I bet that was a great experience, seeing Killebrews home run. Al Kaline takes aim at the seats in Tiger Stadium in the late 1950s. The final act came on September 27, 1999. [73], There were many proposals to redevelop the site. 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 . Please seek professional guidance. I placed an order and received a follow up call within 24 hrs due to item was not available. Considered one of the longest home runs ever hit in major league history. It was the final Major League hit, home run, and RBI in Tiger Stadium's history. Hence, for many years, everybody but the citizens of Detroit watched the annual Thanksgiving Day game.) A short while later I left with a new cap and a custom Fidrych T-shirt. All rights reserved. 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. 23, hit a 435-foot blast into the lower deck in right field to lead off the . Ilitch began to make plans for a new ballpark downtown, breaking ground during the 1997 season. [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. He frantically signaled to the sidelines to get help for Hughes. The ball actually sailed right over the right field roof of the ballpark, which is mind-boggling to contemplate. 11,111 home runs The Amercan League won the game 6-4, with two run homers by Jackson, Frank Robinson, and Harmon Killebrew. 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. Most spectacular was Cash's performance in the doubleheader that June Sunday 60 years ago. The ballparks other famous boxing matches involved Jake LaMotta. [69] Among performers at the nightclub-style event was Snoop Dogg. There is one other football item worthy of note regarding Tiger Stadium. Norm Cash led all left-handed batters with 212 home runs, most of them going into the right field sections. Unlike some teams that played in baseball parks, the Lions made no attempt to cover the infield. norm cash home run out of tiger stadium. 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. Only one current Tiger ever hit a home run at Tiger Stadium, and it was a memorable occasion. [2] In 1961, new owner John Fetzer took control of the stadium and gave it its final and longest-lasting name: Tiger Stadium. Detroit OF Rocky Colavito tied a major-league record when he went 7-for-10 in the game. The overhang would occasionally turn some extremely high arced fly balls into home runs. In 1935, following Navin's death, new owner Walter Briggs oversaw the expansion of Navin Field to a capacity of 36,000 by extending the upper deck to the foul poles and across right field. I was at Tiger Stadium in May 1971 when Reggie Jackson hit the ball over the right field roof. Progressive Field renovations [62][64][65] Following the game, an emotional ceremony with past and present Tigers greats was held to mark the occasion. In the fourth inning, with Alan Trammell on first base and two out, Fielder powered a 3-1 fastball from righthander Dave Stewart toward the roof in left. Frank Navin, who bought the team in 1908, was a man with big ideas. Michael Clair In the eighth inning of a game against the Rangers, Fielder turned on a Matt Whiteside offering, hitting it onto the roof of Tiger Stadium. Awesome article Dan as usual! In left field, it was 15 feet (4.6m) farther down the line, and the roof was set back some distance. The benches for both the Lions and their opponents were on the outfield side of the field. 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. Jackson dropped his bat and watched it sail, seemingly astonished of his own power. Cecil Fielder was only Tiger to clear Tiger Stadiums left-field roof. [25] A new flagpole in the spirit of Tiger Stadium's pole was positioned in fair play at Comerica Park until the left field fence was moved in closer prior to the 2003 season. In addition to the movie 61*, two other films Tiger Town and Hardball had scenes filmed there. 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 . Reggie Jackson wasn't supposed to play in the 1971 Major League . Teams had to stand on the same sideline in right field. Partially because of that incident, a pad was put in place on the flagpole. [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. [53] The ball was also carrying well in the 1951 and 1971 games. 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. In Game 6, a controversial play occurred when St. Louis Joe Medwick slid hard into third base and ended up in a fight with Detroit third baseman Marv Owen. This is a true story and has been recorded in a magazine of tape measure home runs. Robinson flung his glove into the stands in disgust. On June 27, 1963, he played an entire game at first base without a chance, as the Minnesota Twins won 10-6. LMCU Ballpark (West Michigan Whitecaps) upgrades Here are the longest home runs in the Home Run Derby, during the StatCast era, away from Coors Field. [24] The same flag pole was to be brought to Comerica Park, but this never happened. Extremely satisfied with the wonderful personable service! [48] The area was nicknamed "Cobb's Lake". Ruth hit 60 homers there, the most by any visiting ballplayer. 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. 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. None had occurred since 1955. Tiger Stadium was sold to the city of Detroit on January 1, 1978 for $1.00 and leased back for 30 years. Although they only won six pennants during their tenure there, the hometown Tigers were often an interesting team with individual stars. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. 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. ", "Home run facts from The Corner in Detroit", "September 27, 1999: Tears and cheers: Tiger Stadium hosts final game", "Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers Box Score, September 27, 1999", "Closing ceremony brought a lineup of stars back to Tiger Stadium", "The Unknown Kid Who Hit the Real Last Home Run at Tiger Stadium", "Tiger Stadium rises from the ashes for Bud Bowl 2006", "A six-pack to go at Tiger Stadium's hallowed ground", "Detroit Should Sell Tiger Stadium As Is Summer of Privatization", "The Navin Field Grounds Crew: Detroit Diehards Stand on Sacred Grounds", "Detroit EDC OKs plan to tear down Tiger Stadium", "Council OKs Detroit ballpark's demolition", "NEW! Team: Cleveland Indians. He grabbed his crotch and Sparky was not happy about it. The blast must have ignited Cash's non-corked bat, as he decimated American League pitching with 23 home runs and 58 RBIs in 78 games after the All-Star break. [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). With the OPEN sign light I though well came all this way just aswell give it a try and am I glad I did. Its unique dimensions allowed fans to get closer than usual to the ballgame. Such was life at The Corner.). Returns & Exchanges 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. It would be 16 innings before either team scored again. The right field overhang frustrated many outfielders who were camped under a routine flyball only to see it land in the first row upstairs. Bud Metheny Ballpark renovations (Old Dominion University) However, in just about every case, it had been occurred due to a stadium conflict or for a special reason. About Us Recently got a blank jersey stitched at Vintage Detroit and the finished product looks awesome! At the time, some places in the outfield were only marked off with rope. To make the park appear like Yankee Stadium, the parks seats were painted green and a skyline of the Bronx was added. They checked it over and off I went. 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. Fick, a catcher and designated hitter, entered the game batting .200 with two home runs in 30 . Nomar Mazara (505 Feet) Bill Freehan deserves special mention in that he hit exactly 100 home runs at Tiger Stadium and also 100 on the road. 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. 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. Baseball commissioner Judge Landis ordered Medwick off the field for his own safety. In fact, the Indians erected a 12-foot bronze statue in his honor in . 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 seven-hour game is the second longest game in American League history. The 1999 Tigers finished with a 69-92 record, but it felt like the stands were always full. . The group reunited for their Alive/Worldwide tour. 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. For the film, computer-generated visual effects were used to make Tiger Stadium resemble Yankee Stadium in 1961. Back to top. The distance of the home run has been estimated at up to 575 feet (175m). It was the type of park that inspired such feats. The Lions played football in Tiger Stadium from 1938 until the end of 1974, after which they moved into the Silverdome in Pontiac, a suburb over 30 miles away. [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. 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. What a game. [67][68], In February 2006, a tent on Tiger Stadium's field played host to Anheuser-Busch's Bud Bowl 2006. Stopped by Wed morning 7/6 and had the pleasure of dealing directly with Lynne. Order Tracking 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. [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. Id have a chance to send my family to Paris on that one.. Reggie Jackson hit a titanic homer off the light tower in the 1971 All-Star Game. Some opposing players seemed to shine at Tiger Stadium. (The next year, a screen was placed on top of the fence. PNC Park [18] In 1977, the Tigers sold the stadium to the city of Detroit, which then leased it back to the Tigers. Quick shipping as well. Thanks! (The front row of seats was just 55 feet behind home plate). [2] Spotlights were added above the warning track to illuminate the area beneath the overhang. the Yankees won that day, 22-2 the worst loss the Tigers ever suffered at home.). Among the performers that day: Erma Franklin, older sister of Aretha Franklin. The Tigers scratched out a run in the sixth to tie the game at 7. There had been occasional Monday night games played in the league over the years. 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.) 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. [76] In June 2007, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation approved a plan to demolish the stadium, which needed approval from Detroit City Council. [14], In 1895, Detroit Tigers owner George Vanderbeck had a new ballpark built at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues. [53][54][55] Ted Williams won the 1941 game with a walk-off three-run home run. (Oddly. He makes numerous personal appearances as an ambassador for the Yankees. The Tigers will move to Comerica Park next year. Ted Williams said Briggs Stadium had the best sight lines of any ballpark, and that was back when the interior was painted green. Yankee Stadium is listed in the credits at the end of the film as being played by Tiger Stadium. Order Tracking A few players, very few, hit home runs into the bleachers in straightaway center field, an incredible 440 feet away. 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! Cecil Fielder clears left field roof at Tiger Stadium. Lou Gehrig said goodbye there. A fire gutted the press box on the evening of February 1, 1977. 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. Lynne asked what I was interested in and presented me with a great selection of Tigers caps and T-shirts. Mickey Mantle: On September 10, 1960, the Yankee slugger hit a home run out of Tiger Stadium against Frank Lary. With the OPEN sign light I though well came all this way just aswell give it a try and am I glad I did. Some call this the longest home run ever hit. It was the kind of place that inspired the best in players. Along Trumbull Avenue, 24 town homes were planned for sale. A new ballpark for the Tigers was built in downtown Detroit, and the club moved to Comerica Park after the 1999 season. Minnesotas Harmon Killebrew had been the first in 1962, followed six years later by Washingtons Frank Howard. Negative racial/anti-Semitic, or religious stereotypes are prohibited. Tiger Stadium is an outdoor stadium located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on the campus of Louisiana State University. I sat myself in the upper deck left seats and waited for the big guy to hit #50, to join George Foster, who I had cheered for since mt Dad was a Reds fan. The Tigers. In the decade after the Tigers vacated the stadium, several rejected redevelopment and preservation efforts finally gave way to demolition. Gibson hit 95, and Gehringer hit 92. Team owner George Vanderbeck constructed a 5,000-seat wooden facility, called Bennett Park, on the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues. The Tigers moved to the newly constructed Comerica Park for their 2000 season, leaving Tiger Stadium unused. [61], There were over 30 home runs hit onto the right field roof over the years. Tiger Stadium was sold to the city of Detroit on January 1, 1978 for $1.00 and leased back for 30 years. The following inning, Dick Wakefield sent a Ferriss pitch over the wall for a solo home run, his third homer of the season. [81], After a hiatus wherein various plans to preserve portions of the stadium were considered,[82][83][84][85] demolition was completed on September 21, 2009. Harmon Killebrew had 2,086 hits over his career. The Lions abandoned it for the Pontiac Silverdome. Not to be picky but Griffey didnt flip off Sparky. Makes me even more envious of the fans in Boston whose ownership had the wisdom to preserve their historic ballpark. [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. But #50 was a rocket into the upper deck. 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 . The team began a downward spiral on and off the field. [51][52], The stadium hosted the 1941, 1951 and 1971 MLB All-Star Games. Customer Service The Home Run Encyclopedia gives an account of one of Ruth's longest drives and one of the longest hit ever. [4] A week into demolition, it was announced that the field, foul poles, and flagpole would be preserved. Left field was 345 feet away while right field was a monstrous 370 feet down the line. There was a one-year spike in attendance but the 1994 baseball strike wiped out a lot of good will earned. [57][58], On April 7, 1986, Dwight Evans hit a home run on the first pitch of Opening Day.

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