Tiger Stadium was declared a State of Michigan Historic Site in 1975 and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1989. The unusual dimensions of the football field led to some odd happenings. I was at Tiger Stadium in May 1971 when Reggie Jackson hit the ball over the right field roof. Proudly powered by WordPress | Al Kaline used to scale the fences in right field to take away home runs, and he played that area so well that it became known as Kalines Corner.. My sons were small and I was trying to teach them the strategy of the game (since I was also their coach). Extremely satisfied with the wonderful personable service! Dismiss, Copyright 2022 Vintage Detroit Collection, Spinnaker Center, 44692 Helm St, Plymouth. . [78], In October 2007, an online auction of the stadium's memorabilia was held by Schneider Industries, which drew $192,729. Order Tracking Along the way it served as scenes for movies as well as a plethora of public events ranging from a KISS concert to a speech by Nelson Mandela. ),

The Tigers moved to Comerica Park in 2000 but the Corner remained standing. All three games featured home runs. Initially, a dual stadium complex was planned that included a moving roof that was later scrapped due to high costs and the lack of a commitment from the Tigers. [2] By 1938, the city had agreed to move Cherry Street, allowing the left-field seats to be double-decked, and the now-renamed Briggs Stadium had a capacity of 53,000. Denny McLain achieved one of the games rarest feats at the place they called The Corner. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. [86] There was at one time also a sign on the enclosing fence labeling the site "Ernie Harwell Park". On April 15, 1999, Torii Hunter hit a home run off Brian Moehler at Tiger Stadium while playing for the Minnesota Twins. [5], During the summer of 2010, a group calling itself "The Navin Field Grounds Crew" began maintaining the playing field and hosting vintage baseball, youth baseball, and softball games at the site. Seven of the Tigers' eight runs came off home runs. Kirk Gibson famously hit a ball over the right field roof that landed in the lumber yard across the street, traveling a distance of more than 500 feet. Although this is hard to imagine these days, the Lions were a very strong franchise in the 1950s, playing in three NFL title games in five seasons. Tiger Stadium saw exactly 11,111 home runs, the last a right field, rooftop grand slam by Detroits Robert Fick as the last hit in the last game played there. He holds the record for longest home run in Cleveland Indians history at 511 feet, which he hit against the Kansas City Royals in 1999. Jim Thome. [14], In 1895, Detroit Tigers owner George Vanderbeck had a new ballpark built at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues. Eric Chesterton [64][66], On July 24, 2001, the day Detroit celebrated its 300th birthday, a Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League game between the Motor City Marauders and the Lake Erie Monarchs was played at Tiger Stadium. Once or twice a year, an outfielder would have to go behind the pole to chase an errant hit. It is believed to be the only time in the sports history this has occurred. He did it on national television in a mid-September game against Oakland that was won with a dramatic two-run rally in the last of the ninth inning. It would be 16 innings before either team scored again. Chain link and at one time, a barbed wire fence, separated the bleachers from the reserved sections and was the only section of seating not covered by at least part of the roof. The ball was hit over the roof in right field and accross Wentworth avenue. He was the only man to hit 4 home runs in one day in the history of Brigs/Tiger Stadium or Navin Field for that matter. The last Tigers game at the stadium was held on September 27, 1999. [2][19] Plans to modify and maintain Tiger Stadium as the home of the Tigers, known as the Cochrane Plan, were supported by many in the community, but were never seriously considered by the city or the Tigers. . The Lions last title came in 1957. 59,203 fans attended the game, the largest crowd ever to see a football game at the Corner. BATON ROUGE, La. Lynn worked with me to swap out to something similar excellent customer service. (Cerdan claimed he dislocated his shoulder in the first round.) After the game, it was revealed Hughes had passed away from a heart attack. In 1895, Detroit had a team in the Western League, an eight-team loop that eventually melded into the American League. Have Your Own Jersey? On August 16, 1927 Ruth hit his famous "roof topper" home run at Comiskey Park. Bullying, racism, personal attacks, harassment, or discrimination is prohibited. The ballpark was also the scene of one of the darkest days in NFL history. (In those days, home games were blacked out 75 miles from the site of competition. On July 19, 1968, the Tigers trailed Baltimore 4-3 with one runner on and two out in the bottom of the ninth inning when Matchick, a .226 hitter, lofted a fly ball to right. Briggs Stadium, as it was now known, held 53,000 seats. Minute Maid Park upgrades In 1967, the race riots that tore up the city of Detroit started less than two miles from the ballpark. [30], Due to then-owner Walter Briggs's dislike of night baseball, lights were not installed at the stadium until 1948. I was in desperate need because of a upcoming event to make purchase I could get same day while searching for the item I quickly realized there wasn't just limited availability of the item but very limited locations in Metro Detroit i could purchase the item. I put the location into google maps off I went. My sons still talk about it. Navin Field opened on April 20, 1912, the same day as the Boston Red Sox's Fenway Park. [62], On September 27, 1999, the final Tigers game was held at Tiger Stadium; an 82 victory over the Kansas City Royals, capped by a late grand slam by Robert Fick, which hit the right field roof. [26][27], When the stadium closed, it was tied with Fenway Park as the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball, the two parks having opened on the same date in 1912. Mantle is generally credited with the longest home run of all time, a clout that left Tiger Stadium on Sept. 10, 1960, and landed in a lumberyard across the street. In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Jackson crushed an outside fastball that eventually rang off of a transformer at the top of the stadium. Because owner Walter Briggs believed baseball should be played in the daytime, the Tigers were the last team in the American League to install lights, putting in the arcs in 1948. 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Willie Horton hit a home run at Tiger Stadium when he was 16 years old during an all-city high school game. . Norm Cash led all left-handed batters with 212 home runs, most of them going into the right field sections. I ended up buy a very nice winter Tiger jacket and as I tried it on and decided on it they noticed a very minor blemish on the back and quickly informed me I had a hard time even seeing it & probably would have never noticed it. (At age 89, Eldon Auker, a member of the 1934-35 AL champions, was the oldest returnee. In the 17 years afterwards (before moving to Pontiac), they had few memorable days at Tiger Stadium. The first home run in the history of the All-Star Game was hit by none other than Babe Ruth. Shipping Service Four were over the longer left field roof, (Harmon Killebrew, Frank Howard, Cecil Fielder, Mark McGuire) and the rest were over the right field roof.) Cash hit the ball over Tiger Stadiums right field roof four times in his career. I saw Cecil hit #50 at Yankee Stadium unfortunately, I misssed seeing #51 because my date was not so much of a baseball fan, early October games get cold, etc. I ended up buy a very nice winter Tiger jacket and as I tried it on and decided on it they noticed a very minor blemish on the back and quickly informed me I had a hard time even seeing it & probably would have never noticed it. Reggie Jackson became a national figure due to a famous home run in an All-Star Game. Doak Field at Dail Park upgrades (NC Wolfpack) [88][89][90] Construction of the project began in June 2016. 2023 Ballparks Take your pick, his three-home run outburst against Catfish Hunter in the 1978 Championship Series, the 1983 Pine Tar home run, or the 1980 upper deck jack off arch-nemesis Goose Gossage that all . Among major league parks whose construction predated the advent of night games, only Wrigley Field went longer without lights (1988). This did not include wildcat seats that were built on the rooftops on houses located behind the left-field fence. In 1923, Navin increased capacity to 30,000. [57][58], On April 7, 1986, Dwight Evans hit a home run on the first pitch of Opening Day. In left field, it was 15 feet (4.6m) farther down the line, and the roof was set back some distance. With the OPEN sign light I though well came all this way just aswell give it a try and am I glad I did. The film dramatized the efforts of New York Yankees teammates Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris during the 1961 season to break fellow Yankee Babe Ruth's single-season home run record of 60. Buckeye Video 632 subscribers 5.2K 1M views 7 years ago Oakland A's vs. Detroit Tigers 8/25/90. You just dont get this type of service anywhere else folks and turns out it all to be a great value as well as they search the system for every possible discount they could give me. the Nearest to me was Vintage. [4] A week into demolition, it was announced that the field, foul poles, and flagpole would be preserved. Hughes was quickly wheeled off the field, which eerily ended minutes later. Although never as well known as Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park or Wrigley Field, Tiger Stadium held an unique place in the hearts of Detroiters, who have now seemed to come to terms with the fact it will be torn down, probably in September 2008. I bet that was a great experience, seeing Killebrews home run. The right field overhang frustrated many outfielders who were camped under a routine flyball only to see it land in the first row upstairs. Along Trumbull Avenue, 24 town homes were planned for sale. Cecil Fielder hits homerun over Tiger stadium roof. It was part of a memorable summer as the city healed its wounds, got behind its baseball team ands flocked to the ballpark in record numbers. [7][17] While constructed on the same site as Bennett Park, the diamond at Navin Field was rotated 90, with home plate located in what had been left field at Bennett Park. Dismiss, Copyright 2022 Vintage Detroit Collection, Spinnaker Center, 44692 Helm St, Plymouth. Ilitch began to make plans for a new ballpark downtown, breaking ground during the 1997 season. I will never forget it. The Tigers' Kirk Gibson hit a home run onto the street in 1983 but it was less than 600 feet. What a game. All in all, however, the ballpark had a helluva good run. Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates. The people there are awesome and they clearly don't get much walk in business however they know their product while intending in only buying one jersey I walked out with much more! On June 11, 1961, Cash became the first Detroit Tiger to hit a home run ball out of Tiger Stadium. There is one other football item worthy of note regarding Tiger Stadium. [62] In his career, Norm Cash hit four home runs over the Tiger Stadium roof in right field and is the all-time leader. These were not temp help that knew nothing these were professionals who knew not just everything but were truly looking out for me. There were very few concerts held over the years at The Corner. Hank Greenberg and Willie Horton might also qualify as long time Tigers. I found it refreshing to be served by people who truly knew everything and who came across as glad i stopped in and only care about me getting the service beyond what i deserved. Detroit hit 40 more home runs than the year before, helped in part by a 20-year old rookie who hit 27 himself and posted a .340 BA to win the AL batting crown. According to former Tiger Stadium groundskeeper Frank Feneckit, it took almost a howitzer to send a ball over the left-field grandstand at The Corner. Purchased a New Era Gruff Michigan Syaye hat, and I absolutely love it. Another outfield oddity was a ledge that fielders used to jump onto to try to snare balls headed for the seats. [63], Tiger Stadium saw exactly 11,111 Major League home runs. Many legends hit homers at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull, from Ty Cobb to The Babe to Joe DiMaggio to Hank Aaron to Ken Griffey Jr. The crazy thing is we missed the home run for a hot pretzel. Frank Robinson appeared poised to make the catch only to see the ball drop in the first row of the overhang for a game winning home run, one of just four Matchick hit in six big league seasons. [48], On July 18, 1921, Babe Ruth hit what is believed to be the longest verified home run in Major League Baseball history. In the decade after the Tigers vacated the stadium, several rejected redevelopment and preservation efforts finally gave way to demolition. The hit itself was a gunshot, echoing back from center. [3], For a time after it was constructed, the right field upper deck had a "315" marker at the foul pole (later painted over), with a "325" marker below it on the lower deck fence (which was retained). Depending who you talk to, the upper deck in right field was built to hang 5-10 feet over the warning track. By the time Detroits Tiger Stadium bade farewell 87 years, it had witnessed 11,111 home runs, six World Series, three memorable All-Star games, NFL Championship games and championship boxing fights. Only one current Tiger ever hit a home run at Tiger Stadium, and it was a memorable occasion. [14], The stadium was seen in the 1980 feature film Raging Bull where it was the site of two of Jake LaMotta's championship boxing matches. It was the first Notre Dame football game to be played at night. When Medwick took his position in left field in the bottom of the inning, the Tiger fans pelted him with fruits, vegetables and just about anything else they could get their hands on. The stadium's demolition was completed on September 21, 2009, though the stadium's actual playing field remains at the corner where the stadium stood. However, in just about every case, it had been occurred due to a stadium conflict or for a special reason. Purchased a New Era Gruff Michigan Syaye hat, and I absolutely love it. 1. Returns & Exchanges Our motto is simple: We enjoy doing cool things and are overjoyed we can make a living doing so. In the early 1970s, disgusted Detroit fans began to throw snowballs at the team bench from the upper-deck seats in right field. Enter your email address to subscribe to Ballpark Digest and receive notifications of new posts by email immediately when a new story is posted. On September 28, 1964, the league scheduled Detroit to host Green Bay on a Monday night. 11,111 home runs [56], Toward the end of the Lions' game against the Chicago Bears at the stadium on October 24, 1971, Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes collapsed and later died of a heart attack, making Hughes the only NFL player to date who died during a game. Some opposing players seemed to shine at Tiger Stadium. (The front row of seats was just 55 feet behind home plate). She is very accommodating and made me feel at home, especially since I was unaware they don't operate a standard retail shop. [49], On May 2, 1939, ailing New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig voluntarily benched himself at Briggs Stadium, ending his streak of consecutive games at 2,130. Bud Metheny Ballpark renovations (Old Dominion University) Tettleton, who cleared the stadium roof Friday night against the Angels, did it again in the . I remember he stepped out of the box several times because someone in the bleacher seats was shinning a mirror into his eyes.He made the Tigers fans pay for that ! [93][94], In the summer of 2000, the HBO movie 61* was filmed at Tiger Stadium. It is the home stadium of the LSU Tigers football team . Robert Fick hit a grand-slam homer to help Detroit to an 8-2 win over Kansas City. Plainsman Park (Auburn) upgrades Before leaving Oakland for St. Louis, McGwire would become the fourth and final player to homer over the left-field roof at Tiger Stadium, connecting off Brian Moehler on April 21, 1997. Monaghan sold the team to a pizza rival, Mike Ilitch, in 1992. Here are the longest home runs in the Home Run Derby, during the StatCast era, away from Coors Field. He only fought once at Briggs Stadium, defeating Bob Pastor on September 20, 1939. July 3rd, 1999 still stands as a milestone for Indians fans, who fondly remember the astounding home run that secured Jim Thome's place in MLB history. He has four other children and four grandchildren. It hosted the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball team from 1912 to 1999, as well as the National Football League 's Detroit Lions from 1938 to 1974. 5 Reasons to Update Your Business Operations, Get the Best Sleep Ever in 5 Simple Steps, How to Pack for Your Next Trip Somewhere Cold, Manage Your Money More Efficiently in 5 Steps, Ranking the 5 Most Spectacular NFL Stadiums in 2023. In the 1971 All-Star Game, Reggie Jackson hit a ball off a transformer in deep right-center field that left the bat so fast that all TV could catch was its return trip to earth. Reggie Jackson hit a titanic homer off the light tower in the 1971 All-Star Game. The Tigers scratched out a run in the sixth to tie the game at 7. [80] Demolition began on June 30, 2008. Fittingly, Ficks blast was the final hit of any kind at Tiger Stadium. And on September 27, 1999, with flashbulbs popping, Robert Fick hit the final home run at The Corner, a grand slam in the last game at Tiger Stadium. [39][40] The football field ran mostly in the outfield from the right field line to left center field parallel with the third base line. There's no way to say for sure whether Reggie Jackson's homer at the 1971 All-Star Game is the longest in the history of the Midsummer Classic -- the game is over 80 years old, after all, and data is incomplete.Here's what we do know, though: 46 years to the day after Jackson's blast, it remains the only baseball in All-Star Game history to nearly turn out the lights. A doctor who was sitting in the stands tore from his seat, broke past an official and ran to help Hughes. On September 27, 1999, the final Tigers game was held at Tiger Stadium; an 8-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals, capped by a late grand slam by Robert Fick, which hit the right field roof. The Metropolitan Stadium Committee voted unanimously for the Pontiac site. [49][50] On July 13, 1934 at the stadium, Ruth hit his 700th career home run off Tigers' pitcher Tommy Bridges. Sweet Lou Whitaker, at just over 5 foot 10 and weighing a slim 160 pounds, was probably the least-likely prolific home run hitter at Tiger Stadium. With Trammell on first and Fielder in a 3 1 count and leaned over and told my sons, If I was Fielder in this situation, he should look for a fastball and swing for I-75. He did. & quot;According to the Detroit Free Press book "The Corner", the following have hit HR's out of Tiger Stadium: Norm Cash (did it 4 times) Mickey Mantle (did it 3 times) Kirk Gibson (did it 3 times) Jason Thompson (did it twice) Mickey Tettlton (did it twice) Tony Clark . [95][96], During the last days in which part of Tiger Stadium was still standing, scenes for the film Kill the Irishman, which were used to depict Cleveland Stadium, were shot at the stadium. Tiger Stadium didnt go down easily. As part of this transfer, the green wooden seats were replaced with blue and orange plastic ones and the stadium's interior, which was green, was painted blue to match. When did the Detroit Tigers Stadium get demolished? In 1973, ground was broken for a stadium to exclusively house the Lions. Tiger Stadium was designed by the father and son team of Frank C. Osborn and Kenneth H. Osborn. [79], The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation awarded the demolition contract on April 22, 2008, with the speculation that demolition revenue would come from the sale of scrap metal. The seven-hour game is the second longest game in American League history. Tiger Stadium, previously known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit. The NFL Lions left University of Detroit Stadium to move downtown. [74][75] By 2006, however, demolition appeared inevitable when then-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick announced the stadium would be razed. Fielder, 56, lives in Tampa, Florida, with his wife, Diana, and their son, Maksim. ORDER YOURS NOW! Cecil Fielder clears left field roof at Tiger Stadium. Not to be picky but Griffey didnt flip off Sparky. Through 1990, only two players had cleared the roof in left. Two years earlier, he stunned the attendees at the MLB All-Star Game in Detroit's Tiger Stadium by hitting a home run more than 400 feet; the ball hit the base of the light tower at the park. A World Series victory in 1984 didnt seem to help. A record that cant be broken, You are correct he hit 4 out of the Stadium. Mickey Mantle, 1960, 643 Feet. Junior was upset that Sparky had intentionally walked him so often. Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in favor of an $80 million south end-zone upper deck expansion that added 70 "Tiger Den" suites, over 3,000 club seats and 1,500 . The group reunited for their Alive/Worldwide tour. The roof was 94 feet high and the left-field fence was 340 feet from home plate, making roof shots in that direction one of the most challenging feats in baseball during the years the Tigers called Tiger Stadium home. There had been occasional Monday night games played in the league over the years. Tiger Stadium is an outdoor stadium located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on the campus of Louisiana State University. As part of the transfer, the city gave the place a major paint job, changing the interior from green to blue. I was a bit too far up the stands behind home plate to see it go out (the upper deck blocked my view), but I knew something had happened. Have we seen the last fastball from Zumaya as a Tiger? Back to top. For medical advice, always consult your medical doctor. Among the performers that day: Erma Franklin, older sister of Aretha Franklin. Since Detroit was driving for a score late in the game, some assumed Hughes was simply trying to stop the clock. - LSU blasted four home runs and collected 20 hits to propel the #1 ranked Tigers to a 26-4 victory over Central Connecticut State Saturday afternoon inside . As the team improved, so did the capacity of the ballpark, capping out at 14,000. Frank Navin, who bought the team in 1908, was a man with big ideas. Cecil was on 49, and I veered my car onto the exit to downtown Detroit and snatched up a ticket. One of them came n Thanksgiving Day in 1962 when they sacked Green Bays Bart Starr 10 times en route to a 26-14 win the lone Packer loss of the season. No one hit more homers in Tiger Stadium than Al Kaline, who belted 212 there, while hitting 187 on the road. Remembering the Red Wings gritty Martin Lapointe. Ernie Harwell and Al Kaline both dubbed it the hardest-hit ball they'd ever seen, and even Jackson himself agreed: "I think this would have to be the longest one I've ever hit," he said afterward. That stadium was called Bennett Park and featured a wooden grandstand with a wooden peaked roof in the outfield. It was the final Major League hit, home run, and RBI in Tiger Stadium's history. On Rader's home run, the only other Mariner who remembers is Vada Pinson, who is a first-base coach for Seattle. By the time Detroit's Tiger Stadium bade farewell 87 years, it had witnessed 11,111 home runs, six World Series, three memorable All-Star games, NFL Championship games and championship boxing. [7][2] Cleveland Naps player "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, later banned from baseball for life following the Black Sox Scandal, scored the first run at Navin Field. Even more unusual for the time, all three games were televised locally in an effort to distract minds of Detroiters. [24] The same flag pole was to be brought to Comerica Park, but this never happened. WebFont.load({ google: { families: ["Lato:900:latin", "Lato:300:latin", "Playfair+Display:700italic:latin", "Merriweather:700:latin", "Crete+Round::latin", "PT+Sans+Narrow:700:latin"] } }); Detroit Red Wings jerseys are back in stock! New Hagerstown Atlantic League ballpark A fire gutted the press box on the evening of February 1, 1977. , The Metropolitan Museum of Art has one of the best baseball card collections in the world thanks to one man, By Location: Heritage Park. [2], By the early 1990s, both the city and Tigers ownership wanted a new park, but many campaigned to save the old stadium. The city received a $5 million federal grant and issued $8.5 million in bonds to pay for renovations, including replacement of the old green wooden seats with blue plastic seats. With the OPEN sign light I though well came all this way just aswell give it a try and am I glad I did. Whitaker hit 146 homers at the old ballpark, most of them after he matured into a better power hitter in his late 20s. Please let us know when you find out. Mickey Mantle: On September 10, 1960, the Yankee slugger hit a home run out of Tiger Stadium against Frank Lary. There is no roof to extend. (The Cubs claimed their last World Series title there in 1908.) The overhang would occasionally turn some extremely high arced fly balls into home runs. Copyright 2023 August Publications. The only major changes during the latter decades were the closure of the "skybox" suites that perched on the front edge of the roof, and (in 1978) the replacement of the old dark green . The distance of the home run has been estimated at up to 575 feet (175m). In addition to the movie 61*, two other films Tiger Town and Hardball had scenes filmed there. [92] It was also seen in Renaissance Man and Hardball. AL West: Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers. [51][52], The stadium hosted the 1941, 1951 and 1971 MLB All-Star Games. He frantically signaled to the sidelines to get help for Hughes. [87], On December 16, 2014, a $33million project by Larson Realty Group to redevelop the old Tiger Stadium site was approved by Detroit's Economic Development Corporation.
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