Among the performers that day: Erma Franklin, older sister of Aretha Franklin. 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. Detroit was one of the first powers in the new league, advancing to the World Series three years in a row from 1907-09. In September 1990, I was making the trip from Traverse City down to Toledo, Ohio, to visit my grandmother. The HBO movie 61* was filmed there. The following inning, Dick Wakefield sent a Ferriss pitch over the wall for a solo home run, his third homer of the season. Navin bought up the rest of the city block of Michigan and Trumbull, stationed a flagpole inside the field of play, moved home plate in a different direction (so that the batter would not be looking into the sun) and opened for business on April 20, 1912, the same day Fenway Park in Boston debuted. Historian Mark Gallagher estimated that the home run Mantle hit in September of 1960 at Tiger Stadium traveled a whopping 643 feet. New Richmond Flying Squirrels ballpark The Lions abandoned it for the Pontiac Silverdome. [42], The Lions played their final game at Tiger Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1974 against the Denver Broncos. Three who did were Roberto Clemente in the 71 All-Star Game, Larry Herndon in 1983, and Mark McGwire in 1987. [18] In 1977, the Tigers sold the stadium to the city of Detroit, which then leased it back to the Tigers. They checked it over and off I went. [54][55] Of the many home runs in those games, the most often replayed is Reggie Jackson's drive to right field that hit so high up in the light tower that the TV camera lost sight of it, until it dropped to the field below. The city used the proceeds to defray the demolition costs. She is very accommodating and made me feel at home, especially since I was unaware they don't operate a standard retail shop. I placed an order and received a follow up call within 24 hrs due to item was not available. Minnesotas Harmon Killebrew had been the first in 1962, followed six years later by Washingtons Frank Howard. Jackson dropped his bat and watched it sail, seemingly astonished of his own power. Privacy Policy Before Reggie Jackson. I put the location into google maps off I went. This is a true story and has been recorded in a magazine of tape measure home runs. But there was nothing anybody could do. Some opposing players seemed to shine at Tiger Stadium. [92] It was also seen in Renaissance Man and Hardball. Have we seen the last fastball from Zumaya as a Tiger? 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. A doctor who was sitting in the stands tore from his seat, broke past an official and ran to help Hughes. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. On Rader's home run, the only other Mariner who remembers is Vada Pinson, who is a first-base coach for Seattle. It is believed to be the only time in the sports history this has occurred. Although only three strongmen (Frank Howard, Harmon Killebrew, Cecil Fielder) hit balls that went over the roof in left field, several folks shot the ball over the right-field roof. [70], In 2006, the feature-length documentary Stranded at the Corner: The Battle to Save Historic Tiger Stadium was released. , Where to live in New York if you've just come into $324 million. Copyright 2023 August Publications. Proudly powered by WordPress | Football at Tiger Stadium was an adventure. The game was televised only to Green Bay. In 1973, ground was broken for a stadium to exclusively house the Lions. . Historians generally agree the longest home run hit in the ballpark was probably achieved by Detroit 1B Norm Cash, who ripped a shot over the center field scoreboard in a 1962 game that landed on the roof of a parked taxicab. That stadium was called Bennett Park and featured a wooden grandstand with a wooden peaked roof in the outfield. Six years later, Cecil Fielder hit a moonshot over the left field roof on his way to 51 homers that season. Robinson flung his glove into the stands in disgust. Have Your Own Jersey? The most notable one easily was a KISS concert held on June 28, 1996. The ballparks history actually dated back to 17 years before its generally accepted debut. 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. He was a regular at baseball games there for years. Lou Gehrig said goodbye there. To fit as many seats as possible in the expansion, the second deck was extended over the fence by 10 feet (3 m). 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. 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. The third deck in right field would be 75 feet high and 375 feet from home plate. [4] A week into demolition, it was announced that the field, foul poles, and flagpole would be preserved. Over the years, the distances gradually shortened down the lines. In its early years, Navin Field was a pitchers paradise. 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. Cecil Fielder clears left field roof at Tiger Stadium. 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. Posted on 10/1/19 at 7:27 am to chimesstreet. I was there for Gibsons shot over the roof onto brooks lumber. The NFL Lions left University of Detroit Stadium to move downtown. Although few improvements were made to the ballpark over the years, it was still considered a showcase of baseball with a flair for memorable games. South African leader Nelson Mandela spoke before 49,000 people. It was the final Major League hit, home run, and RBI in Tiger Stadium's history. In 1964, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle had an idea he wanted to try. In left field, it was 15 feet (4.6m) farther down the line, and the roof was set back some distance. [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. [2][20][21][22] Ground was broken for the new Comerica Park on October 29, 1997. Tettleton, who cleared the stadium roof Friday night against the Angels, did it again in the . On May 2, 1939, Lou Gehrigs streak of 2,130 consecutive games ended when he asked out of the Yankees lineup complaining of a headache. There were very few concerts held over the years at The Corner. But Jackson, trying hard to make fans . Seven of the Tigers' eight runs came off home runs. PNC Park Tiger Stadium is an outdoor stadium located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on the campus of Louisiana State University. Detroit OF Rocky Colavito tied a major-league record when he went 7-for-10 in the game. 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. [38], Tiger Stadium was home of the Detroit Lions from 1938 to 1974. [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. There is no roof to extend. [31][32][33], Tiger Stadium featured an upper and lower deck bleacher section that was separated from the rest of the stadium. Charlie Steiner with ESPN highlights of Oakland A's/Detroit Tigers. Please seek professional guidance. Tickets to the Hall of Fame banquet are available by contacting Jennifer Thunberg at Bay City Central at 989-891-0602, thunbergj@bcschools.net or in person from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through . Excited to work with Vintage Detroit on future orders. 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. To Ilitchs credit, he paid for several renovations that kept the park looking reasonable in its final years. It is the only on-field death in the history of the league. With the OPEN sign light I though well came all this way just aswell give it a try and am I glad I did. On October 24, 1971, Chuck Hughes, a 27-year-old wide receiver for Detroit, suddenly collapsed on the field at the end of a play. Team owner George Vanderbeck constructed a 5,000-seat wooden facility, called Bennett Park, on the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues. Frank Navin, who bought the team in 1908, was a man with big ideas. 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. Dismiss, Copyright 2022 Vintage Detroit Collection, Spinnaker Center, 44692 Helm St, Plymouth. [2] Spotlights were added above the warning track to illuminate the area beneath the overhang. A short while later I left with a new cap and a custom Fidrych T-shirt. Mickey Mantle: On September 10, 1960, the Yankee slugger hit a home run out of Tiger Stadium against Frank Lary. The Lions last title came in 1957. 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. One of those occurred on June 24, 1962. Cecil hit the longest homerun Ive seen in my life during a minor league game in Kinston , N.C.The left field at Grainger Stadium is 370 ft. from home plate ; Cecils homerun cleared the fence , the street behind the fence , and landed on the roof of a 3 story building that was 20 yards on the other side of the street . The hit itself was a gunshot, echoing back from center. Saturday, again on a national television hookup, Jackson cleared the roof with his 485th career homer to help the California Angels top the Tigers, 4-2. The field ran from the first base line, across the infield to the left-center-field fence. Al Kaline takes aim at the seats in Tiger Stadium in the late 1950s. There were home runs that didnt seem to be home runs. PAL would build its new headquarters and related facilities on the western and northern edges of the site while preserving the historic playing field for youth sports, including high school and college baseball. [53][54][55] Ted Williams won the 1941 game with a walk-off three-run home run. [73], There were many proposals to redevelop the site. Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates. Fittingly, they lost to Denver, 31-27. All three games featured home runs. Only one current Tiger ever hit a home run at Tiger Stadium, and it was a memorable occasion. On April 15, 1999, Torii Hunter hit a home run off Brian Moehler at Tiger Stadium while playing for the Minnesota Twins. 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. It would be 16 innings before either team scored again. The team played as the Detroit Cougars in the United Soccer Association. Although the ballpark suffered little damage, the citys name was sullied. (Oddly. , The Metropolitan Museum of Art has one of the best baseball card collections in the world thanks to one man, By [2] And so it went. In the first game Cash hit the shot over the roof and another home run off McClain. 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. A year later, he returned to the stadium and retained his crown with a 15-round decision over Lauren Dauthuille. [53] The ball was also carrying well in the 1951 and 1971 games. Reggie Jackson became a national figure due to a famous home run in an All-Star Game. This did not include wildcat seats that were built on the rooftops on houses located behind the left-field fence. There were unlikely homers: little Freddie Patek, a 5 foot 5 imp who hit only a handful of homers in his career, hit two at Tiger Stadium; and 19-year old pitcher Denny McLain hit a home run on September 21, 1963, in his first big league game, and never hit another. It was a relatively soft touch compared to left field, with a 325-foot (99m) foul line and with a roof that was in line with the front of the lower deck. That ball is measured at 634 . July 11, 2018. In 1955, right field returned to its 325-foot status. Lynn worked with me to swap out to something similar excellent customer service. Hank Greenberg and Willie Horton might also qualify as long time Tigers. Or the blast off Gibson's bat that landed on the roof of the lumber yard across Trumbull Avenue. The ballpark was also the scene of one of the darkest days in NFL history. [41][43], In 1939, boxer Joe Louis defended his world heavyweight title with an eleventh-round knockout of Bob Pastor at the stadium. I was there. 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. Purchased a New Era Gruff Michigan Syaye hat, and I absolutely love it. As you'll notice, Aaron Judge hit four 500-foot blasts. It was the kind of place that inspired the best in players. In 1949, he defeated Marcel Cerdan, winning on a knockout in the tenth round to win the World Middleweight crown. Answerbag wants to provide a service to people looking for answers and a good conversation. - Advertisement - Check it out. Bill Freehan deserves special mention in that he hit exactly 100 home runs at Tiger Stadium and also 100 on the road. 2 others that hit the light towers. On September 10, 1960, Mickey Mantle hit a home run over the right-field roof at Tiger Stadium. Harmon Killebrew had 573 home runs over his career. There had been occasional Monday night games played in the league over the years. I,my son and two friends were sitting on the first base side in the upper deck when he hit that one, it went up so high I thought it wasnt coming down until it disappeared over the edge of the roof, Jose Cansenco hit on into center field at the flag pole that game too. Detroit's Police Athletic League (PAL) headquarters would relocate to the site and maintain the field. 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. [80] Demolition began on June 30, 2008. I was there with my dad. The Home Run Encyclopedia gives an account of one of Ruth's longest drives and one of the longest hit ever. Matt Monagan Obviously those CF home runs had to be close to 500 feet to clear the wall at that point. New St. Croix River Hounds ballpark, 2025 Ballparks Outfield Wall Height: A left-to-right representation of the outfield wall and the minimum/maximum heights (in feet) of the wall. , Competition, joy and a little pain: Beep Baseball is a world of freedom for blind athletes, By Good article. In 1911, new Tigers owner Frank Navin ordered a new steel-and-concrete baseball park on . He makes numerous personal appearances as an ambassador for the Yankees. She is very accommodating and made me feel at home, especially since I was unaware they don't operate a standard retail shop. briggs stadium, detroit, detroit tigers, michigan, mlb, national league, navin field, tiger stadium. Paul was great to work with and offered to delay shipping when I told him I would be on vacation on the original delivery date. LMCU Ballpark (West Michigan Whitecaps) upgrades [2] In 1961, new owner John Fetzer took control of the stadium and gave it its final and longest-lasting name: Tiger Stadium. In 1967, the race riots that tore up the city of Detroit started less than two miles from the ballpark. Bullying, racism, personal attacks, harassment, or discrimination is prohibited. Writers described fire and smoke behind the outfield walls as a game went on. Doak Field at Dail Park upgrades (NC Wolfpack) For the second time in five days, Detroit's Mickey Tettleton hit a home run out of Tiger Stadium. Shortly thereafter, the city of Detroit bought the park from the team for $1. This is not a replacement for the newsletter, but rather a real-time notification system! [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. Watched Harmons HR shot go over the left field stands-right over the top of me-I was working as a stand-boy out in left field and got a break to go out and and watch part of the gamemy only comment was WOW! Despite the fact The Corner wasnt being used much, the city of Detroit was on the hook for some $400,000 a year in maintenance. Innovative Field (Rochester Red Wings) upgrades All in all, however, the ballpark had a helluva good run. I will never forget this day. The 1999 Tigers finished with a 69-92 record, but it felt like the stands were always full. 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 ! 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!). Its first day was overshadowed by the news the Titanic hit an iceberg and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean. 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. (The Cubs claimed their last World Series title there in 1908.) Reggie Jackson's All-Star Game homer off the Tiger Stadium roof is still jaw-dropping By Chris Landers July 12, 2017 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. By the early 1990s the owner of the Tigers wanted a new luxurious ballpark for team. But on August 25, 1990, during a Saturday game against Oakland, Tigers first baseman Cecil Fielder joined the exclusive circle of sluggers. The Tigers scratched out a run in the sixth to tie the game at 7. On July 9, 1965, Stormin' Norman hit an inside-the-park home run against the A's at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. [76] In June 2007, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation approved a plan to demolish the stadium, which needed approval from Detroit City Council. The right field overhang frustrated many outfielders who were camped under a routine flyball only to see it land in the first row upstairs. 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. Thanks for reading. What do you get when you combine a block party and a baseball league? For the current stadium of the Detroit Tigers, see, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, 1999 Detroit Tigers season Final game at Tiger Stadium, "Tiger Stadium still holds a special place in hearts of fans", "Sept. 21, 2009: The day Tiger Stadium died", "Bennett Park/Navin Field/Briggs Stadium/Tiger Stadium", "50 Years ago Briggs Stadium was Renamed Tiger Stadium", "National Register of Historic Places MICHIGAN (MI), Wayne Country", "First pitch thrown at former Tiger Stadium site, now home to youth league", "April 28, 1896: There used to be a hay market here: Detroit Tigers open Bennett Park", "April 20, 1912: Frank Navin's field of dreams opens in Detroit", "Tigers say Detroit is prime stadium site", "Old Tiger Stadium's famed flagpole gets new life", "Detroit Tigers: 10 Things You May Not Know About Comerica Park", "June 15, 1948: 'Look at your wonderful lights here': Tigers win first night game in Detroit", "The Game That Was NotPhiladelphia Phillies at Chicago Cubs, August 8, 1988", "Remembering old Tiger Stadium and its final game", "In pictures: Remembering the Tigers' original home in Detroit", "1957 Detroit Lions: What happened each game during championship season", "Tiger Stadium History, Photos & More of the former NFL stadium of the Detroit Lions", "FORMER PONTIAC SILVERDOME .
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