James "Eat 'em up Tigers" VanHorn, from Flickr

DETROIT — At the front of a room in a Highland Park funeral home, James "Eat Em Up Tigers" Van Horn on Thursday lay fittingly in a Navy Detroit Tigers casket.

The 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 visitation at C.W Morris â J.W Henry Funeral Home in Highland Park, Aug. 1. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive.com)

"He was a party person," said Connie Horton, 51, a longtime friend of Van Horn's. He married her cousin in the late 60s and she remembers they'd "throw big parties" at their home on the northwest Detroit.

Van Horn, at the time working in a Ford plant and "doing well for himself," and his first wife, with whom he had five children, divorced in the mid 70s. Van Horn would eventually have four more children with another woman.

Rev. Glen Davis, who coordinated the funeral, said at least three of his daughters attended the visitation.

Horton and other family members said they lost touch in the 80s but until his death would occasionally see Van Horn around town and he was always nice, would say "hi" and that he never forgot them.

"Despite how he was living, he was always the same," said Connie Horton. "It didn't bother him if he was here or he was there; he was always the same."

Several of Van Horn's cousin-in-laws said he grew up in Indianapolis. They didn't know much about his childhood but recalled he wrestled. Van Horn would occasionally show off a picture of himself from high school wearing his singlet.

"He would always come up with some saying," said Deletha Brown, 53, a cousin of Van Horn's first wife.

"Money ain't made to stay with you all the time; ask Miss Connie," was his line when the cousins played cards together, Brown said.

Although several fundraisers are being conducted to raise money for Van Horn's funeral expenses, Davis, the director, said the bill has already been paid.

Detroit Tigers talent scout Mike Russell picked up the tab, he said.

Corey Haskins started a fundraiser that raised about $5000, of which $350 paid for Van Horn's flower arrangements. He said about $3,200 will be used to pay for Alston's funeral and at this time he's unsure how he'll contribute the remaining funds at this time.

Van Horn's casket was donated by a company named Eternal Imaging.

Van Horn's funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church, 6330 Pembroke in Detroit, according to C.W Morris – J.W Henry Funeral Home.

A viewing for "Dreadlock" Michael Alston is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the Cantrell Funeral Home, 10400 Mack. The funeral is also at the funeral home beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday.