Sure, Tiger Stadium was a famously hitter-friendly ballpark, especially for lefties. Prince Fielder hit a home run there during batting practice when he was a 12-year old and his dad was playing for the Tigers. Most spectacular was Cash's performance in the doubleheader that June Sunday 60 years ago. To fit as many seats as possible in the expansion, the second deck was extended over the fence by 10 feet (3 m). Cash hit the ball over Tiger Stadium's right field roof four times in his career. Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins. A year later, Tiger Stadium was in the national spotlight when Denny McLain became the first pitcher in 31 years to win 30 games. (The next year, a screen was placed on top of the fence. The team played as the Detroit Cougars in the United Soccer Association. Returns & Exchanges Norm Cash - Society for American Baseball Research 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. FAQ. If you want a new roof on Tiger Stadium it will have to built from scratch. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Here are the longest home runs in the Home Run Derby, during the StatCast era, away from Coors Field. The overhang would occasionally turn some extremely high arced fly balls into home runs. As i pulled in I quickly understood this was a warehouse & office thinking this is a internet retailer. The company pioneered in the use of reinforced concrete and built municipal and industrial facilities throughout the country. For the second time in five days, Detroit's Mickey Tettleton hit a home run out of Tiger Stadium. In 1895, Detroit had a team in the Western League, an eight-team loop that eventually melded into the American League. Detroit's (really) starry night: 50 years ago, 22 Hall of Famers came Cash hit the ball over Tiger Stadiums right field roof four times in his career. My sons were small and I was trying to teach them the strategy of the game (since I was also their coach). [97], The pilot of the HBO series Hung featured the stadium's demolition in its opening scene. The Longest Home Runs Ever Hit | HowStuffWorks Tiger Stadium, previously known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit. That ball is measured at 634 . 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. Writers described fire and smoke behind the outfield walls as a game went on. [62], 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. Ironically, the visitors that day were the Minnesota Vikings, who rolled to an easy victory. Bill Freehan deserves special mention in that he hit exactly 100 home runs at Tiger Stadium and also 100 on the road. The unusual dimensions of the football field led to some odd happenings. For the film, computer-generated visual effects were used to make Tiger Stadium resemble Yankee Stadium in 1961. No advertising or spamming is permitted. 2023 Ballparks By the 1970s, the ballpark was beginning to show its age. Big Frank Howard loved to hit there, as did Killebrew and Reggie and Ken Griffey Jr. Homer History At Tiger Stadium - The New York Times There is one other football item worthy of note regarding Tiger Stadium. July 11, 2018. Rogers Centre renovations 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. It was the last hit and the last run in the stadium. June 9, 1946: Ted Williams hits 502-foot 'red seat' home run at Fenway SCOUTING; Jackson's 485th Is Over the Roof - The New York Times A fire gutted the press box on the evening of February 1, 1977. In 1955, right field returned to its 325-foot status. As I approached the area I quickly realized I was in more an industrial & commercial area then retail. , Competition, joy and a little pain: Beep Baseball is a world of freedom for blind athletes, By [7][2] Taking predecessor Bennett Park into account, Tiger Stadium was the oldest Major League Baseball site in use in 1999. This never happened. Privacy Policy [44], On October 5, 1951, the University of Notre Dame played the University of Detroit at Briggs Stadium before a capacity crowd of 52,000. Tiger Stadium (Detroit) - Wikipedia Ilitch began to make plans for a new ballpark downtown, breaking ground during the 1997 season. [42], The Lions played their final game at Tiger Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1974 against the Denver Broncos. [48], On July 18, 1921, Babe Ruth hit what is believed to be the longest verified home run in Major League Baseball history. (Nobody ever knew for sure just close of a target that upper deck really was. Stopped by Wed morning 7/6 and had the pleasure of dealing directly with Lynne. Please seek professional guidance. There were over 30 home runs hit onto the right field roof over the years. South African leader Nelson Mandela spoke before 49,000 people. In 1945, Hank Greenberg belted a grand slam late in the season that not only won the game for Detroit, but clinched the pennant. norm cash home run out of tiger stadium - tomboothmusic.com Robert Fick hit a grand-slam homer to help Detroit to an 8-2 win over Kansas City. With the OPEN sign light I though well came all this way just aswell give it a try and am I glad I did. By Rhiannon Walker @InstantRHIplay. 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. That stadium was called Bennett Park and featured a wooden grandstand with a wooden peaked roof in the outfield. The Tigers' Kirk Gibson hit a home run onto the street in 1983 but it was less than 600 feet. On April 15, 1999, Torii Hunter hit a home run off Brian Moehler at Tiger Stadium while playing for the Minnesota Twins. Charlie Steiner with ESPN highlights of Oakland A's/Detroit Tigers. A short while later I left with a new cap and a custom Fidrych T-shirt. He was also adept at hitting the ball out down the left field line, a trait later adopted by Willie Horton and Lance Parrish. In 1934, the Tigers won the AL pennant but lost the World Series to the Cardinals. Wow! Tiger Stadium didnt go down easily. 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. Take your pick, his three-home run outburst against Catfish Hunter in the 1978 Championship Series, the 1983 Pine Tar home run, or the 1980 upper deck jack off arch-nemesis Goose Gossage that all . Four were over the longer left field roof, (Harmon Killebrew, Frank Howard, Cecil Fielder, Mark McGuire) and the rest were over the right field roof.) Eric Chesterton Al Kaline.). The ball actually sailed right over the right field roof of the ballpark, which is mind-boggling to contemplate. Or the blast off Gibson's bat that landed on the roof of the lumber yard across Trumbull Avenue. Returns & Exchanges In 1967, the race riots that tore up the city of Detroit started less than two miles from the ballpark. 10. [70] Anheuser-Busch promoted the event as Tiger Stadium's Last Call. (At age 89, Eldon Auker, a member of the 1934-35 AL champions, was the oldest returnee. [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. The latter once flipped off Sparky Anderson after hitting a home run into the right field upper deck in 1993. In the Lions glory years of the 1950s, Detroit was considered one of the toughest venues in the league to play. In 1961, John Fetzer bought the team and renamed its home Tiger Stadium. Recently got a blank jersey stitched at Vintage Detroit and the finished product looks awesome! Fielder didnt hit his 50th that night, but it remains one of my more memorable spontaneous moments. Saw Herndons line shot to center. Cecil Fielder was only Tiger to clear Tiger Stadium's left-field roof Extremely satisfied with the wonderful personable service! In 1949, he defeated Marcel Cerdan, winning on a knockout in the tenth round to win the World Middleweight crown. Where is Rocky Colviato (spelling) on the list? - 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 . He ordered a steel-and-concrete 23,000-seat ballpark that was built in an astonishing period of seven months after the end of the 1911 season. Tiger Stadium was designed by the father and son team of Frank C. Osborn and Kenneth H. Osborn. It just shows that, when you buy a ticket to a game, you just might witness a bit of history. 50 years ago today, Harmon Killebrew hit his longest home run 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. I will never forget it. Hammerin Hank Greenberg probably hit more home runs to deep left-center field at Navin Field/Briggs Stadium than any other player. 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. Carl Yastrzemski 3 Home Runs At Tiger Stadium! - YouTube New Tennessee Smokies ballpark. Coincidentally, Fielders counterpart at first base that day was Mark McGwire, who had hit his very first major league tater exactly four years earlier. But it burns bright in the memories of hitters like Tom Matchick. 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 . www.newsbreak.com [74][75] By 2006, however, demolition appeared inevitable when then-Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick announced the stadium would be razed. the Nearest to me was Vintage. [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. The Metropolitan Stadium Committee voted unanimously for the Pontiac site. I bet that was a great experience, seeing Killebrews home run. Purchased a New Era Gruff Michigan Syaye hat, and I absolutely love it. Since that time the company has grown from a single employee working out of a home to a diversified publishing firm featuring Websites, books and other merchandise. As we stood at the vendor the entire stadium erupted. Cecil Fielder takes a gingerly stroll on the roof of Tiger Stadium in 1993. The hit itself was a gunshot, echoing back from center. ORDER YOURS NOW! [86] There was at one time also a sign on the enclosing fence labeling the site "Ernie Harwell Park". He installed an area in the lower deck (between first and third base) that had padded seats and added waitservice. The ballparks other famous boxing matches involved Jake LaMotta. the Yankees won that day, 22-2 the worst loss the Tigers ever suffered at home.). The Lions played football in Tiger Stadium from 1938 until the end of 1974, after which they moved into the Silverdome in Pontiac, a suburb over 30 miles away.