The Tigers moved to Comerica Park in 2000 but the Corner remained standing. 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. And so it went. 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. [78], In October 2007, an online auction of the stadium's memorabilia was held by Schneider Industries, which drew $192,729. Fielder, 56, lives in Tampa, Florida, with his wife, Diana, and their son, Maksim. Please let us know when you find out. . Tiger Stadium (formerly known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium) was a stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. In 1977, a fire wiped out the press box. The Home Run Encyclopedia gives an account of one of Ruth's longest drives and one of the longest hit ever. My whole family was there. Baseball commissioner Judge Landis ordered Medwick off the field for his own safety. (The front row of seats was just 55 feet behind home plate). The league scheduled eight more games in the next five years. [42], The Lions played their final game at Tiger Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1974 against the Denver Broncos. 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. But there was nothing anybody could do. 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. Out of concern for the neighborhood, the team moved a series to Baltimore. The score was now 8-4. Three who did were Roberto Clemente in the 71 All-Star Game, Larry Herndon in 1983, and Mark McGwire in 1987. On July 9, 1965, Stormin' Norman hit an inside-the-park home run against the A's at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City. The film dramatized the efforts of New York Yankees teammates Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris during the 1961 season to break fellow Yankee Babe Ruth's single-season home run record of 60. 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. [74][75] By 2006, however, demolition appeared inevitable when then-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick announced the stadium would be razed. The bleachers had their own entrance, concession stands and restrooms. Hence, for many years, everybody but the citizens of Detroit watched the annual Thanksgiving Day game.) In 1967, the race riots that tore up the city of Detroit started less than two miles from the ballpark. The HBO movie 61* was filmed there. PNC Park There were moments of joy to behold down the stretch. Thank you so much, I can't wait to wear my jersey to a Wings game! New St. Croix River Hounds ballpark, 2025 Ballparks It was my 1st game and we sat in the upper deck in left field. Customer Service FAQ. 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. That stadium was called Bennett Park and featured a wooden grandstand with a wooden peaked roof in the outfield. It is believed to be the only time in the sports history this has occurred. Detroit OF Rocky Colavito tied a major-league record when he went 7-for-10 in the game. 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 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. Outsiders began to look at Tiger Stadium and the neighborhood it was located in a different light. He responded by going four-for-five in his third game as a major leaguer. 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. The final home run Fittingly, in the last game at The Corner, on September 27, 1999, it was a Tiger who launched the final homer at Tiger Stadium. Minnesotas Harmon Killebrew had been the first in 1962, followed six years later by Washingtons Frank Howard. 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. Be respectful even if you disagree. Especially into August and September, the stadium was packed with fans making one last pilgrimage.. But #50 was a rocket into the upper deck. In 1945, Hank Greenberg belted a grand slam late in the season that not only won the game for Detroit, but clinched the pennant. There is one other football item worthy of note regarding Tiger Stadium. That year, Big Daddy captured the countrys attention with an eye-popping 51 home runs and 132 RBI, both best in the majors. As i pulled in I quickly understood this was a warehouse & office thinking this is a internet retailer. 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. Where is Rocky Colviato (spelling) on the list? 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. 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'. [2][20][21][22] Ground was broken for the new Comerica Park on October 29, 1997. There were very few concerts held over the years at The Corner. Location: Heritage Park. There were occasional amateur games played there, a 2002 fantasy camp and occasional special segments were taped there. It was the type of park that inspired such feats. Development plans included a four-story building along Michigan Avenue with about 30,000 square feet (2,800m2) of retail space and 102 residential property rental units, each averaging 800 square feet (74m2). [14], In 1895, Detroit Tigers owner George Vanderbeck had a new ballpark built at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues. But Jackson, trying hard to make fans . 10. By the early 1990s the owner of the Tigers wanted a new luxurious ballpark for team. Saw Herndons line shot to center. Ficks homer hit the roof in right and just missed going out of the stadium. It is the only on-field death in the history of the league. The Lions abandoned it for the Pontiac Silverdome. Such was life at The Corner.). ", "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! Myshak Metro Ballpark (Edmonton Prospects) It just shows that, when you buy a ticket to a game, you just might witness a bit of history. 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. [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. Some opposing players seemed to shine at Tiger Stadium. The first home run in the history of the All-Star Game was hit by none other than Babe Ruth. Negative racial/anti-Semitic, or religious stereotypes are prohibited. highlights - the Tigers 1984 miracle season, and the stadium's most famous home run: a mammoth home run by Reggie Jackson off a light tower atop the right-field roof during the 1971 All-Star Game - and lowlights, such as October 9, 1934, when in the sixth inning of Game Seven of the World It hosted the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1912 to 1999, as well as the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) from 1938 to 1974. 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. It was an effort by a local sports management company to bring a Frontier League franchise to Detroit. 8/25/90: Cecil Fielder's home run bounces over the roof in left field at Tiger StadiumCheck out http://MLB.com/video for more!About MLB.com: About MLB.com: B. AboutPressCopyrightContact. PNC Park upgrades Fittingly, they lost to Denver, 31-27. Harmon Killebrew had 573 home runs over his career. The city used the proceeds to defray the demolition costs. [4] A week into demolition, it was announced that the field, foul poles, and flagpole would be preserved. [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. 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.