Today's Posts; Member List; Calendar; Forum; American League; Chicago White Sox; If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. Reggie Jackson's 1971 All-Star Game shot at Tiger Stadium would have travelled more than 600. Depending who you talk to, the upper deck in right field was built to hang 5-10 feet over the warning track. 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. 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. There was a one-year spike in attendance but the 1994 baseball strike wiped out a lot of good will earned. They stayed at the ballpark until 1974 when they left to play in the 76,000-seat Pontiac Silverdome. Ilitch began to make plans for a new ballpark downtown, breaking ground during the 1997 season. The last night at Tiger Stadium - The Athletic It is the only on-field death in the history of the league. 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. 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. In the decade after the Tigers vacated the stadium, several rejected redevelopment and preservation efforts finally gave way to demolition. Makes me even more envious of the fans in Boston whose ownership had the wisdom to preserve their historic ballpark. 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 . Tiger Stadium was declared a State of Michigan Historic Site in 1975 and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1989. Bennett Park was still their home field, when six years later, they joined the AL as a charter member. Winning pitcher Jim Bouton tossed seven scoreless innings for the victory. Lynn worked with me to swap out to something similar excellent customer service. The Tigers' Kirk Gibson hit a home run onto the street in 1983 but it was less than 600 feet. [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 early 1970s, disgusted Detroit fans began to throw snowballs at the team bench from the upper-deck seats in right field. All rights reserved. [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. Minnesotas Harmon Killebrew had been the first in 1962, followed six years later by Washingtons Frank Howard. A fire gutted the press box on the evening of February 1, 1977. 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. Cash hit the ball over Tiger Stadium's right field roof four times in his career. On June 27, 1963, he played an entire game at first base without a chance, as the Minnesota Twins won 106. [4] A week into demolition, it was announced that the field, foul poles, and flagpole would be preserved. 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.. The ballparks other famous boxing matches involved Jake LaMotta. Cabrera As the team improved, so did the capacity of the ballpark, capping out at 14,000. Another outfield oddity was a ledge that fielders used to jump onto to try to snare balls headed for the seats. Cecil Fielder hits homerun over Tiger Stadium roof - YouTube I will never forget this day. On August 16, 1927 Ruth hit his famous "roof topper" home run at Comiskey Park. Not to be picky but Griffey didnt flip off Sparky. She is very accommodating and made me feel at home, especially since I was unaware they don't operate a standard retail shop. Babe Ruth (60), Ted Williams (55), Jimmie Foxx (52), Mickey Mantle (42), Yogi Berra (37), Yaz (36). If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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. Some call this the longest home run ever hit. One of those occurred on June 24, 1962. Many seats were replaced. He only fought once at Briggs Stadium, defeating Bob Pastor on September 20, 1939. Cecil Fielder watches his home run out of Tiger Stadium - YouTube We sat down with Cecil Fielder and had him take us through his iconic roof-clearing home run vs. the A's in 1991.. , Competition, joy and a little pain: Beep Baseball is a world of freedom for blind athletes, By [80] Demolition began on June 30, 2008. The home run record was reset to 235 three years later, during the Tigers' final campaign at Tiger Stadium. 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. [48], On July 18, 1921, Babe Ruth hit what is believed to be the longest verified home run in Major League Baseball history. I was there in the left field upper deck when it was first hit we thought it was coming right to us, but it just kept going over the roof. [2][20][21][22] Ground was broken for the new Comerica Park on October 29, 1997. 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. [67][68], In February 2006, a tent on Tiger Stadium's field played host to Anheuser-Busch's Bud Bowl 2006. Here are the longest home runs in the Home Run Derby, during the StatCast era, away from Coors Field. Hammerin Hank Greenberg probably hit more home runs to deep left-center field at Navin Field/Briggs Stadium than any other player. I was a little concerned it would let look as good as I hoped, but when I put it on, I loved it. About Us New Hagerstown Atlantic League ballpark Jim Thome. If you have been the the field since they tore down the stadium just stand at home plate and imagine hitting it over the 90 foot high roof to where brooks lumber still stands. (Cerdan claimed he dislocated his shoulder in the first round.) The stadium was nicknamed "The Corner" for its location at the intersection of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues. Shipping Service By Rhiannon Walker @InstantRHIplay. Tiger Stadium was designed by the father and son team of Frank C. Osborn and Kenneth H. Osborn. Al Kaline.). A short while later I left with a new cap and a custom Fidrych T-shirt. FAQ. Many fans were saddened when the last game was played at "The Corner". My whole family was there. 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). Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) updates Joe Louis moved to Detroit as a youngster. No advertising or spamming is permitted. Due to the progression of the disease named after him, it was the final game of his career. I don't live nearby so the ability to have it shipped for $10 was well worth the cost. [41][43], In 1939, boxer Joe Louis defended his world heavyweight title with an eleventh-round knockout of Bob Pastor at the stadium. Order Tracking Myshak Metro Ballpark (Edmonton Prospects) 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. 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. How many home runs did Harmon Killebrew have? 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. Obviously those CF home runs had to be close to 500 feet to clear the wall at that point. In the Lions glory years of the 1950s, Detroit was considered one of the toughest venues in the league to play. 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. They checked it over and off I went. Longest Home Runs Ever by Ballpark - Baseball Fever Charlie Steiner with ESPN highlights of Oakland A's/Detroit Tigers. Reggie Jackson's All-Star Game homer off the Tiger Stadium roof is To Ilitchs credit, he paid for several renovations that kept the park looking reasonable in its final years. On July 19, 1968, the Tigers trailed Baltimore 4-3 with one runner on and two out in the bottom of the ninth inning when Matchick, a .226 hitter, lofted a fly ball to right. To fit as many seats as possible in the expansion, the second deck was extended over the fence by 10 feet (3 m). Navin bought up the rest of the city block of Michigan and Trumbull, stationed a flagpole inside the field of play, moved home plate in a different direction (so that the batter would not be looking into the sun) and opened for business on April 20, 1912, the same day Fenway Park in Boston debuted. Innovative Field (Rochester Red Wings) upgrades 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. It was the last hit and the last run in the stadium. Tiger Stadium is an outdoor stadium located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on the campus of Louisiana State University. Thats so true, every game can be legendary. Everyone has their own opinion. [18] In 1977, the Tigers sold the stadium to the city of Detroit, which then leased it back to the Tigers. Good article. As i pulled in I quickly understood this was a warehouse & office thinking this is a internet retailer. The distance of the home run has been estimated at up to 575 feet (175m). ), But the biggest move came in 1938. 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. [97], The pilot of the HBO series Hung featured the stadium's demolition in its opening scene. A record that cant be broken, You are correct he hit 4 out of the Stadium. Kirk Gibson famously hit a ball over the right field roof that landed in the lumber yard across the street, traveling a distance of more than 500 feet. 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. In 1911, new Tigers owner Frank Navin ordered a new steel-and-concrete baseball park on . briggs stadium, detroit, detroit tigers, michigan, mlb, national league, navin field, tiger stadium. Privacy Policy Monaghan sold the team to a pizza rival, Mike Ilitch, in 1992. Fittingly, they lost to Denver, 31-27. Although the ballpark suffered little damage, the citys name was sullied. In addition to the movie 61*, two other films Tiger Town and Hardball had scenes filmed there. 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 . In 1973, ground was broken for a stadium to exclusively house the Lions. 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. 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? [53] The ball was also carrying well in the 1951 and 1971 games. AL West: Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers. Tiger Stadium was sold to the city of Detroit on January 1, 1978 for $1.00 and leased back for 30 years. Singles by Mullin, Jimmy Bloodworth, and pinch-hitter Anse Moore plated another run for the Tigers in the seventh. I was a little concerned it would let look as good as I hoped, but when I put it on, I loved it. Target Field renovations, 2024 Ballparks Cecil signed an autograph for me the next year at the stadium, on my birthday in fact. Cash hit the ball over Tiger Stadiums right field roof four times in his career. July 11, 2018. He was also adept at hitting the ball out down the left field line, a trait later adopted by Willie Horton and Lance Parrish. Harmon Killebrew had 2,086 hits over his career. [2], By the early 1990s, both the city and Tigers ownership wanted a new park, but many campaigned to save the old stadium. There is no roof to extend. Reggie Jackson wasn't supposed to play in the 1971 Major League . Stopped by Wed morning 7/6 and had the pleasure of dealing directly with Lynne. SCOUTING; Jackson's 485th Is Over the Roof - The New York Times 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. The HBO movie 61* was filmed there. In 1945, Hank Greenberg belted a grand slam late in the season that not only won the game for Detroit, but clinched the pennant. June 9, 1946: Ted Williams hits 502-foot 'red seat' home run at Fenway [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). 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. 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. Non-Baseball Events Held at Tiger Stadium The year 1938 was significant in the ballparks history. Among the performers that day: Erma Franklin, older sister of Aretha Franklin. [7][2] Taking predecessor Bennett Park into account, Tiger Stadium was the oldest Major League Baseball site in use in 1999. August Publications was formed in 2002 with the launch of Ballpark Digest. Where is Rocky Colviato (spelling) on the list? 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. In 1895, Detroit Tigers owner George Vanderbeck had a new ballpark built at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues. 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. Tiger Stadium - Detroit | RetroSeasons.com 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. On November 28, 1974, the Lions played their last game at Tiger Stadium. Fittingly, Ficks blast was the final hit of any kind at Tiger Stadium. Took everyones breath away. A new ballpark for the Tigers was built in downtown Detroit, and the club moved to Comerica Park after the 1999 season. 459-foot homer over rooftop gives Marlins victory - SFGATE That ball is measured at 634 . Home run facts from The Corner in Detroit - Vintage Detroit This is not a replacement for the newsletter, but rather a real-time notification system! Hinchliffe Stadium renovations [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. Purchased a New Era Gruff Michigan Syaye hat, and I absolutely love it. They checked it over and off I went. 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. ORDER YOURS NOW! Considered one of the longest home runs ever hit in major league history. Harmon Killebrew hit a home run that ricocheted off the left field roof and sounded like a gun blast off his bat. 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. As i pulled in I quickly understood this was a warehouse & office thinking this is a internet retailer. 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. Eric Chesterton I had Ernie on the radio listening to the game. [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. The longest home runs in Royals history - Royals Review, a Kansas City There is one other football item worthy of note regarding Tiger Stadium. No one hit more homers in Tiger Stadium than Al Kaline, who belted 212 there, while hitting 187 on the road. 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. By the early 1990s the owner of the Tigers wanted a new luxurious ballpark for team. Fick's Home Run Sails Into History With Tiger Stadium By the way, where did TRAM rank for the amount of HRs he hit during his career with the Tigers when they played at Tigers Stadium for going yard? George Brett loved the park, and in his final game at Tiger Stadium in an afternoon tilt in 1993, he hit two homers, one to right and one to left (I was there!). You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. The only major changes during the latter decades were the closure of the "skybox" suites that perched on the front edge of the roof, and (in 1978) the replacement of the old dark green . Clem's Baseball ~ Tiger Stadium [3], For a time after it was constructed, the right field upper deck had a "315" marker at the foul pole (later painted over), with a "325" marker below it on the lower deck fence (which was retained). Or the blast off Gibson's bat that landed on the roof of the lumber yard across Trumbull Avenue. Back to top. Ironically, the visitors that day were the Minnesota Vikings, who rolled to an easy victory. South African leader Nelson Mandela spoke before 49,000 people. While with the Red Sox he hit one home run to dead center at the 488 foot marker. On April 15, 1999, Torii Hunter hit a home run off Brian Moehler at Tiger Stadium while playing for the Minnesota Twins. Shipping Service [76] In June 2007, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation approved a plan to demolish the stadium, which needed approval from Detroit City Council. 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. Returns & Exchanges 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. Historian Mark Gallagher estimated that the home run Mantle hit in September of 1960 at Tiger Stadium traveled a whopping 643 feet. I placed an order and received a follow up call within 24 hrs due to item was not available. Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins. It was out of the park in a split second. Hence, for many years, everybody but the citizens of Detroit watched the annual Thanksgiving Day game.) The Fighting Irish won, 406. On June 11, 1961, Cash became the first Detroit Tiger to hit a home run ball out of Tiger Stadium. The group reunited for their Alive/Worldwide tour. - LSU blasted four home runs and collected 20 hits to propel the #1 ranked Tigers to a 26-4 victory over Central Connecticut State Saturday afternoon inside . 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. New St. Croix River Hounds ballpark, 2025 Ballparks When Tiger Stadium closed, Detroit lost a piece of its soul In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Jackson crushed an outside fastball that eventually rang off of a transformer at the top of the stadium. [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. What a game. 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. 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. Willie Horton hit a home run at Tiger Stadium when he was 16 years old during an all-city high school game. [78], In October 2007, an online auction of the stadium's memorabilia was held by Schneider Industries, which drew $192,729. Field of Dreams ballpark (Dyersville, IA) Tiger Stadium - National Ballpark Museum Although they only won six pennants during their tenure there, the hometown Tigers were often an interesting team with individual stars. The Tigers scratched out a run in the sixth to tie the game at 7. It would be 16 innings before either team scored again.