Joker Marchant, now embodied in a statue with George Jenkins, told the Joker Marchant Stadium fans in 1966 to put their peanut shells in their pockets.

LAKELAND — Mayor Howard Wiggs told the story like he had just seen it happen.

The late Joker Marchant made an announcement prior to the first spring training game played at Joker Marchant Stadium back in 1966. The city’s longtime parks and recreation director was so proud of his stadium — one that still houses the Detroit Tigers today — that he asked the crowd to do him a favor:

“He announced to all the fans that they needed to put their peanut shells in their pockets on the way out and not leave their trash in the stadium,” Wiggs said to the crowd of about 100 gathered at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on Friday.

With a collection of TV cameras focusing in, Marchant’s granddaughter, Tara Bassett, and George Jenkins’ grandson, Wesley Barnett, grabbed oversized pairs of scissors and approached a covered statue outside of the stadium’s main gates.

What they unveiled was a stainless steel and bronze statue representing two Lakeland staples — Jenkins and Marchant — shaking hands, with smiles draped across their faces.

The statue, made by Pennsylvania artist Becky Ault, was the final addition to the newly renovated Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium — which held its first Grapefruit League game between Detroit and Baltimore on Friday.

“The Tigers take a great deal of pride in this being the longest relationship between a city and a professional baseball team,” said Tigers Executive Vice President of Business Operations Duane McLean. “It’s something that we cherish. The relationships we have with the folks here, it’s a match made in heaven.”

Tigers hall of famer Al Kaline, who was at the stadium as a player during that inaugural game in 1966, spoke of his friendships with both Jenkins and Marchant. He was joined in the front row by current Tigers reliever Kyle Ryan, an Auburndale native, as well as city and county commissioners and Publix and Tigers personnel.

“From Henley Field to Joker Marchant and now, to this beautiful, wonderful complex right here — Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium — we are honored to be part of the community,” Kaline said. “When you think about the Tigers, you can think about a lot of great players. But when you think about Publix, there is only one person you really think about — that’s Mr. Jenkins.”

— Brady Fredericksen can be reached at brady.fredericksen@theledger.com or 863-802-7553. Follow him on Twitter: @Brady_Fred.