Tiger Stadium was sold to the city of Detroit on January 1, 1978 for $1.00 and leased back for 30 years. I was there in the left field upper deck when it was first hit we thought it was coming right to us, but it just kept going over the roof. Innovative Field (Rochester Red Wings) upgrades (The next year, a screen was placed on top of the fence. [48] The area was nicknamed "Cobb's Lake". New St. Croix River Hounds ballpark, 2025 Ballparks The first home run in the history of the All-Star Game was hit by none other than Babe Ruth. 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. [62] In his career, Norm Cash hit four home runs over the Tiger Stadium roof in right field and is the all-time leader. The ballparks other famous boxing matches involved Jake LaMotta. Focus On Sport/Getty Images. He ordered a steel-and-concrete 23,000-seat ballpark that was built in an astonishing period of seven months after the end of the 1911 season. Rogers Centre renovations A few players, very few, hit home runs into the bleachers in straightaway center field, an incredible 440 feet away. Baseball commissioner Judge Landis ordered Medwick off the field for his own safety. Another outfield oddity was a ledge that fielders used to jump onto to try to snare balls headed for the seats. Privacy Policy (Rumor was this came at the behest of the teams first star, Ty Cobb.) Or the blast off Gibsons bat that landed on the roof of the lumber yard across Trumbull Avenue. There were home runs that didnt seem to be home runs. The club went 68-86 and hit 18 fewer home runs than the year before. [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. Cecil Fielder clears left field roof at Tiger Stadium. If you want a new roof on Tiger Stadium it will have to built from scratch. Denny McLain achieved one of the games rarest feats at the place they called The Corner. Cecil Fielder was the third player,. Considered one of the longest home runs ever hit in major league history. 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.. He installed an area in the lower deck (between first and third base) that had padded seats and added waitservice. South African leader Nelson Mandela spoke before 49,000 people. BATON ROUGE, La. Since Detroit was driving for a score late in the game, some assumed Hughes was simply trying to stop the clock. Jim Thome has to be in there for homeruns to it seemed like every time I was at a game he hit one to right field. The group reunited for their Alive/Worldwide tour. [2][20][21][22] Ground was broken for the new Comerica Park on October 29, 1997. Luis Polonia, the Tigers' left fielder, wearing Willie Horton's No. Purchased a New Era Gruff Michigan Syaye hat, and I absolutely love it. However, in just about every case, it had been occurred due to a stadium conflict or for a special reason. It was said the lights at the ballpark were so bright that it could light up a city of 10,000 people. Navin Field opened on April 20, 1912, the same day as the Boston Red Sox's Fenway Park. [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. From the original Briggs/Tiger Stadium configuration from 1938 until the park closed in 1999, 36 home runs were hit over the roof of the ballpark. 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. On August 25, 1986, McGwire had lined a Walt Terrell pitch into the centerfield bleachers at Tiger Stadium, the first of 583 round-trippers the controversial slugger would wind up hitting in his career. A fire gutted the press box on the evening of February 1, 1977. Six years later, Cecil Fielder hit a moonshot over the left field roof on his way to 51 homers that season. I was a little concerned it would let look as good as I hoped, but when I put it on, I loved it. Location: Heritage Park. With regular first baseman Dan Meyer batting .192 with only two RBIs, the Tigers gave the job to Thompson early into the 1976 season. Shortly thereafter, the city of Detroit bought the park from the team for $1. I was there. 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 city used the proceeds to defray the demolition costs. Some call this the longest home run ever hit. [57][58], On April 7, 1986, Dwight Evans hit a home run on the first pitch of Opening Day. Please let us know when you find out. On June 28, 1990, the ballpark hosted another unusual event. Be respectful even if you disagree. Monaghan sold the team to a pizza rival, Mike Ilitch, in 1992. Date: 1999. [45], Northern Irish professional soccer club Glentoran F.C. 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 ! 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. [86] There was at one time also a sign on the enclosing fence labeling the site "Ernie Harwell Park". [80] Demolition began on June 30, 2008. He makes numerous personal appearances as an ambassador for the Yankees. The crazy thing is we missed the home run for a hot pretzel. The Red Sox, though, quickly struck again. ORDER YOURS NOW! 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.) 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 . [30], Due to then-owner Walter Briggs's dislike of night baseball, lights were not installed at the stadium until 1948. Park Dimensions: The dimensions of the park (in feet) including left, right and center field distance to each wall. Although other teams joined the rotation (Dallas came first and a third TV game was added in 2006), the Lions still host a Thanksgiving Day game every season. 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. Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins. In left field, outfielders were known to jump up on the auxiliary scoreboard, grab the screen and reach several feet over the fence. Al Kaline takes aim at the seats in Tiger Stadium in the late 1950s. In the 1970s, Ken Berry, an excellent flychaser, forgot about this one day and ran flush into the pole while chasing a shot by Detroit OF Willie Horton. He hit some long HRs at Tiger Stadium. Tiger Stadium (formerly known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium) was a stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. 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. Norm Cash hit the most Homeruns over the Stadium. 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. Outsiders began to look at Tiger Stadium and the neighborhood it was located in a different light. [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. 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. 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. On April 15, 1999, Torii Hunter hit a home run off Brian Moehler at Tiger Stadium while playing for the Minnesota Twins. The seven-hour game is the second longest game in American League history. 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. [98], Tiger Stadium showing signs of neglect in 2006, Tiger Stadium with facade lettering removed in November 2007, The visitors' bullpen and right field from lower deck in November 2007, Tiger Stadium with seats removed in November 2007, Abandoned in April 2008; Tigers now play in Comerica Park, Demonstration against a School Amendment at Navin Field in 1920, This article is about the Detroit Tigers' former stadium. Took everyones breath away. Online auction of Tiger Stadium memorabilia draws $192,729", "Contract approved for Tiger Stadium demolition", "Tiger Stadium Field, Foul Poles to Be Saved", "Partial Demolition of Tiger Stadium Almost Done", "Remnants of Tiger Stadium Safe For Short Time", "So long: Detroit board OKs leveling Tiger Stadium", "Ernie Harwell Park ( site of former Tiger Stadium )", "Renderings reveal future of Tiger Stadium, field", "Key approval given to Tiger Stadium plans", "Who wants to live at Tiger Stadium? Thats so true, every game can be legendary. A record that cant be broken, You are correct he hit 4 out of the Stadium. It was my 1st game and we sat in the upper deck in left field. 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. (The movie Detroit Rock City was based on this concert.). A dozen years later, after Navins death, Walter Briggs bought the club, adding an upper deck along the foul poles and seats in right field. [28][29] The Texas Rangers claimed that the design of the right field section was copied and used in the construction of what is now Choctaw Stadium, but in fact the upper deck did not actually extend over the right field fence, but was set back by several feet. The Fighting Irish won, 406. Answerbag wants to provide a service to people looking for answers and a good conversation. Its unique dimensions allowed fans to get closer than usual to the ballgame. Stopped by Wed morning 7/6 and had the pleasure of dealing directly with Lynne. Text by Dave Wright Photos by John Moist. 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! 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. Tiger Stadium saw gigantic home runs, like the one Babe Ruth hit that witnesses swore traveled 600 feet as it soared over the right field grandstands. Bud Metheny Ballpark renovations (Old Dominion University) ORDER YOURS NOW! [71] Funded by local businessman and ardent stadium supporter Peter Comstock Riley, and directed by Gary Glaser, it earned solid reviews and won three Telly awards and two Emmy awards for the film's writer and co-producer, Richard Bak, a local journalist and the author of two books about the stadium. Historian Mark Gallagher estimated that the home run Mantle hit in September of 1960 at Tiger Stadium traveled a whopping 643 feet. But #50 was a rocket into the upper deck. 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. Yankee Stadium is listed in the credits at the end of the film as being played by Tiger Stadium. Progressive Field renovations He was also adept at hitting the ball out down the left field line, a trait later adopted by Willie Horton and Lance Parrish. 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. 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 . 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. PNC Park Minnesotas Harmon Killebrew had been the first in 1962, followed six years later by Washingtons Frank Howard. And so it went. 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. The team played as the Detroit Cougars in the United Soccer Association. [7] The stadium hosted two NFL Championship Games in 1953 and 1957. 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. It was the final Major League hit, home run, and RBI in Tiger Stadium's history. Cecil Fielder watches his home run out of Tiger Stadium - YouTube We sat down with Cecil Fielder and had him take us through his iconic roof-clearing home run vs. the A's in 1991.. Jackson dropped his bat and watched it sail, seemingly astonished of his own power. It hosted the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1912 to 1999, as well as the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) from 1938 to 1974. The latter once flipped off Sparky Anderson after hitting a home run into the right field upper deck in 1993. I will never forget this day. [31][32][33], Tiger Stadium featured an upper and lower deck bleacher section that was separated from the rest of the stadium. Thanks! Source: wikimedia.org. The unusual dimensions of the football field led to some odd happenings. Tiger Stadium was sold to the city of Detroit on January 1, 1978 for $1.00 and leased back for 30 years. As I approached the area I quickly realized I was in more an industrial & commercial area then retail. 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. Matt Monagan By the time television and football began its long, happy marriage, Detroit was well established as the home field for the annual Thanksgiving Day game. Team owner George Vanderbeck constructed a 5,000-seat wooden facility, called Bennett Park, on the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues. 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. 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. In 1945, Hank Greenberg belted a grand slam late in the season that not only won the game for Detroit, but clinched the pennant. Cash hit the ball over Tiger Stadiums right field roof four times in his career. A year later, a Tiger Stadium-record 230 home runs were smashed130 of them surrendered by an atrocious Detroit pitching staff that produced a 6.38 ERA, the worst in AL history. At the time, some places in the outfield were only marked off with rope. The right-field fence sat just 325 feet from home plate, and Jackson wasn't the only man to leave the stadium entirely.But Mr. October's blast -- off then-Pirates ace Dock Ellis, no less -- was gargantuan by any measure: According to Home Run Tracker's estimate, the ball traveled 532 feet or at least it would have, had the base of the light tower on the right-field roof not gotten in its way. These were not temp help that knew nothing these were professionals who knew not just everything but were truly looking out for me. 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. 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. About Us [35][36][37] It originally had one before it was removed. The most notable one easily was a KISS concert held on June 28, 1996. It bounced twice before plopping over the edge and onto the street. (In those days, home games were blacked out 75 miles from the site of competition. The hit itself was a gunshot, echoing back from center. Over the years, the distances gradually shortened down the lines. (Oddly. They stayed at the ballpark until 1974 when they left to play in the 76,000-seat Pontiac Silverdome. My sons at 10 and 8 thought I was a genious. I was there for Gibsons shot over the roof onto brooks lumber. Tiger Stadium was designed by the father and son team of Frank C. Osborn and Kenneth H. Osborn. Quick shipping as well. Id have a chance to send my family to Paris on that one.. the Nearest to me was Vintage. Tiger Stadium saw gigantic home runs, like the one Babe Ruth hit that witnesses swore traveled 600 feet as it soared over the right field grandstands. Enter your email address to subscribe to Ballpark Digest and receive notifications of new posts by email immediately when a new story is posted. [42], The Lions played their final game at Tiger Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1974 against the Denver Broncos. The HBO movie 61* was filmed there. In 1964, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle had an idea he wanted to try. 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. Shipping Service The Lions abandoned it for the Pontiac Silverdome. [92] It was also seen in Renaissance Man and Hardball. Coincidentally, Fielders counterpart at first base that day was Mark McGwire, who had hit his very first major league tater exactly four years earlier. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. [41][43], In 1939, boxer Joe Louis defended his world heavyweight title with an eleventh-round knockout of Bob Pastor at the stadium. But the Yankees turned on their old nemesis, knocking him out with seven runs in two innings. Frank Lary, who had made a career out of beating the Yankees (he was 29-6 lifetime against them from 1955-63), was the Detroit starter. Awesome article Dan as usual! 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. Bosman, once Howard's roommate, mentioned one blast Howard clocked off Tommy John at RFK Stadium in 1966, then another off Mickey Lolich that sailed clear out of Tiger Stadium in 1968. In the first game Cash hit the shot over the roof and another home run off McClain. I had a chance to see a few games at Fenway, and while it is great, Tiger Stadium was more historic. In 1923, Navin increased capacity to 30,000. Please seek professional guidance. It was Hunters first major league home run, and it was a doozy a deep fly to right center field that landed in the lower deck. Many seats were replaced. 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. [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. My whole family was there. 59,203 fans attended the game, the largest crowd ever to see a football game at the Corner. 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. It was the kind of place that inspired the best in players. Future Legends Sports Complex (Northern Colorado Owlz) The Lions last title came in 1957. 11,111 home runs 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. PNC Park upgrades [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. In 1934, the Tigers won the AL pennant but lost the World Series to the Cardinals. She is very accommodating and made me feel at home, especially since I was unaware they don't operate a standard retail shop. Thats the longest home run Ive had hit off me, said Stewart, who had surrendered an upper-deck shot to Fielder in the first inning. On July 9, 1965, Stormin' Norman hit an inside-the-park home run against the A's at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. At the time, some places in the outfield were only marked off with rope. ), But the biggest move came in 1938. 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. I highly recommend if you live within a 30 minute drive of this place and you are looking for authentic NBA NFL and MB items stop in and see them they also have a lot of very rare items which will make you stand out. Or the blast off Gibson's bat that landed on the roof of the lumber yard across Trumbull Avenue. On July 2, 1993, Tigers first baseman Cecil Fielder hit a home run that has only just now come back to Earth. 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. Customer Service Remembering the Red Wings gritty Martin Lapointe. Nomar Mazara (505 Feet) [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. That year, Big Daddy captured the countrys attention with an eye-popping 51 home runs and 132 RBI, both best in the majors. She is very accommodating and made me feel at home, especially since I was unaware they don't operate a standard retail shop. For the film, computer-generated visual effects were used to make Tiger Stadium resemble Yankee Stadium in 1961. 23, hit a 435-foot blast into the lower deck in right field to lead off the . 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. The old ballpark at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull in Detroits Corktown district was one of the games most unusual ballparks. [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. It was the final Major League hit, home run, and RBI in Tiger Stadium's history. He only fought once at Briggs Stadium, defeating Bob Pastor on September 20, 1939. 1. For the second time in five days, Detroit's Mickey Tettleton hit a home run out of Tiger Stadium. Negative racial/anti-Semitic, or religious stereotypes are prohibited. As the team improved, so did the capacity of the ballpark, capping out at 14,000. [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 were many famous home runs hit there, such as Babe Ruths 700th, and the walkoff homer by Ted Williams in the 1941 All-Star Game. 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 know Alan Trammell hit a lot of homeruns on the road while playing for Detroit, and as a total for his career, he hit 185 HRs total both on the road and at home. The Metropolitan Stadium Committee voted unanimously for the Pontiac site. 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!). Back to top. No advertising or spamming is permitted. [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). Ruth hit 60 homers there, the most by any visiting ballplayer. The green box was considered a home-run haven. This is a true story and has been recorded in a magazine of tape measure home runs. A+! If in doubt, leave it out. Saw Herndons line shot to center. Several years later, the country watched another memorable Thanksgiving Day game played in a blizzard that covered the field by halftime. (AP Photo) AP Before Mr. October was Mr. October, he was Mr. July. But Jackson, trying hard to make fans . To the Sports Editor: The Times reported that Cecil Fielder became the first Detroit player to hit a home run over the left-field roof at Tiger Stadium (''Fielder Belts Two as Tigers Rout A's, 14 . Reggie Jackson hit a titanic homer off the light tower in the 1971 All-Star Game. The Tigers will move to Comerica Park next year. 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. Willie Horton hit a home run at Tiger Stadium when he was 16 years old during an all-city high school game. . The NFL Lions left University of Detroit Stadium to move downtown. Partially because of that incident, a pad was put in place on the flagpole. But on August 25, 1990, during a Saturday game against Oakland, Tigers first baseman Cecil Fielder joined the exclusive circle of sluggers. In the Lions glory years of the 1950s, Detroit was considered one of the toughest venues in the league to play. 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