He was a regular at baseball games there for years. The first home run in the history of the All-Star Game was hit by none other than Babe Ruth. Tettleton, who cleared the stadium roof Friday night against the Angels, did it again in the . 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. 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. Cecil Fielder clears left field roof at Tiger Stadium. 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. 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. 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. 11,111 home runs Big Frank Howard loved to hit there, as did Killebrew and Reggie and Ken Griffey Jr. Shortly thereafter, the city of Detroit bought the park from the team for $1. Al Kaline.). "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 . 5 Reasons to Update Your Business Operations, Get the Best Sleep Ever in 5 Simple Steps, How to Pack for Your Next Trip Somewhere Cold, Manage Your Money More Efficiently in 5 Steps, Ranking the 5 Most Spectacular NFL Stadiums in 2023. Source: wikimedia.org. 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. 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. [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. Three who did were Roberto Clemente in the 71 All-Star Game, Larry Herndon in 1983, and Mark McGwire in 1987. [62] In his career, Norm Cash hit four home runs over the Tiger Stadium roof in right field and is the all-time leader. [88][89][90] Construction of the project began in June 2016. Shipping Service 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. Two years earlier, he stunned the attendees at the MLB All-Star Game in Detroit's Tiger Stadium by hitting a home run more than 400 feet; the ball hit the base of the light tower at the park. By the 1970s, the ballpark was beginning to show its age. [91], It was depicted in Disney's award-winning Tiger Town, a 1983 made-for-television baseball film written and directed by Detroit native, Alan Shapiro, starring Roy Scheider, Sparky Anderson, Ernie Harwell and Mary Wilson. 1. A few players, very few, hit home runs into the bleachers in straightaway center field, an incredible 440 feet away. 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. 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. 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. I don't live nearby so the ability to have it shipped for $10 was well worth the cost. [74][75] By 2006, however, demolition appeared inevitable when then-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick announced the stadium would be razed. 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. When baseball's biggest stars need a haircut, they come to Jos 'Jordan' Lpez, By 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. Progressive Field renovations Harmon Killebrew had 573 home runs over his career. Denny McLain achieved one of the games rarest feats at the place they called The Corner. The ball actually sailed right over the right field roof of the ballpark, which is mind-boggling to contemplate. It was out of the park in a split second. Several years later, the country watched another memorable Thanksgiving Day game played in a blizzard that covered the field by halftime. The ballpark was also the scene of one of the darkest days in NFL history. 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. The benches for both the Lions and their opponents were on the outfield side of the field. These were not temp help that knew nothing these were professionals who knew not just everything but were truly looking out for me. 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 . On June 27, 1963, he played an entire game at first base without a chance, as the Minnesota Twins won 10-6. 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. No advertising or spamming is permitted. It was the last hit and the last run in the stadium. 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. Focus On Sport/Getty Images. 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. Baseball commissioner Judge Landis ordered Medwick off the field for his own safety. I was there the day Fielder hit the over-the-roof shot. Awesome article Dan as usual! My whole family was there. July 11, 2018. As part of the transfer, the city gave the place a major paint job, changing the interior from green to blue. [45], Northern Irish professional soccer club Glentoran F.C. [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. Saw Herndons line shot to center. He hit his first home run of the 1961 season there. The overhang would occasionally turn some extremely high arced fly balls into home runs. In 1964, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle had an idea he wanted to try. Babe Ruth (60), Ted Williams (55), Jimmie Foxx (52), Mickey Mantle (42), Yogi Berra (37), Yaz (36). & quot;According to the Detroit Free Press book "The Corner", the following have hit HR's out of Tiger Stadium: Norm Cash (did it 4 times) Mickey Mantle (did it 3 times) Kirk Gibson (did it 3 times) Jason Thompson (did it twice) Mickey Tettlton (did it twice) Tony Clark . Our motto is simple: We enjoy doing cool things and are overjoyed we can make a living doing so. 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. , The Metropolitan Museum of Art has one of the best baseball card collections in the world thanks to one man, By Jackson dropped his bat and watched it sail, seemingly astonished of his own power. To make the park appear like Yankee Stadium, the parks seats were painted green and a skyline of the Bronx was added. 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. The home run went to straightaway center field, clearing the stadium and landing into the street. (The movie Detroit Rock City was based on this concert.). There is no roof to extend. Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates. PNC Park (Pirates) That pocket is the deepest part of the park at 410 feet, 11 feet farther than dead center. Since Detroit was driving for a score late in the game, some assumed Hughes was simply trying to stop the clock. However, in just about every case, it had been occurred due to a stadium conflict or for a special reason. According to former Tiger Stadium groundskeeper Frank Feneckit, it took almost a howitzer to send a ball over the left-field grandstand at The Corner. 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. I bet that was a great experience, seeing Killebrews home run. Even better, the homer cut the AL's deficit from 3-0 to 3-2, and helped the Junior Circuit earn a 6-4 win -- snapping the NL's eight-game winning streak in the Midsummer Classic. briggs stadium, detroit, detroit tigers, michigan, mlb, national league, navin field, tiger stadium. The distance of the home run has been estimated at up to 575 feet (175m). 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. But there was nothing anybody could do. He never played another game. In 1967, the race riots that tore up the city of Detroit started less than two miles from the ballpark. I was a little concerned it would let look as good as I hoped, but when I put it on, I loved it. Extremely satisfied with the wonderful personable service! He has four other children and four grandchildren. The team played as the Detroit Cougars in the United Soccer Association. [7] The stadium hosted two NFL Championship Games in 1953 and 1957. That year, Big Daddy captured the countrys attention with an eye-popping 51 home runs and 132 RBI, both best in the majors. 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!). In its early years, Navin Field was a pitchers paradise. Ask away and we will do our best to answer or find someone who can.We try to vet our answers to get you the most acurate answers. Frank Navin, who bought the team in 1908, was a man with big ideas. But it burns bright in the memories of hitters like Tom Matchick. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. [5], During the summer of 2010, a group calling itself "The Navin Field Grounds Crew" began maintaining the playing field and hosting vintage baseball, youth baseball, and softball games at the site. For the film, computer-generated visual effects were used to make Tiger Stadium resemble Yankee Stadium in 1961. [62][64][65] Following the game, an emotional ceremony with past and present Tigers greats was held to mark the occasion. 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. The Amercan League won the game 6-4, with two run homers by Jackson, Frank Robinson, and Harmon Killebrew. Among major league parks whose construction predated the advent of night games, only Wrigley Field went longer without lights (1988). norm cash home run out of tiger stadium. In 1977, a fire wiped out the press box. Due to the progression of the disease named after him, it was the final game of his career. The league scheduled eight more games in the next five years. Thanks for reading. Cecil was on 49, and I veered my car onto the exit to downtown Detroit and snatched up a ticket. My sons at 10 and 8 thought I was a genious. The short porch in right field wasnt the only unusual feature of the park. Please let us know when you find out. 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! (Thirteen years earlier, he was the only player ever to homer over the center-field bleachers, which consisted of one deck at the time.) [80] Demolition began on June 30, 2008. 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. Team: Cleveland Indians. Cecil Fielder was the third player,. The Tigers scratched out a run in the sixth to tie the game at 7. Lynn worked with me to swap out to something similar excellent customer service. Detroit reliever Terry Fox threw eight scoreless innings of relief. Detroit was one of the first powers in the new league, advancing to the World Series three years in a row from 1907-09. Norm Cash led all left-handed batters with 212 home runs, most of them going into the right field sections. Whitaker hit 146 homers at the old ballpark, most of them after he matured into a better power hitter in his late 20s. [18] In 1977, the Tigers sold the stadium to the city of Detroit, which then leased it back to the Tigers. 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. Winning pitcher Jim Bouton tossed seven scoreless innings for the victory. I was at Tiger Stadium in May 1971 when Reggie Jackson hit the ball over the right field roof. Through 1990, only two players had cleared the roof in left. [2], By the early 1990s, both the city and Tigers ownership wanted a new park, but many campaigned to save the old stadium. Or the blast off Gibson's bat that landed on the roof of the lumber yard across Trumbull Avenue. 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. Left field was 345 feet away while right field was a monstrous 370 feet down the line. That stadium was called Bennett Park and featured a wooden grandstand with a wooden peaked roof in the outfield. In 1955, right field returned to its 325-foot status. [7][2] Cleveland Naps player "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, later banned from baseball for life following the Black Sox Scandal, scored the first run at Navin Field. [51][52], The stadium hosted the 1941, 1951 and 1971 MLB All-Star Games. I was there for Gibsons shot over the roof onto brooks lumber. [4] A week into demolition, it was announced that the field, foul poles, and flagpole would be preserved. New Hagerstown Atlantic League ballpark The Lions last title came in 1957. I was in the stands the day that Mr. McGwire hit his shot over the roof in left. There's no way to say for sure whether Reggie Jackson's homer at the 1971 All-Star Game is the longest in the history of the Midsummer Classic -- the game is over 80 years old, after all, and data is incomplete.Here's what we do know, though: 46 years to the day after Jackson's blast, it remains the only baseball in All-Star Game history to nearly turn out the lights.

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