[2][23], Tiger Stadium had a 125-foot (38 m) tall flagpole in fair play, to the left of dead center field near the 440-foot (134 m) mark. About Us [93][94], In the summer of 2000, the HBO movie 61* was filmed at Tiger Stadium. Another outfield oddity was a ledge that fielders used to jump onto to try to snare balls headed for the seats. Tiger Stadium was designed by the father and son team of Frank C. Osborn and Kenneth H. Osborn. (In those days, home games were blacked out 75 miles from the site of competition. Dismiss, Copyright 2022 Vintage Detroit Collection, Spinnaker Center, 44692 Helm St, Plymouth. In left field, it was 15 feet (4.6m) farther down the line, and the roof was set back some distance. The overhang would occasionally turn some extremely high arced fly balls into home runs. 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. 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. Even more unusual for the time, all three games were televised locally in an effort to distract minds of Detroiters. Enter your email address to subscribe to Ballpark Digest and receive notifications of new posts by email immediately when a new story is posted. I was a little concerned it would let look as good as I hoped, but when I put it on, I loved it. There were occasional amateur games played there, a 2002 fantasy camp and occasional special segments were taped there. Thank you so much, I can't wait to wear my jersey to a Wings game! The team began a downward spiral on and off the field. ),
The Tigers moved to Comerica Park in 2000 but the Corner remained standing. FAQ. Or the blast off Gibson's bat that landed on the roof of the lumber yard across Trumbull Avenue. I bet that was a great experience, seeing Killebrews home run. As we stood at the vendor the entire stadium erupted. In its early years, Navin Field was a pitchers paradise. After the game, it was revealed Hughes had passed away from a heart attack. Took everyones breath away. 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. 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. To make the park appear like Yankee Stadium, the parks seats were painted green and a skyline of the Bronx was added. [97], The pilot of the HBO series Hung featured the stadium's demolition in its opening scene. [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. [42], The Lions played their final game at Tiger Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1974 against the Denver Broncos. 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. 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. 10. He hit his first home run of the 1961 season there. [17], Over the years, expansion continued to accommodate more spectators. [56], Toward the end of the Lions' game against the Chicago Bears at the stadium on October 24, 1971, Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes collapsed and later died of a heart attack, making Hughes the only NFL player to date who died during a game. 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. With the OPEN sign light I though well came all this way just aswell give it a try and am I glad I did. She is very accommodating and made me feel at home, especially since I was unaware they don't operate a standard retail shop. [2] Spotlights were added above the warning track to illuminate the area beneath the overhang. Privacy Policy The home run record was reset to 235 three years later, during the Tigers' final campaign at Tiger Stadium. I was there with my dad. As you'll notice, Aaron Judge hit four 500-foot blasts. Once or twice a year, an outfielder would have to go behind the pole to chase an errant hit. Bud Metheny Ballpark renovations (Old Dominion University) Berry lay injured while Horton, who was hardly fleet afoot, circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run. Yankee Stadium is listed in the credits at the end of the film as being played by Tiger Stadium. 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. The following inning, Dick Wakefield sent a Ferriss pitch over the wall for a solo home run, his third homer of the season. There is no roof to extend. 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. Although that game was never televised, Tiger Stadium remained a part of the opening for the series for many years long after the Lions had moved to the Pontiac Silverdome. Later measurement revealed the ball traveled close to 600 feet. The seven-hour game is the second longest game in American League history. Babe Ruth hit his 700th career home run there in 1934. Tiger Stadium is an outdoor stadium located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on the campus of Louisiana State University. The Home Run Encyclopedia gives an account of one of Ruth's longest drives and one of the longest hit ever. Luis Polonia, the Tigers' left fielder, wearing Willie Horton's No. 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. My sons at 10 and 8 thought I was a genious. Please let us know when you find out. There were very few concerts held over the years at The Corner. 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. Ficks homer hit the roof in right and just missed going out of the stadium. 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. The last game at Tiger Stadium was on September 27, 1999. Along Trumbull Avenue, 24 town homes were planned for sale. They checked it over and off I went. [24] The same flag pole was to be brought to Comerica Park, but this never happened. "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 . Harmon Killebrew had 2,086 hits over his career. One of those occurred on June 24, 1962. 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. What a game. By the early 1990s the owner of the Tigers wanted a new luxurious ballpark for team. In his first professional season, 1975, he batted .324 with 10 home runs and 38 runs batted in for the Southern League's Montgomery Rebels. 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. Partially because of that incident, a pad was put in place on the flagpole. Chronicling the Business and Culture of Baseball Ballparks--MLB, MiLB, College, Tiger Stadium / Detroit Tigers / 1912-1999, Voting now open in 2023 Best of the Ballparks fan vote for Cactus League, Voting now open in 2023 Best of the Ballparks fans vote for Grapefruit League, MLB ramps up production team for local baseball broadcasts, Personnel news: MLB, Wisconsin Rapids, Holly Springs, Voting now open in 2023 Best of the Ballparkscollege ballparks competition, West Michigan Whitecaps food fight down to final three, Doak Field at Dail Park upgrades (NC Wolfpack), Field of Dreams ballpark (Dyersville, IA), Future Legends Sports Complex (Northern Colorado Owlz), Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) updates, LMCU Ballpark (West Michigan Whitecaps) upgrades, Myshak Metro Ballpark (Edmonton Prospects), Bud Metheny Ballpark renovations (Old Dominion University), Innovative Field (Rochester Red Wings) upgrades. , Competition, joy and a little pain: Beep Baseball is a world of freedom for blind athletes, By On April 15, 1999, Torii Hunter hit a home run off Brian Moehler at Tiger Stadium while playing for the Minnesota Twins. However, in just about every case, it had been occurred due to a stadium conflict or for a special reason. Ernie Harwell and Al Kaline both dubbed it the hardest-hit ball they'd ever seen, and even Jackson himself agreed: "I think this would have to be the longest one I've ever hit," he said afterward. 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. Buckeye Video 632 subscribers 5.2K 1M views 7 years ago Oakland A's vs. Detroit Tigers 8/25/90. [38], Tiger Stadium was home of the Detroit Lions from 1938 to 1974. 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. Reggie Jackson's 1971 All-Star Game shot at Tiger Stadium would have travelled more than 600. the Yankees won that day, 22-2 the worst loss the Tigers ever suffered at home.). Historian Mark Gallagher estimated that the home run Mantle hit in September of 1960 at Tiger Stadium traveled a whopping 643 feet. 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. On June 11, 1961, Cash became the first Detroit Tiger to hit a home run ball out of Tiger Stadium. The movie was about the 1961 season when the Yankees Roger Maris broke Babe Ruths home run record. My sons still talk about it. He was also adept at hitting the ball out down the left field line, a trait later adopted by Willie Horton and Lance Parrish. Mickey Mantle: On September 10, 1960, the Yankee slugger hit a home run out of Tiger Stadium against Frank Lary. 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! Awesome article Dan as usual! Have we seen the last fastball from Zumaya as a Tiger? 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. [57][58], On April 7, 1986, Dwight Evans hit a home run on the first pitch of Opening Day. In 1949, he defeated Marcel Cerdan, winning on a knockout in the tenth round to win the World Middleweight crown. Detroit's Police Athletic League (PAL) headquarters would relocate to the site and maintain the field. The unusual dimensions of the football field led to some odd happenings. Hank Greenberg and Willie Horton might also qualify as long time Tigers. 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. Reggie Jackson hit a titanic homer off the light tower in the 1971 All-Star Game. Coincidentally, Fielders counterpart at first base that day was Mark McGwire, who had hit his very first major league tater exactly four years earlier. For the film, computer-generated visual effects were used to make Tiger Stadium resemble Yankee Stadium in 1961. In left field, outfielders were known to jump up on the auxiliary scoreboard, grab the screen and reach several feet over the fence. 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. This would be hard to believe but I actually called the shot. It was the kind of place that inspired the best in players. Singles by Mullin, Jimmy Bloodworth, and pinch-hitter Anse Moore plated another run for the Tigers in the seventh. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Dan: Great column. [14], In 2018, the Corner Ballpark opened at the site. He grabbed his crotch and Sparky was not happy about it. 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. [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. On June 27, 1963, he played an entire game at first base without a chance, as the Minnesota Twins won 10-6. When did the Detroit Tigers Stadium get demolished? The short porch in right field wasnt the only unusual feature of the park. It was the final Major League hit, home run, and RBI in Tiger Stadium's history. Depending who you talk to, the upper deck in right field was built to hang 5-10 feet over the warning track. Myshak Metro Ballpark (Edmonton Prospects) Tiger Stadium, previously known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit. 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! In 1977, a fire wiped out the press box. Three who did were Roberto Clemente in the 71 All-Star Game, Larry Herndon in 1983, and Mark McGwire in 1987. Norm Cash hit the most Homeruns over the Stadium. The new owner gave the old ballpark one last shot, adding a plaza of souvenir and food stands in the old players parking lot. 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. [80] Demolition began on June 30, 2008. Recently got a blank jersey stitched at Vintage Detroit and the finished product looks awesome!
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