Mike Ilitch, the founder of Little Caesars Pizza and the owner of Detroit’s professional hockey and baseball teams, died Friday afternoon. He was 87.

Mr. Ilitch, a philanthropist and supporter of efforts to revive the Motor City over several decades, founded the popular pizza chain in 1959 and would go on to build a business empire and own substantial real estate holdings in southeast Michigan.

Former President George W. Bush said in a statement Friday that his “favorite memories with Mike are our discussions about our shared love, baseball. Another of Mike’s passions was his beloved Detroit. He generously gave back to his city and made it a better place.”

Born in Detroit to Macedonian immigrants—just months before the 1929 stock market crash that triggered the Great Depression—Mr. Ilitch joined the U.S. Marines and then played minor league baseball.

He and his wife, Marian, started Little Caesars Pizza in Garden City, Mich., with money they had saved. The company now sells pizza in 20 countries and is the world’s largest carryout pizza chain, Ilitch Holdings Inc. said.


In 1982, Mr. Ilitch bought the Detroit Red Wings hockey team. At the time, the organization had become known as the “Dead Wings” after enduring several years of losses. He sparked fan interest by giving away cars at the arena and stocking the team with young talent.

“I just figured I had to do something,” Mr. Ilitch is quoted as saying after he bought the team. “We have to create fan interest back in Detroit. Hopefully, this will get things going a little bit.”

The Red Wings won the Stanley Cup four times under Mr. Ilitch’s ownership, and Detroit became known as “Hockeytown.”

“The Red Wings have lost the consummate owner, the National Hockey League has lost a cherished friend and passionate builder, Detroit sports has lost a legend, and the city of Detroit has lost not only a devoted native son but a visionary and driving force in the rebirth of downtown,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement on the league’s website.


Known locally as “Mr. I.,” the businessman bucked the trend of professional sports teams abandoning urban centers in favor of suburban arenas. Little Caesars Arena is under construction in Detroit’s business district and will be home to the Red Wings and the Detroit Pistons starting next season.

The arena isn’t the only project Mr. Ilitch leaves unfinished. As the owner of the Detroit Tigers, he had hoped to see the professional baseball team win the World Series. He bought the Tigers in 1992 from Tom Monaghan, a fellow entrepreneur who founded Domino’s Pizza Inc. near Ann Arbor, Mich., in 1960.

“I can honestly say it was an honor to work for a man who made winning the priority,” said Brad Ausmus, the manager of the Tigers. Mr. Ausmus played for the Tigers as a catcher and returned to coach the team in recent years.

Mr. Ilitch’s companies employed 23,000 people and booked $3.2 billion in revenue in 2016, according to a statement. The companies include food distribution services, MotorCity Casino Hotel and Olympia Entertainment.


“He was a titan in the world of sports, business and in the community, who will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to his colleagues, his passion for Detroit, his generosity to others and his devotion to his family and friends,” according to a statement released by the Ilitch family. “He touched the lives of colleagues, franchisees, pizza lovers, sports fans and many others throughout the world.”

Write to John D. Stoll at john.stoll@wsj.com