Center field was even farther 467 feet. With regular first baseman Dan Meyer batting .192 with only two RBIs, the Tigers gave the job to Thompson early into the 1976 season. What do you get when you combine a block party and a baseball league? 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. Some call this the longest home run ever hit. To make the park appear like Yankee Stadium, the parks seats were painted green and a skyline of the Bronx was added. [53] The ball was also carrying well in the 1951 and 1971 games. Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) updates Babe Ruth (60), Ted Williams (55), Jimmie Foxx (52), Mickey Mantle (42), Yogi Berra (37), Yaz (36). Tiger Stadium (Detroit) - Wikipedia In addition to the movie 61*, two other films Tiger Town and Hardball had scenes filmed there. 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. The hit itself was a gunshot, echoing back from center. Tiger Stadium | MLB Wiki | Fandom 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. [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. Luis Polonia, the Tigers' left fielder, wearing Willie Horton's No. 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! Only one current Tiger ever hit a home run at Tiger Stadium, and it was a memorable occasion. She is very accommodating and made me feel at home, especially since I was unaware they don't operate a standard retail shop. 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? 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. Partially because of that incident, a pad was put in place on the flagpole. Robinson flung his glove into the stands in disgust. 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. [49], On May 2, 1939, ailing New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig voluntarily benched himself at Briggs Stadium, ending his streak of consecutive games at 2,130. 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. He frantically signaled to the sidelines to get help for Hughes. In the decade after the Tigers vacated the stadium, several rejected redevelopment and preservation efforts finally gave way to demolition. Copyright 2023 August Publications. 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. [25] A new flagpole in the spirit of Tiger Stadium's pole was positioned in fair play at Comerica Park until the left field fence was moved in closer prior to the 2003 season. Norm Cash - Society for American Baseball Research Hence, for many years, everybody but the citizens of Detroit watched the annual Thanksgiving Day game.) The score was now 8-4. Nomar Mazara (505 Feet) A few players, very few, hit home runs into the bleachers in straightaway center field, an incredible 440 feet away. If you want a new roof on Tiger Stadium it will have to built from scratch. Bullying, racism, personal attacks, harassment, or discrimination is prohibited. 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 . 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. Not to be picky but Griffey didnt flip off Sparky. [2] On June 28, 1990, the ballpark hosted another unusual event. Target Field renovations, 2024 Ballparks 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. 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. Out of concern for the neighborhood, the team moved a series to Baltimore. Lynn worked with me to swap out to something similar excellent customer service. Navin Field opened on April 20, 1912, the same day as the Boston Red Sox's Fenway Park. The ballparks other famous boxing matches involved Jake LaMotta. In 1970, when ABC signed on to carry Monday Night Football on a weekly basis, the network came to Detroit to do a trial run at an exhibition game. 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. 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. [61], There were over 30 home runs hit onto the right field roof over the years. 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. Reggie Jackson's All-Star Game homer off the Tiger Stadium roof is still jaw-dropping By Chris Landers July 12, 2017 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. Tiger Stadium - National Ballpark Museum [46][47], When Ty Cobb played at Navin Field, the area of dirt in front of home plate was kept wet by the groundstaff to slow down Cobb's bunts and cause opposing infielders to slip as they fielded them. Charlie Steiner with ESPN highlights of Oakland A's/Detroit Tigers. This is a true story and has been recorded in a magazine of tape measure home runs. Another outfield oddity was a ledge that fielders used to jump onto to try to snare balls headed for the seats. The group reunited for their Alive/Worldwide tour. Observers Recall Longest Homers - UPI Archives Thank you so much, I can't wait to wear my jersey to a Wings game! Fittingly, Ficks blast was the final hit of any kind at Tiger Stadium. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. Over the years, the distances gradually shortened down the lines. It was out of the park in a split second. the Nearest to me was Vintage. 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. Detroit's (really) starry night: 50 years ago, 22 Hall of Famers came 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. Cecil was on 49, and I veered my car onto the exit to downtown Detroit and snatched up a ticket. In the 1971 All-Star Game, Reggie Jackson hit a ball off a transformer in deep right-center field that left the bat so fast that all TV could catch was its return trip to earth. 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.. Returns & Exchanges The short porch in right field wasnt the only unusual feature of the park. On June 11, 1961, Cash became the first Detroit Tiger to hit a home run ball out of Tiger Stadium. [7] The stadium hosted two NFL Championship Games in 1953 and 1957. [92] It was also seen in Renaissance Man and Hardball. Cecil Fielder was only Tiger to clear Tiger Stadiums left-field roof. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. Cabrera 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 . Cecil Fielder watches his home run out of Tiger Stadium Kirk Gibson hits bomb over roof of Tiger Stadium [Video] Future Legends Sports Complex (Northern Colorado Owlz) On July 2, 1993, Tigers first baseman Cecil Fielder hit a home run that has only just now come back to Earth. FAQ. Bennett Park was still their home field, when six years later, they joined the AL as a charter member. Innovative Field (Rochester Red Wings) upgrades 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. Among major league parks whose construction predated the advent of night games, only Wrigley Field went longer without lights (1988). The home run went to straightaway center field, clearing the stadium and landing into the street. As i pulled in I quickly understood this was a warehouse & office thinking this is a internet retailer. AL West: Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers. Al Kaline takes aim at the seats in Tiger Stadium in the late 1950s. The unusual dimensions of the football field led to some odd happenings. The home run record was reset to 235 three years later, during the Tigers' final campaign at Tiger Stadium. 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. It was the final Major League hit, home run, and RBI in Tiger Stadium's history. , The Metropolitan Museum of Art has one of the best baseball card collections in the world thanks to one man, By 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. Why Ill never sell my Mark Fidrych rookie card, Ken Holloway: Detroits other Yankee Killer, These batters hit the most home runs at Tiger Stadium, #TBT: Tigers power hitting catcher Mickey Tettleton. When Tiger Stadium closed, Detroit lost a piece of its soul Makes me even more envious of the fans in Boston whose ownership had the wisdom to preserve their historic ballpark. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Denny McLain achieved one of the games rarest feats at the place they called The Corner. 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 movie was about the 1961 season when the Yankees Roger Maris broke Babe Ruths home run record. It is the home stadium of the LSU Tigers football team . [14], In 2018, the Corner Ballpark opened at the site. Why a 1969 Frank Howard home run in Seattle still sticks with a 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. When was the last Tigers game at Tiger Stadium? No one hit more homers in Tiger Stadium than Al Kaline, who belted 212 there, while hitting 187 on the road. [49][50] On July 13, 1934 at the stadium, Ruth hit his 700th career home run off Tigers' pitcher Tommy Bridges. Harmon Killebrew had 2,086 hits over his career. Id have a chance to send my family to Paris on that one.. [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. 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. Our motto is simple: We enjoy doing cool things and are overjoyed we can make a living doing so. Have Your Own Jersey? Lou Gehrig said goodbye there. Its unique dimensions allowed fans to get closer than usual to the ballgame. Most spectacular was Cash's performance in the doubleheader that June Sunday 60 years ago. Joe Louis moved to Detroit as a youngster. I will never forget it. Babe Ruth hit his 700th career home run there in 1934. PNC Park Myshak Metro Ballpark (Edmonton Prospects) How many home runs did Harmon Killebrew have? (The next year, a screen was placed on top of the fence. That year, Big Daddy captured the countrys attention with an eye-popping 51 home runs and 132 RBI, both best in the majors. ), But the biggest move came in 1938. Talk about luck, but wow were they wrong. Jim Thome has to be in there for homeruns to it seemed like every time I was at a game he hit one to right field. 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! Cecil Fielder hits homerun over Tiger Stadium roof - YouTube The stadiums demolition was completed on September 21, 2009, though the stadiums actual playing field remains at the corner where the stadium stood. Along Trumbull Avenue, 24 town homes were planned for sale. Al Kaline.). How many home runs hit out of Tiger Stadium? - idswater.com Big Frank Howard loved to hit there, as did Killebrew and Reggie and Ken Griffey Jr. New Salt Lake Bees ballpark . On August 16, 1927 Ruth hit his famous "roof topper" home run at Comiskey Park. There were home runs that didnt seem to be home runs. [48] The area was nicknamed "Cobb's Lake". Cecil Fielder was the third player,. August Publications was formed in 2002 with the launch of Ballpark Digest. Reggie Jackson's 1971 All-Star Game shot at Tiger Stadium would have travelled more than 600. Three who did were Roberto Clemente in the 71 All-Star Game, Larry Herndon in 1983, and Mark McGwire in 1987. I saw Cecil hit #50 at Yankee Stadium unfortunately, I misssed seeing #51 because my date was not so much of a baseball fan, early October games get cold, etc. The Fighting Irish won, 406. By the early 1990s the owner of the Tigers wanted a new luxurious ballpark for team. Tiger Stadium didnt go down easily. Tiger Stadium was sold to the city of Detroit on January 1, 1978 for $1.00 and leased back for 30 years. 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. I was a little concerned it would let look as good as I hoped, but when I put it on, I loved it. 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. There were very few concerts held over the years at The Corner. 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. 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. the Nearest to me was Vintage. The distance of the home run has been estimated at up to 575 feet (175m). The Lions abandoned it for the Pontiac Silverdome. 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. In the decade after the Tigers vacated the stadium, several rejected redevelopment and preservation efforts finally gave way to demolition. [56], Toward the end of the Lions' game against the Chicago Bears at the stadium on October 24, 1971, Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes collapsed and later died of a heart attack, making Hughes the only NFL player to date who died during a game. Singles by Mullin, Jimmy Bloodworth, and pinch-hitter Anse Moore plated another run for the Tigers in the seventh. 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. Detroit's Police Athletic League (PAL) headquarters would relocate to the site and maintain the field. 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). 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. Bud Metheny Ballpark renovations (Old Dominion University) Quick shipping as well. 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. A year later, a Tiger Stadium-record 230 home runs were smashed130 of them surrendered by an atrocious Detroit pitching staff that produced a 6.38 ERA, the worst in AL history. the Yankees won that day, 22-2 the worst loss the Tigers ever suffered at home.). Hank Greenberg and Willie Horton might also qualify as long time Tigers. In 1949, he defeated Marcel Cerdan, winning on a knockout in the tenth round to win the World Middleweight crown. [67][68], In February 2006, a tent on Tiger Stadium's field played host to Anheuser-Busch's Bud Bowl 2006. The 1999 Tigers finished with a 69-92 record, but it felt like the stands were always full. The NFL Lions left University of Detroit Stadium to move downtown. Many seats were replaced. Briggs Stadium was the scene of another famous event, which was actually something that did not occur. The club went 68-86 and hit 18 fewer home runs than the year before. 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. Gibson hits one out of Tiger Stadium Watch on For medical advice, always consult your medical doctor. These were not temp help that knew nothing these were professionals who knew not just everything but were truly looking out for me. (The front row of seats was just 55 feet behind home plate). All rights reserved. 10. The seven-hour game is the second longest game in American League history. [41][43], In 1939, boxer Joe Louis defended his world heavyweight title with an eleventh-round knockout of Bob Pastor at the stadium. Jackson dropped his bat and watched it sail, seemingly astonished of his own power. Detroit reliever Terry Fox threw eight scoreless innings of relief. 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. It seemed like Rusty Staub hit more than his fair share of those, and Dave Bergman too. It was an effort by a local sports management company to bring a Frontier League franchise to Detroit. Among the performers that day: Erma Franklin, older sister of Aretha Franklin. [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. Or the blast off Gibson's bat that landed on the roof of the lumber yard across Trumbull Avenue. Seven of the Tigers' eight runs came off home runs. 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. #TBT: Cecil Fielder blasts a homer onto the roof of Tiger Stadium Reggie Jackson became a national figure due to a famous home run in an All-Star Game. Pat Swilling House New Orleans, Is Katie On Ksat Pregnant, Who Are The Never Trumpers On Fox News, Uss Emory S Land Fpo Address, Westport News Nz Death Notices, 9 Word Text That Forces Her To Respond, The right field overhang frustrated many outfielders who were camped under a routine flyball only to see it land in the first row upstairs. By: WBRZ Sports. 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. New Hagerstown Atlantic League ballpark Park Dimensions: The dimensions of the park (in feet) including left, right and center field distance to each wall. The latter once flipped off Sparky Anderson after hitting a home run into the right field upper deck in 1993. Took everyones breath away. 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. On April 15, 1999, Torii Hunter hit a home run off Brian Moehler at Tiger Stadium while playing for the Minnesota Twins. As you'll notice, Aaron Judge hit four 500-foot blasts. Cecil Fielder takes a gingerly stroll on the roof of Tiger Stadium in 1993. Tiger Stadium was sold to the city of Detroit on January 1, 1978 for $1.00 and leased back for 30 years. 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. In the early 1970s, disgusted Detroit fans began to throw snowballs at the team bench from the upper-deck seats in right field. The crazy thing is we missed the home run for a hot pretzel. (Rumor was this came at the behest of the teams first star, Ty Cobb.) At the time, some places in the outfield were only marked off with rope. #1 LSU baseball with 26 run outburst to throttle Central Connecticut All three games featured home runs. 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. There were moments of joy to behold down the stretch. [7][2], When the park was expanded in 1936, a second deck was added over the right field pavilion and bleachers. By Rhiannon Walker @InstantRHIplay. 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. 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. Tiger Stadium (formerly known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium) was a stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. [70], In 2006, the feature-length documentary Stranded at the Corner: The Battle to Save Historic Tiger Stadium was released. Excited to work with Vintage Detroit on future orders. Briggs Stadium, as it was now known, held 53,000 seats. Ted Williams said Briggs Stadium had the best sight lines of any ballpark, and that was back when the interior was painted green. Purchased a New Era Gruff Michigan Syaye hat, and I absolutely love it. A short while later I left with a new cap and a custom Fidrych T-shirt. There is one other football item worthy of note regarding Tiger Stadium. [18] In 1977, the Tigers sold the stadium to the city of Detroit, which then leased it back to the Tigers. I bet that was a great experience, seeing Killebrews home run. Home run facts from The Corner in Detroit - Vintage Detroit Cecil Fielder clears left field roof at Tiger Stadium. Detroit Tigers - Stadium It is believed to be the only time in the sports history this has occurred. Tiger Stadium (Louisiana) - Wikipedia 2 others that hit the light towers. I placed an order and received a follow up call within 24 hrs due to item was not available. FAQ.