To fit as many seats as possible in the expansion, the second deck was extended over the fence by 10 feet (3 m). There were moments of joy to behold down the stretch. It was an effort by a local sports management company to bring a Frontier League franchise to Detroit. Reggie Jackson became a national figure due to a famous home run in an All-Star Game. Several years later, the country watched another memorable Thanksgiving Day game played in a blizzard that covered the field by halftime. The company pioneered in the use of reinforced concrete and built municipal and industrial facilities throughout the country. Norm Cash hit the most Homeruns over the Stadium. 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. [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. [30], Due to then-owner Walter Briggs's dislike of night baseball, lights were not installed at the stadium until 1948. This pole was in play. Later measurement revealed the ball traveled close to 600 feet. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. 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 . Gibson hit 95, and Gehringer hit 92. 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. A 125-foot flagpole stood just to the left of the 440-foot sign in dead center field. What a game. Or the blast off Gibson's bat that landed on the roof of the lumber yard across Trumbull Avenue. Due to the progression of the disease named after him, it was the final game of his career. [7][2], When the park was expanded in 1936, a second deck was added over the right field pavilion and bleachers. These were not temp help that knew nothing these were professionals who knew not just everything but were truly looking out for me. FAQ. [2] He makes numerous personal appearances as an ambassador for the Yankees. Charlie Steiner with ESPN highlights of Oakland A's/Detroit Tigers. The movie was about the 1961 season when the Yankees Roger Maris broke Babe Ruths home run record. Outsiders began to look at Tiger Stadium and the neighborhood it was located in a different light. Tiger Stadium (formerly known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium) was a stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. 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. Through 1990, only two players had cleared the roof in left. 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. Tiger Stadium didnt go down easily. This never happened. (Rumor was this came at the behest of the teams first star, Ty Cobb.) Shipping Service Navin Field opened on April 20, 1912, the same day as the Boston Red Sox's Fenway Park. Thanks! [78], In October 2007, an online auction of the stadium's memorabilia was held by Schneider Industries, which drew $192,729. The hit itself was a gunshot, echoing back from center. Many seats were replaced. As i pulled in I quickly understood this was a warehouse & office thinking this is a internet retailer. All in all, however, the ballpark had a helluva good run. Customer Service [74][75] By 2006, however, demolition appeared inevitable when then-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick announced the stadium would be razed. 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. That ball is measured at 634 . 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. Whitaker hit 146 homers at the old ballpark, most of them after he matured into a better power hitter in his late 20s. Returns & Exchanges 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 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. 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. Our motto is simple: We enjoy doing cool things and are overjoyed we can make a living doing so. 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! 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. Myshak Metro Ballpark (Edmonton Prospects) 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. The team played as the Detroit Cougars in the United Soccer Association. 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. [92] It was also seen in Renaissance Man and Hardball. But it burns bright in the memories of hitters like Tom Matchick. There was a huge outcry from traditionalists that the ballpark needed be saved as a historical monument (it had been placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989). [59][60] This was also the first game on MLB's schedule that season, giving Evans the record for the earliest home run to start a season in terms of at bats. The distance of the home run has been estimated at up to 575 feet (175m). 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. New St. Croix River Hounds ballpark, 2025 Ballparks When was the last Tigers game at Tiger Stadium? In the decade after the Tigers vacated the stadium, several rejected redevelopment and preservation efforts finally gave way to demolition. Considered one of the longest home runs ever hit in major league history. In the 22nd inning, Jack Reed hit the only home run of his 129-at bat career off Phil Regan for a 9-7 win. Lynne asked what I was interested in and presented me with a great selection of Tigers caps and T-shirts. Al Kaline.). But on August 25, 1990, during a Saturday game against Oakland, Tigers first baseman Cecil Fielder joined the exclusive circle of sluggers. I don't live nearby so the ability to have it shipped for $10 was well worth the cost. 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. Harmon Killebrew hit a home run that ricocheted off the left field roof and sounded like a gun blast off his bat. Climb up to the roof and look around, Fenecksaid in 1999, the Tigers final summer at The Corner, and you wont believe how high and hard they have to hit the ball to do that.. 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. They checked it over and off I went. Date: 1999. On April 15, 1999, Torii Hunter hit a home run off Brian Moehler at Tiger Stadium while playing for the Minnesota Twins. 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. Privacy Policy The team began a downward spiral on and off the field. Reggie Jackson wasn't supposed to play in the 1971 Major League . With Trammell on first and Fielder in a 3 1 count and leaned over and told my sons, If I was Fielder in this situation, he should look for a fastball and swing for I-75. He did. In 1895, Detroit Tigers owner George Vanderbeck had a new ballpark built at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues. [41][43], In 1939, boxer Joe Louis defended his world heavyweight title with an eleventh-round knockout of Bob Pastor at the stadium. Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins. Cecil signed an autograph for me the next year at the stadium, on my birthday in fact. Lynn worked with me to swap out to something similar excellent customer service. If in doubt, leave it out. Proudly powered by WordPress | Norm Cash led all left-handed batters with 212 home runs, most of them going into the right field sections. In 1968, his last at-bat came there when he struck out in Game 5 of the World Series. Location: Heritage Park. In 1895, Detroit had a team in the Western League, an eight-team loop that eventually melded into the American League. New Hagerstown Atlantic League ballpark He hit some long HRs at Tiger Stadium. 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. Cecil Fielder clears left field roof at Tiger Stadium. With the OPEN sign light I though well came all this way just aswell give it a try and am I glad I did. He never played another game. Where is Rocky Colviato (spelling) on the list? Briggs Stadium, as it was now known, held 53,000 seats. Outfield Wall Height: A left-to-right representation of the outfield wall and the minimum/maximum heights (in feet) of the wall. 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. On June 11, 1961, Cash became the first Detroit Tiger to hit a home run ball out of Tiger Stadium. [31][32][33], Tiger Stadium featured an upper and lower deck bleacher section that was separated from the rest of the stadium. 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. In 1923, Navin increased capacity to 30,000. While with the Red Sox he hit one home run to dead center at the 488 foot marker. PNC Park (Pirates) That pocket is the deepest part of the park at 410 feet, 11 feet farther than dead center. The most notable one easily was a KISS concert held on June 28, 1996. In 1973, ground was broken for a stadium to exclusively house the Lions. Thank you so much, I can't wait to wear my jersey to a Wings game! It seemed like Rusty Staub hit more than his fair share of those, and Dave Bergman too. Text by Dave Wright Photos by John Moist. Baseball commissioner Judge Landis ordered Medwick off the field for his own safety. However, in just about every case, it had been occurred due to a stadium conflict or for a special reason. [79], The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation awarded the demolition contract on April 22, 2008, with the speculation that demolition revenue would come from the sale of scrap metal. With regular first baseman Dan Meyer batting .192 with only two RBIs, the Tigers gave the job to Thompson early into the 1976 season. Excited to work with Vintage Detroit on future orders. Makes me even more envious of the fans in Boston whose ownership had the wisdom to preserve their historic ballpark. PNC Park upgrades [69] Among performers at the nightclub-style event was Snoop Dogg. [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). Its unique dimensions allowed fans to get closer than usual to the ballgame. [80] Demolition began on June 30, 2008. 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. [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. 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. 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. Excited to work with Vintage Detroit on future orders. The final act came on September 27, 1999. [4] A week into demolition, it was announced that the field, foul poles, and flagpole would be preserved. The 1990 season was Fielders first in Detroit after wearing a Toronto uniform for four seasons and then playing in Japan. Thank you so much, I can't wait to wear my jersey to a Wings game! [67][68], In February 2006, a tent on Tiger Stadium's field played host to Anheuser-Busch's Bud Bowl 2006. [73], There were many proposals to redevelop the site. The last Tigers game at the stadium was held on September 27, 1999. [7][15][16], In 1911, new Tigers owner Frank Navin ordered a new steel-and-concrete baseball park to be built on the same site that would seat 23,000 to accommodate the growing numbers of fans. 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. Some managers felt a line should be drawn on the pole and that any ball hit above the line would be a home run. Mickey Mantle: On September 10, 1960, the Yankee slugger hit a home run out of Tiger Stadium against Frank Lary. Some call this the longest home run ever hit. The stadium was nicknamed "The Corner" for its location at the intersection of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues. 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. [87], On December 16, 2014, a $33million project by Larson Realty Group to redevelop the old Tiger Stadium site was approved by Detroit's Economic Development Corporation. Matt Monagan He holds the record for longest home run in Cleveland Indians history at 511 feet, which he hit against the Kansas City Royals in 1999. [44], On October 5, 1951, the University of Notre Dame played the University of Detroit at Briggs Stadium before a capacity crowd of 52,000. [62] In his career, Norm Cash hit four home runs over the Tiger Stadium roof in right field and is the all-time leader. [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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Here are the longest home runs in the Home Run Derby, during the StatCast era, away from Coors Field. 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. The score was now 8-4. Good article. 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. 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. Robert Fick hit a grand-slam homer to help Detroit to an 8-2 win over Kansas City. Most spectacular was Cash's performance in the doubleheader that June Sunday 60 years ago. The field ran from the first base line, across the infield to the left-center-field fence. 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). ), But the biggest move came in 1938. [62][64][65] Following the game, an emotional ceremony with past and present Tigers greats was held to mark the occasion. The Red Sox, though, quickly struck again. The city used the proceeds to defray the demolition costs. It was the first Notre Dame football game to be played at night. [63], Tiger Stadium saw exactly 11,111 Major League home runs. 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. When did the Detroit Tigers Stadium get demolished?