Dickerson provided the following statement to the Free Press.
“I want to sincerely apologize for swearing during a break in the post-game last night,” Dickerson said. “Our mics were inadvertently left open — but I know better than to swear into an open mic. It was said in a moment of frustration, and not a reflection about how I feel about doing the game recap — just how I felt about doing it in that moment after a five hour, 15 inning, season-ending loss. I’m very sorry any fans had to hear it — my apologies again.”
Dickerson, a longtime sports radio announcer, joined the Tigers radio booth full-time during the 2000 season and became the lead play-by-play radio announcer for the team in 2003.
Editor’s note: Dickerson’s statement was added after initial publication.
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.