The Tigers moved to Comerica Park in 2000 but the Corner remained standing. From the day it opened in 1912, until the final game in September of 1999, Tiger Stadium was witness to more home runs than any other ballpark in baseball. It was the last hit and the last run in the stadium. In fact, the Indians erected a 12-foot bronze statue in his honor in . There were over 30 home runs hit onto the right field roof over the years. When was the last Tigers game at Tiger Stadium? Although the ballpark suffered little damage, the citys name was sullied. Jason Thompson (first baseman, born 1954) - Wikipedia 10 Longest Home Runs in MLB History - Largest.org To make the park appear like Yankee Stadium, the parks seats were painted green and a skyline of the Bronx was added. [63], Tiger Stadium saw exactly 11,111 Major League home runs. In the 17 years afterwards (before moving to Pontiac), they had few memorable days at Tiger Stadium. I put the location into google maps off I went. Along Trumbull Avenue, 24 town homes were planned for sale. Among the performers that day: Erma Franklin, older sister of Aretha Franklin. In 1961, John Fetzer bought the team and renamed its home Tiger Stadium. A fire gutted the press box on the evening of February 1, 1977. Good article. www.newsbreak.com Although they only won six pennants during their tenure there, the hometown Tigers were often an interesting team with individual stars. Excited to work with Vintage Detroit on future orders. Thanks, J.D. Non-Baseball Events Held at Tiger Stadium The year 1938 was significant in the ballparks history. The Ballparks: Tiger StadiumThis Great Game http://www.courtsidetweets.comCarl Yastrzemski of the Boston Red Sox has a magical night at Tiger Stadium versus the Detroit Tigers by hitting three home run. There were occasional amateur games played there, a 2002 fantasy camp and occasional special segments were taped there. Homer History At Tiger Stadium - The New York Times In 1973, ground was broken for a stadium to exclusively house the Lions. Gibson hits one out of Tiger Stadium Watch on As we stood at the vendor the entire stadium erupted. [62] In his career, Norm Cash hit four home runs over the Tiger Stadium roof in right field and is the all-time leader. [97], The pilot of the HBO series Hung featured the stadium's demolition in its opening scene. On June 11, 1961, Cash became the first Detroit Tiger to hit a home run ball out of Tiger Stadium. Thats so true, every game can be legendary. The group reunited for their Alive/Worldwide tour. New Richmond Flying Squirrels ballpark Dont forget about Frank Howard. Prince Fielder hit a home run there during batting practice when he was a 12-year old and his dad was playing for the Tigers. ), But the biggest move came in 1938. Lynne asked what I was interested in and presented me with a great selection of Tigers caps and T-shirts. 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. But Jackson, trying hard to make fans . [2] The Tigers' Kirk Gibson hit a home run onto the street in 1983 but it was less than 600 feet. Kirk Gibson hits bomb over roof of Tiger Stadium [Video] The last Tigers game at the stadium was held on September 27, 1999. With the OPEN sign light I though well came all this way just aswell give it a try and am I glad I did. Cecil signed an autograph for me the next year at the stadium, on my birthday in fact. Harmon Killebrew - Baseball-Reference.com When Ford Field hosted the 2006 Super Bowl, a tent on Tiger Stadiums field played host to the Bud Bowl, an event that featured (among other things), a performance by Snoop Dogg. The score was now 8-4. It seemed like Rusty Staub hit more than his fair share of those, and Dave Bergman too. The last game at Tiger Stadium was on September 27, 1999. [2] In 1961, new owner John Fetzer took control of the stadium and gave it its final and longest-lasting name: Tiger Stadium. Joe Louis moved to Detroit as a youngster. [70], In 2006, the feature-length documentary Stranded at the Corner: The Battle to Save Historic Tiger Stadium was released. None had occurred since 1955. Mickey Mantle, 1960, 643 Feet. They checked it over and off I went. [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. 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. Briggs Stadium, as it was now known, held 53,000 seats. Progressive Field renovations [7][2], When the park was expanded in 1936, a second deck was added over the right field pavilion and bleachers. Cecil Fielder was the third player,. [44], On October 5, 1951, the University of Notre Dame played the University of Detroit at Briggs Stadium before a capacity crowd of 52,000. Extremely satisfied with the wonderful personable service! Although it was the park where he was booed regularly, Tiger Stadium played a huge role in Maris career. The Lions abandoned it for the Pontiac Silverdome. Even better, the homer cut the AL's deficit from 3-0 to 3-2, and helped the Junior Circuit earn a 6-4 win -- snapping the NL's eight-game winning streak in the Midsummer Classic. [7][15][16], In 1911, new Tigers owner Frank Navin ordered a new steel-and-concrete baseball park to be built on the same site that would seat 23,000 to accommodate the growing numbers of fans. Before Reggie Jackson. It was my 1st game and we sat in the upper deck in left field. & 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 . The third deck in right field would be 75 feet high and 375 feet from home plate. Focus On Sport/Getty Images. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. 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. I bet that was a great experience, seeing Killebrews home run. [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. It was out of the park in a split second. I will never forget this day. At the time, some places in the outfield were only marked off with rope. I was there for Gibsons shot over the roof onto brooks lumber. Writers described fire and smoke behind the outfield walls as a game went on. Matt Monagan Robinson flung his glove into the stands in disgust. He responded by going four-for-five in his third game as a major leaguer. The ballparks history actually dated back to 17 years before its generally accepted debut. Plainsman Park (Auburn) upgrades The right field overhang frustrated many outfielders who were camped under a routine flyball only to see it land in the first row upstairs. All three games featured home runs. Tiger Stadium (formerly known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium) was a stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. It was declared a State of Michigan Historic Site in 1975 and has been listed on the National Register of . Only four of the game's most powerful right-handed sluggers (Harmon Killebrew, Frank Howard, Cecil Fielder and Mark McGwire) reached the left field rooftop. He was also adept at hitting the ball out down the left field line, a trait later adopted by Willie Horton and Lance Parrish. July 11, 2018. 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. Returns & Exchanges This did not include wildcat seats that were built on the rooftops on houses located behind the left-field fence. (Cerdan claimed he dislocated his shoulder in the first round.) [62][64][65] Following the game, an emotional ceremony with past and present Tigers greats was held to mark the occasion. Our motto is simple: We enjoy doing cool things and are overjoyed we can make a living doing so. The Top 10 Longest Home Runs in History - baseballmonkey.com Reggie Jackson wasn't supposed to play in the 1971 Major League . This was their first stop and they sold out the place in record time. Green: Detroit Tigers' Norm Cash kept secret during during 1961 season 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. In 1977, a fire wiped out the press box. Thanks for reading. (Thirteen years earlier, he was the only player ever to homer over the center-field bleachers, which consisted of one deck at the time.) It bounced twice before plopping over the edge and onto the street. Out of concern for the neighborhood, the team moved a series to Baltimore. [80] Demolition began on June 30, 2008. There were moments of joy to behold down the stretch. Minute Maid Park upgrades [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. Outsiders began to look at Tiger Stadium and the neighborhood it was located in a different light. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The thing is I said " no big deal" yet they would let me leave with it they got another one from their very advanced warehouse. A new ballpark for the Tigers was built in downtown Detroit, and the club moved to Comerica Park after the 1999 season. Willie Horton hit a home run at Tiger Stadium when he was 16 years old during an all-city high school game. 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. As I mentioned above, a list that includes significant home runs at Tiger Stadium has to include Charlie Maxwell hitting 4 HRS in 4 consecutive at bats on May 3, 1959 in a double header against the Yankees. Harmon Killebrew had 573 home runs over his career. Bullying, racism, personal attacks, harassment, or discrimination is prohibited. After the game, it was revealed Hughes had passed away from a heart attack. [41], In the early 1970s, the city of Pontiac and its community leaders made a presentation to the Metropolitan Stadium Committee of a 155-acre (0.63km2) site on the city's eastern boundary, north of M-59 and near the intersection with Interstate 75 (I-75). He makes numerous personal appearances as an ambassador for the Yankees. the Nearest to me was Vintage. Talk about luck, but wow were they wrong. Quick shipping as well. 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 . Tiger Stadium blast part of legacy that leads Jason LeCronier - mlive [2], By the early 1990s, both the city and Tigers ownership wanted a new park, but many campaigned to save the old stadium. The team began a downward spiral on and off the field. No one hit more homers in Tiger Stadium than Al Kaline, who belted 212 there, while hitting 187 on the road. Cecil Fielder takes a gingerly stroll on the roof of Tiger Stadium in 1993. It was the first Notre Dame football game to be played at night. But #50 was a rocket into the upper deck. 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. Ironically, the visitors that day were the Minnesota Vikings, who rolled to an easy victory. 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. Tiger Stadium - Ballparks In 2018, the site was redeveloped for youth sports. A short while later I left with a new cap and a custom Fidrych T-shirt. Over the years, the distances gradually shortened down the lines. Purchased a New Era Gruff Michigan Syaye hat, and I absolutely love it. Order Tracking And the fans got rewarded with unusual moments such as a 22-inning game decided by a player who hit the only home run of his career to decide the game. 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. Mantle Clubbed Baseball's Longest Homer - UPI Archives The Amercan League won the game 6-4, with two run homers by Jackson, Frank Robinson, and Harmon Killebrew. [74][75] By 2006, however, demolition appeared inevitable when then-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick announced the stadium would be razed. I don't live nearby so the ability to have it shipped for $10 was well worth the cost. In 1970, when ABC signed on to carry Monday Night Football on a weekly basis, the network came to Detroit to do a trial run at an exhibition game. MLB Park Factors & Stats | Swish Analytics They checked it over and off I went. 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. George Brett loved the park, and in his final game at Tiger Stadium in an afternoon tilt in 1993, he hit two homers, one to right and one to left (I was there!). 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. (Nobody ever knew for sure just close of a target that upper deck really was. If you have been the the field since they tore down the stadium just stand at home plate and imagine hitting it over the 90 foot high roof to where brooks lumber still stands. 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. Wow! 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. Among the dignitaries on hand that day: David Eisenhower (nephew of the president and the person for whom Camp David was named) and Dizzy Dean, who had been baseballs last 30-game winner. OAK@DET: Cecil Fielder homers over Tiger Stadium roof In 80-degree weather on Aug. 25, 1990, Tiger Stadium hosted 45,474 fans eager to watch the Oakland Athletics' "Bash Brothers," Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, face off against the Tigers'. Cash hit the ball over Tiger Stadiums right field roof four times in his career. [46][47], When Ty Cobb played at Navin Field, the area of dirt in front of home plate was kept wet by the groundstaff to slow down Cobb's bunts and cause opposing infielders to slip as they fielded them. 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. Mickey Mantle: On September 10, 1960, the Yankee slugger hit a home run out of Tiger Stadium against Frank Lary. [59][60] This was also the first game on MLB's schedule that season, giving Evans the record for the earliest home run to start a season in terms of at bats. Babe Ruth (60), Ted Williams (55), Jimmie Foxx (52), Mickey Mantle (42), Yogi Berra (37), Yaz (36). But on August 25, 1990, during a Saturday game against Oakland, Tigers first baseman Cecil Fielder joined the exclusive circle of sluggers. Clem's Baseball ~ Tiger Stadium At the time, some places in the outfield were only marked off with rope. Would a roof on Tiger Stadium keep butts in seats? | Tiger Rant By making it possible for the upper deck to stand directly above the lower deck, the support columns allowed the average fan to sit closer to the field than at any other ballpark. Michael Clair The city of Detroit decide to move an entire street Cherry Street so the entire ball park could now be double decked. Berry lay injured while Horton, who was hardly fleet afoot, circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run. Returns & Exchanges [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.