Tettleton, who cleared the stadium roof Friday night against the Angels, did it again in the . Lynn worked with me to swap out to something similar excellent customer service. Cecil signed an autograph for me the next year at the stadium, on my birthday in fact. Extremely satisfied with the wonderful personable service! Privacy Policy From the day it opened in 1912, until the final game in September of 1999, Tiger Stadium was witness to more home runs than any other ballpark in baseball. In the decade after the Tigers vacated the stadium, several rejected redevelopment and preservation efforts finally gave way to demolition. Shipping Service Through 1990, only two players had cleared the roof in left. The Tigers scratched out a run in the sixth to tie the game at 7. /news/1567868500869-kirk-gibson-hits-home-run-clear-over-tiger-stadium-roof-video A year later, Tiger Stadium was in the national spotlight when Denny McLain became the first pitcher in 31 years to win 30 games. [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. New Marshall University ballpark Thats so true, every game can be legendary. The league scheduled eight more games in the next five years. Discussion of suicide or self-harm is not tolerated and will result in an immediate ban. [61], There were over 30 home runs hit onto the right field roof over the years. Doak Field at Dail Park upgrades (NC Wolfpack) Quick shipping as well. Some managers felt a line should be drawn on the pole and that any ball hit above the line would be a home run. Some opposing players seemed to shine at Tiger Stadium. New Richmond Flying Squirrels ballpark Fittingly, they lost to Denver, 31-27. Plainsman Park (Auburn) upgrades He never played another game. Sure, Tiger Stadium was a famously hitter-friendly ballpark, especially for lefties. Writers described fire and smoke behind the outfield walls as a game went on. The game was televised only to Green Bay. This was their first stop and they sold out the place in record time. Some call this the longest home run ever hit. . The Tigers will move to Comerica Park next year. Location: Heritage Park. [48] The area was nicknamed "Cobb's Lake". 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. In September 1990, I was making the trip from Traverse City down to Toledo, Ohio, to visit my grandmother. A post-game ceremony brought back just about famous ex-Tiger who was still alive for one last salute. (Rumor was this came at the behest of the teams first star, Ty Cobb.) I don't live nearby so the ability to have it shipped for $10 was well worth the cost. She is very accommodating and made me feel at home, especially since I was unaware they don't operate a standard retail shop. When Tiger Stadium closed, Detroit lost a piece of its soul That year, Big Daddy captured the countrys attention with an eye-popping 51 home runs and 132 RBI, both best in the majors. I was in desperate need because of a upcoming event to make purchase I could get same day while searching for the item I quickly realized there wasn't just limited availability of the item but very limited locations in Metro Detroit i could purchase the item. [86] There was at one time also a sign on the enclosing fence labeling the site "Ernie Harwell Park". 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 . Considered one of the longest home runs ever hit in major league history. Customer Service Date: 1999. [77] In July 2007, Detroit City Council voted 54 in approval of the demolition. The longest home runs hit at Tiger Stadium in Detroit - Vintage Detroit AL West: Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers. Tiger Stadium Historic Detroit The Lions last title came in 1957. But #50 was a rocket into the upper deck. Tiger Stadium blast part of legacy that leads Jason LeCronier - mlive Back to top. Dismiss, Copyright 2022 Vintage Detroit Collection, Spinnaker Center, 44692 Helm St, Plymouth. Out of concern for the neighborhood, the team moved a series to Baltimore. [3], Like other older baseball stadiums such as Fenway Park and Wrigley Field, Tiger Stadium offered "obstructed view" seats, some of which were directly behind a steel support column; while others in the lower deck had sight lines obstructed by the low-hanging upper deck. Jason Thompson (first baseman, born 1954) - Wikipedia 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. 10. 2 others that hit the light towers. 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. Excited to work with Vintage Detroit on future orders. With the OPEN sign light I though well came all this way just aswell give it a try and am I glad I did. If in doubt, leave it out. Copyright 2023 August Publications. He hit some long HRs at Tiger 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. Tiger Stadium, previously known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit. It was my 1st game and we sat in the upper deck in left field. 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). It was the final Major League hit, home run, and RBI in Tiger Stadium's history. Tiger Stadium - history, photos and more of the Detroit Tigers former 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. Depending who you talk to, the upper deck in right field was built to hang 5-10 feet over the warning track. Once or twice a year, an outfielder would have to go behind the pole to chase an errant hit. 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). 2023 Ballparks Charlie Steiner with ESPN highlights of Oakland A's/Detroit Tigers. norm cash home run out of tiger stadium. 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. (AP Photo) AP Before Mr. October was Mr. October, he was Mr. July. As part of the transfer, the city gave the place a major paint job, changing the interior from green to blue. The Tigers. Bullying, racism, personal attacks, harassment, or discrimination is prohibited. [57][58], On April 7, 1986, Dwight Evans hit a home run on the first pitch of Opening Day. I placed an order and received a follow up call within 24 hrs due to item was not available. There had been occasional Monday night games played in the league over the years. No advertising or spamming is permitted. Fick's Home Run Sails Into History With Tiger Stadium On June 27, 1963, he played an entire game at first base without a chance, as the Minnesota Twins won 106. There were strange home runs: one hit on a line drive that stuck under the wall and allowed Dixie Walker to circle the bases in 1939; a homer that rattled around the flag pole in deep center field while Lou Gehrig ran around the bases in 1933; and the inside-the-park homer that Kirk Gibson hit in which he was a stride behind teammate Lou Whitaker who slid safely in front of him scoring from first base. I put the location into google maps off I went. Mickey Mantle: On September 10, 1960, the Yankee slugger hit a home run out of Tiger Stadium against Frank Lary. Willie Horton hit a home run at Tiger Stadium when he was 16 years old during an all-city high school game. There were very few concerts held over the years at The Corner. Thanks for reading. Tettleton Hits Another Homer Out of Stadium; Tigers Win, 8-7 Cash hit the ball over Tiger Stadium's right field roof four times in his career. 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. Quick shipping as well. In 1964, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle had an idea he wanted to try. Enter your email address to subscribe to Ballpark Digest and receive notifications of new posts by email immediately when a new story is posted. Myshak Metro Ballpark (Edmonton Prospects) Yankee Stadium is listed in the credits at the end of the film as being played by Tiger Stadium. He hit his first home run of the 1961 season there. Navin Field opened on April 20, 1912, the same day as the Boston Red Sox's Fenway Park. Text by Dave Wright Photos by John Moist. Buckeye Video 632 subscribers 5.2K 1M views 7 years ago Oakland A's vs. Detroit Tigers 8/25/90. As we stood at the vendor the entire stadium erupted. He grabbed his crotch and Sparky was not happy about it. 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? (The movie Detroit Rock City was based on this concert.). [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. 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. The team played as the Detroit Cougars in the United Soccer Association. Thank you so much, I can't wait to wear my jersey to a Wings game! South African leader Nelson Mandela spoke before 49,000 people. 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. [2] The new owner gave the old ballpark one last shot, adding a plaza of souvenir and food stands in the old players parking lot. Field of Dreams ballpark (Dyersville, IA) Al Kaline.). I placed an order and received a follow up call within 24 hrs due to item was not available. Returns & Exchanges #1 LSU baseball with 26 run outburst to throttle Central Connecticut In its early years, Navin Field was a pitchers paradise. Be respectful even if you disagree. While with the Red Sox he hit one home run to dead center at the 488 foot marker. [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. [92] It was also seen in Renaissance Man and Hardball. He responded by going four-for-five in his third game as a major leaguer. Singles by Mullin, Jimmy Bloodworth, and pinch-hitter Anse Moore plated another run for the Tigers in the seventh. At the time, some places in the outfield were only marked off with rope. It bounced twice before plopping over the edge and onto the street. [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. Coincidentally, Fielders counterpart at first base that day was Mark McGwire, who had hit his very first major league tater exactly four years earlier. Cecil Fielder hits homerun over Tiger Stadium roof - YouTube Lynn worked with me to swap out to something similar excellent customer service. Awesome article Dan as usual! [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. "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 . [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. There were over 30 home runs hit onto the right field roof over the years. Joe Louis moved to Detroit as a youngster. Shortly thereafter, the city of Detroit bought the park from the team for $1. Detroit hit 40 more home runs than the year before, helped in part by a 20-year old rookie who hit 27 himself and posted a .340 BA to win the AL batting crown. 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. For the second time in five days, Detroit's Mickey Tettleton hit a home run out of Tiger Stadium. 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. On July 2, 1993, Tigers first baseman Cecil Fielder hit a home run that has only just now come back to Earth. 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. In the decade after the Tigers vacated the stadium, several rejected redevelopment and preservation efforts finally gave way to demolition. Before leaving Oakland for St. Louis, McGwire would become the fourth and final player to homer over the left-field roof at Tiger Stadium, connecting off Brian Moehler on April 21, 1997. 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. Tiger Stadium (formerly known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium) was a stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. In left field, outfielders were known to jump up on the auxiliary scoreboard, grab the screen and reach several feet over the fence. Development deal to include houses, preservation of field", "DETROIT NEXT STOP FOR REEVES' BASEBALL MOVIE", "Billy Crystal directing HBO docudrama on Maris and Mantle", "HBO revisits Mantle, Maris home-run race of '61", "Film shoots at Tiger Stadium ahead of demolition", "Briggs Stadium cartoon, undated | Digital Collection", "Eminem shoots 'Beautiful' video in Detroit", "Eminem's 'Beautiful' video tells Detroit's story too", "Hung: "Fat Off My Love or I'm the Allergen", "Mickey Coachrane Fired As Manager of Detroit Tigers", Aerial Views, Demolition of Tiger Stadium 2008 2009, A documentary on the battle to save Tiger Stadium, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tiger_Stadium_(Detroit)&oldid=1137426409, Artist Gene Mack, who drew a series of pictures of several figures and ballparks, mentioned a bone that, This page was last edited on 4 February 2023, at 16:20. 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. Briggs Stadium was the scene of another famous event, which was actually something that did not occur. Carl Yastrzemski 3 Home Runs At Tiger Stadium! - YouTube Bennett Park was still their home field, when six years later, they joined the AL as a charter member. . [70], In 2006, the feature-length documentary Stranded at the Corner: The Battle to Save Historic Tiger Stadium was released. 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. The most notable one easily was a KISS concert held on June 28, 1996. In fact, the Indians erected a 12-foot bronze statue in his honor in . Cecil Fielder clears left field roof at Tiger Stadium. - YouTube 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. These were not temp help that knew nothing these were professionals who knew not just everything but were truly looking out for me. In 80-degree weather on Aug. 25, 1990, Tiger Stadium hosted 45,474 fans eager to watch the Oakland Athletics' "Bash Brothers," Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, face off against the Tigers'. It is the home stadium of the LSU Tigers football team . Lou Gehrig said goodbye there. Left field settled in at 340 while right field gradually shrunk until settling in at 325. On June 11, 1961, Cash became the first Detroit Tiger to hit a home run ball out of Tiger Stadium. the Nearest to me was Vintage. 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. Longest Home Runs Ever by Ballpark - Baseball Fever ),

The Tigers moved to Comerica Park in 2000 but the Corner remained standing. It was an effort by a local sports management company to bring a Frontier League franchise to Detroit. He installed an area in the lower deck (between first and third base) that had padded seats and added waitservice. (In those days, home games were blacked out 75 miles from the site of competition. 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. www.newsbreak.com [42], The Lions played their final game at Tiger Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1974 against the Denver Broncos. Norm Cash - Society for American Baseball Research The ballparks history actually dated back to 17 years before its generally accepted debut. [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). Cecil Fielder takes a gingerly stroll on the roof of Tiger Stadium in 1993. This is a true story and has been recorded in a magazine of tape measure home runs. SCOUTING; Jackson's 485th Is Over the Roof - The New York Times Tiger Stadium (formerly known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium) was a stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. 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. As the team improved, so did the capacity of the ballpark, capping out at 14,000. The ball actually sailed right over the right field roof of the ballpark, which is mind-boggling to contemplate. Kirk Gibson hits bomb over roof of Tiger Stadium [Video] Center field was even farther 467 feet. A doctor who was sitting in the stands tore from his seat, broke past an official and ran to help Hughes. LMCU Ballpark (West Michigan Whitecaps) upgrades Mickey Mantle, 1960, 643 Feet. Detroit's Police Athletic League (PAL) headquarters would relocate to the site and maintain the field. There is one other football item worthy of note regarding Tiger Stadium. Baseball commissioner Judge Landis ordered Medwick off the field for his own safety. When Ted Williams cleared the roof at Briggs Stadium The Top 10 Longest Home Runs in History - baseballmonkey.com One of them came n Thanksgiving Day in 1962 when they sacked Green Bays Bart Starr 10 times en route to a 26-14 win the lone Packer loss of the season. 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. He did it on national television in a mid-September game against Oakland that was won with a dramatic two-run rally in the last of the ninth inning. Reggie Jackson hit a titanic homer off the light tower in the 1971 All-Star Game. Detroit Tigers - Stadium The right field overhang frustrated many outfielders who were camped under a routine flyball only to see it land in the first row upstairs. This pole was in play. For the film, computer-generated visual effects were used to make Tiger Stadium resemble Yankee Stadium in 1961. [38], Tiger Stadium was home of the Detroit Lions from 1938 to 1974. [17], Over the years, expansion continued to accommodate more spectators. New Hagerstown Atlantic League ballpark I had a chance to see a few games at Fenway, and while it is great, Tiger Stadium was more historic. Reggie Jackson's 1971 All-Star Game shot at Tiger Stadium would have travelled more than 600. Although this is hard to imagine these days, the Lions were a very strong franchise in the 1950s, playing in three NFL title games in five seasons. Took everyones breath away. Cash hit the ball over Tiger Stadiums right field roof four times in his career. With regular first baseman Dan Meyer batting .192 with only two RBIs, the Tigers gave the job to Thompson early into the 1976 season. Customer Service The ballpark was also the scene of one of the darkest days in NFL history. However, in just about every case, it had been occurred due to a stadium conflict or for a special reason. 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.