Lynn worked with me to swap out to something similar excellent customer service. 2 others that hit the light towers. Reggie Jackson hit a titanic homer off the light tower in the 1971 All-Star Game. the Nearest to me was Vintage. Posted on 10/1/19 at 7:27 am to chimesstreet. [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. My guess is there is a more effective way for the Athletic Department to spend 20 million dollars (or 50 million..or whatever it would cost). Cecil Fielder clears left field roof at Tiger Stadium. In 1945, Hank Greenberg belted a grand slam late in the season that not only won the game for Detroit, but clinched the pennant. Location: Heritage Park. [7][2], When the park was expanded in 1936, a second deck was added over the right field pavilion and bleachers. But #50 was a rocket into the upper deck. 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. As I approached the area I quickly realized I was in more an industrial & commercial area then retail. Shipping Service In 1968, his last at-bat came there when he struck out in Game 5 of the World Series. [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. 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. [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. 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. Shipping Service "I was fortunate," said Bonilla, who has hit only five home runs this season but has six in 12 career games at Tiger Stadium, where he . Football at Tiger Stadium was an adventure. Thanks, J.D. 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. I put the location into google maps off I went. Minute Maid Park upgrades [2][20][21][22] Ground was broken for the new Comerica Park on October 29, 1997. Plainsman Park (Auburn) upgrades A record that cant be broken, You are correct he hit 4 out of the Stadium. South African leader Nelson Mandela spoke before 49,000 people. A 125-foot flagpole stood just to the left of the 440-foot sign in dead center field. These were not temp help that knew nothing these were professionals who knew not just everything but were truly looking out for me. A World Series victory in 1984 didnt seem to help. [34], In 1999, its final season, only this ballpark and Bank One Ballpark had a dirt path that ran from the pitcher's mound to home plate. I was in the stands the day that Mr. McGwire hit his shot over the roof in left. 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. In 1955, right field returned to its 325-foot status. Purchased a New Era Gruff Michigan Syaye hat, and I absolutely love it. 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. 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. August Publications was formed in 2002 with the launch of Ballpark Digest. A year later, Tiger Stadium was in the national spotlight when Denny McLain became the first pitcher in 31 years to win 30 games. A short while later I left with a new cap and a custom Fidrych T-shirt. Cash hit the ball over Tiger Stadium's right field roof four times in his career. The HBO movie 61* was filmed there. On September 28, 1964, the league scheduled Detroit to host Green Bay on a Monday night. 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. Reggie Jackson became a national figure due to a famous home run in an All-Star Game. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. ", "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! Have we seen the last fastball from Zumaya as a Tiger? Eric Chesterton Theme: Envo Blog. called the stadium home in the late 1960s. 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 . [71][72] It was also shown at the inaugural National Baseball Hall of Fame Film Festival in November 2006. [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. Shortly thereafter, the city of Detroit bought the park from the team for $1. (The movie Detroit Rock City was based on this concert.). 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. 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. Many seats were replaced. Some of Gibson's home runs were pretty darn big (including a couple in the World Series) but one of Gibson's most memorable home runs came in June of 1983 when he hit a moon shot that cleared the roof of Tiger Stadium. *(previously Briggs Stadium & Navin Field), Most Homers hit by opposing players 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. , Where to live in New York if you've just come into $324 million. Babe Ruth hit his 700th career home run there in 1934. Recently got a blank jersey stitched at Vintage Detroit and the finished product looks awesome! Quick shipping as well. Bud Metheny Ballpark renovations (Old Dominion University) Norm Cash hit the most Homeruns over the Stadium. Dismiss, Copyright 2022 Vintage Detroit Collection, Spinnaker Center, 44692 Helm St, Plymouth. Hammerin Hank Greenberg probably hit more home runs to deep left-center field at Navin Field/Briggs Stadium than any other player. It bounced twice before plopping over the edge and onto the street. (At age 89, Eldon Auker, a member of the 1934-35 AL champions, was the oldest returnee. My whole family was there. . Dont forget about Frank Howard. For the second time in five days, Detroit's Mickey Tettleton hit a home run out of Tiger Stadium. 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.. Many fans were saddened when the last game was played at "The Corner". Obviously those CF home runs had to be close to 500 feet to clear the wall at that point. Cecil Fielder hits homerun over Tiger stadium roof. Extremely satisfied with the wonderful personable service! Hinchliffe Stadium renovations 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. Lynne asked what I was interested in and presented me with a great selection of Tigers caps and T-shirts. Fifty years ago Tuesday, July 13, 1971, a sellout crowd of 53,559 watched from Tiger Stadium's then-green seats and another 60-million plus watched and listened from around the world as. Once or twice a year, an outfielder would have to go behind the pole to chase an errant hit. Through snow flurries and a first-pitch temperature of 32 degrees at Comerica Park, Cabrera stepped to the plate in the first inning and ripped an opposite field home run just inches over the yellow line in right field to give the Tigers a quick 2-0 lead on the Cleveland Indians (scroll for video below). At the time, some places in the outfield were only marked off with rope. 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. The Amercan League won the game 6-4, with two run homers by Jackson, Frank Robinson, and Harmon Killebrew. The game was televised only to Green Bay. In 1973, ground was broken for a stadium to exclusively house the Lions. 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. Only one current Tiger ever hit a home run at Tiger Stadium, and it was a memorable occasion. 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. It just shows that, when you buy a ticket to a game, you just might witness a bit of history. 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. [86] There was at one time also a sign on the enclosing fence labeling the site "Ernie Harwell Park". , Competition, joy and a little pain: Beep Baseball is a world of freedom for blind athletes, By In addition to the movie 61*, two other films Tiger Town and Hardball had scenes filmed there. 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. 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. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. [63], Tiger Stadium saw exactly 11,111 Major League home runs. 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. Lynne asked what I was interested in and presented me with a great selection of Tigers caps and T-shirts. [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. [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. 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. 1965 2017: History of Inception and Planning", "The Detroit Lions' Last Game at Tiger Stadium", "Louis Proved to Be Clever Ring Master in Victory over Bob Pastor", "Remembering when the Titans played Notre Dame at Briggs Stadium", "DCFC-Glentoran match marks 50th anniversary of Detroit Cougars", "DCFC to host MSU at old Tiger Stadium site", "Babe Ruth birthday: He owned the Detroit Tigers", "July 18, 1921: Babe Ruth's 560-foot blast against Tigers sets career home run record", "This Day in Baseball: Lou Gehrig's historic run ended in Detroit", "Reggie Jackson's All-Star Game homer off the Tiger Stadium roof is still jaw-dropping", "Detroit Lions Player Dies After Collapsing on Field", "Football Thursday: Legacy of Chuck Hughes goes deeper than being only NFL player to die on field during a game", "Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers Box Score, April 7, 1986", "Detroit Tigers vs. Boston Red Sox Opening Day: Remember What Happened in 1986? 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. In 1923, Navin increased capacity to 30,000. Answerbag wants to provide a service to people looking for answers and a good conversation. 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. Tettleton, who cleared the stadium roof Friday night against the Angels, did it again in the . And so it went. Depending who you talk to, the upper deck in right field was built to hang 5-10 feet over the warning track. [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. [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. In 1911, new Tigers owner Frank Navin ordered a new steel-and-concrete baseball park on . 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. The first home run in the history of the All-Star Game was hit by none other than Babe Ruth. 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. If you want a new roof on Tiger Stadium it will have to built from scratch. The right field overhang frustrated many outfielders who were camped under a routine flyball only to see it land in the first row upstairs. [24] The same flag pole was to be brought to Comerica Park, but this never happened. 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. Navin Field got a lot of play in the newsreels that winter but it was not the sort of publicity one desires. Jim Thome. 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! What a game. He has four other children and four grandchildren. The following inning, Dick Wakefield sent a Ferriss pitch over the wall for a solo home run, his third homer of the season. My sons at 10 and 8 thought I was a genious. The league scheduled eight more games in the next five years. 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. (Nobody ever knew for sure just close of a target that upper deck really was. At the end of its life, it had the shortest right-field and longest center-field distance in major-league baseball. Harmon Killebrew had 2,086 hits over his career. There had been occasional Monday night games played in the league over the years. 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. [61], There were over 30 home runs hit onto the right field roof over the years. 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. It is the only on-field death in the history of the league. 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. Robert Fick hit a grand-slam homer to help Detroit to an 8-2 win over Kansas City. In 1967, the race riots that tore up the city of Detroit started less than two miles from the ballpark. [62] In his career, Norm Cash hit four home runs over the Tiger Stadium roof in right field and is the all-time leader. Center field was even farther 467 feet. 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. At the time, some places in the outfield were only marked off with rope. I was there the day Fielder hit the over-the-roof shot. Makes me even more envious of the fans in Boston whose ownership had the wisdom to preserve their historic ballpark. He hit some long HRs at Tiger Stadium. In 1961, John Fetzer bought the team and renamed its home Tiger Stadium. Tiger Stadium was sold to the city of Detroit on January 1, 1978 for $1.00 and leased back for 30 years. 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. Through 1990, only two players had cleared the roof in left. A year later, he returned to the stadium and retained his crown with a 15-round decision over Lauren Dauthuille. Some opposing players seemed to shine at Tiger Stadium. This is a true story and has been recorded in a magazine of tape measure home runs. I don't live nearby so the ability to have it shipped for $10 was well worth the cost. [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. Yankee Stadium is listed in the credits at the end of the film as being played by Tiger Stadium. 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 . 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 1964, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle had an idea he wanted to try. On June 28, 1990, the ballpark hosted another unusual event. Like other home runs mentioned on this list, Thome's blast bounced through the streets after leaving the stadium by flying over the center field fence. Rogers Centre renovations Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) updates Our motto is simple: We enjoy doing cool things and are overjoyed we can make a living doing so. In the Lions glory years of the 1950s, Detroit was considered one of the toughest venues in the league to play. It was the first Notre Dame football game to be played at night. (Rumor was this came at the behest of the teams first star, Ty Cobb.) Tiger Stadium (formerly known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium) was a stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. Joe Louis moved to Detroit as a youngster. & 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 . Some managers felt a line should be drawn on the pole and that any ball hit above the line would be a home run. In 1895, Detroit Tigers owner George Vanderbeck had a new ballpark built at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues. Privacy Policy However, in just about every case, it had been occurred due to a stadium conflict or for a special reason. [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. Ask away and we will do our best to answer or find someone who can.We try to vet our answers to get you the most acurate answers. 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. 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. Considered one of the longest home runs ever hit in major league history. He grabbed his crotch and Sparky was not happy about it. Mickey Mantle, 1960, 643 Feet. Navin Field opened on April 20, 1912, the same day as the Boston Red Sox's Fenway Park. There were over 30 home runs hit onto the right field roof over the years. Enter your email address to subscribe to Ballpark Digest and receive notifications of new posts by email immediately when a new story is posted. By Rhiannon Walker @InstantRHIplay. The team began a downward spiral on and off the field. Later measurement revealed the ball traveled close to 600 feet. 23, hit a 435-foot blast into the lower deck in right field to lead off the . On July 2, 1993, Tigers first baseman Cecil Fielder hit a home run that has only just now come back to Earth. 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! It was my 1st game and we sat in the upper deck in left field. No one hit more homers in Tiger Stadium than Al Kaline, who belted 212 there, while hitting 187 on the road. Charlie Steiner with ESPN highlights of Oakland A's/Detroit Tigers. Negative racial/anti-Semitic, or religious stereotypes are prohibited. 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. Reggie Jackson's 1971 All-Star Game shot at Tiger Stadium would have travelled more than 600. Jackson dropped his bat and watched it sail, seemingly astonished of his own power. Monaghan had to get a helicopter to fly in pizzas to writers working inside the old ballpark while overzealous fans partied too hard directly outside Tiger Stadium. The Fighting Irish won, 406. [2], By the early 1990s, both the city and Tigers ownership wanted a new park, but many campaigned to save the old stadium. Tiger Stadium didnt go down easily. 59,203 fans attended the game, the largest crowd ever to see a football game at the Corner. 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. 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.