In the fifth inning, with Alan Trammel on first, Fielder was sitting on a 2-0 count when he took a vicious swing and fouled off a Dave Stewart fastball. Only one current Tiger ever hit a home run at Tiger Stadium, and it was a memorable occasion. He grabbed his crotch and Sparky was not happy about it. In August 2002, MLB.com streamed the first-ever live full length MLB game over the Internet when the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees faced off at Yankee Stadium. 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. It was out of the park in a split second. he powered a torrid drive that crashed against the roof facade in deep left-center field at Tiger Stadium. Ive spent more than two years of research on this.. There should be no doubt about the authentication of these conclusions. I was in a funk towards the end of the season and I just wasnt swinging well, Fielder said. Harmon Killebrew hit a home run that ricocheted off the left field roof and sounded like a gun blast off his bat. Homer History At Tiger Stadium - The New York Times While he hit .190/.323/.329 during 2003's sad swan song, the burly first baseman at least cleared the fences 26 times in 2002. Its estimated that the Babes blast traveled at least 575 feet in the air. Many seats were replaced. The ball went beyond the right-field roof above the 370-foot mark, through the light tower, deflecting off a pipe and disappeared from sight, Susman said. Maybe not, Elite Eight time in 2023 MiLB Best of the Ballparks, Triple-A, 2023 MiLB Best of the Ballparks vote,Triple-Amoves to Sweet Sixteen round, Doak Field at Dail Park upgrades (NC Wolfpack), Field of Dreams ballpark (Dyersville, IA), Future Legends Sports Complex (Northern Colorado Owlz), Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) updates, LMCU Ballpark (West Michigan Whitecaps) upgrades, Myshak Metro Ballpark (Edmonton Prospects), Bud Metheny Ballpark renovations (Old Dominion University), Innovative Field (Rochester Red Wings) upgrades. They checked it over and off I went. Briggs Stadium, as it was now known, held 53,000 seats. Enter your email address to subscribe to Ballpark Digest and receive notifications of new posts by email immediately when a new story is posted. I've been a Detroit Tigers fan since the 70s and recently found VDC, I ordered a home and road personalized player t and a Freehan 11 1968 player t and they are awesome shirts, I will definitely be ordering more from them. Another outfield oddity was a ledge that fielders used to jump onto to try to snare balls headed for the seats. . Although they only won six pennants during their tenure there, the hometown Tigers were often an interesting team with individual stars. 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Discussion of suicide or self-harm is not tolerated and will result in an immediate ban. I had a chance to see a few games at Fenway, and while it is great, Tiger Stadium was more historic. In 1955, right field returned to its 325-foot status. Detroit's Tiger Stadium (the name was changed from Briggs Stadium) was a favorite Mantle hunting ground for legendary home run blasts. When Medwick took his position in left field in the bottom of the inning, the Tiger fans pelted him with fruits, vegetables and just about anything else they could get their hands on. The big guy came to Detroit in 1990 as a free agent after a season in Japan. "Examination of satellite and ground-based digital photos suggests that the 502-foot figure is an accurate measurement of the horizontal distance to the 'Red Seat,' but since the impact point was approximately 30 feet above field level, the ball would have covered more distance before landing at field level, had its flight not been interrupted.". Can you name the players who hit the most home runs in each of these ballparks? Wow! Ranking each MLB ballpark by distance to center field It is believed to be the only time in the sports history this has occurred. Everyone wanted to talk about them but they werent the only ones because there was a guy in Detroit named Fielder.". 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. I would have believed 1,484 feet.". Or the blast off Gibsons bat that landed on the roof of the lumber yard across Trumbull Avenue. Home runs that are hit out of the ball park are measured from where the batter stands to where the ball . Adam Dunn played just 44 games with the Arizona Diamondbacks, but one of his eight home runs stands as the longest witnessed at Chase Field. Acquired from the then-Anaheim Angels in 2001, the 1995 American League MVP spent his entire first season with the Mets sidelined before returning a shell of himself in 2002. In 1923, Navin increased capacity to 30,000. Be respectful even if you disagree. Few, if. It was the type of park that inspired such feats. 19 batters have hit home runs completely out of Tiger Stadium. Who were MLB.com also provides an array of mobile apps for fans to choose from, including At Bat, the highest-grossing iOS sports app of all-time. 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!). No comments 0 Dannyboy Customer Service But . And I liked everything about Tiger Stadium because to hit in that old ballpark 81 games a year was a blessing., Memorable moments in Tiger Stadium history. Each time the noise grew louder and louder! Jose Canseco hit a home run to center field lower deck. Frank Robinson appeared poised to make the catch only to see the ball drop in the first row of the overhang for a game winning home run, one of just four Matchick hit in six big league seasons. It is the only on-field death in the history of the league. In his penultimate 2000 season, Glenallen Hill registered a career-high 27 home runs for the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees. The grandest account of his power? Willie Stargell scorched plenty of moonshots over his career. As part of the transfer, the city gave the place a major paint job, changing the interior from green to blue. I put the location into google maps off I went. Have Your Own Jersey? 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. They quoted an eyewitness, the late Paul Baldwin, who said the ball cleared 110- foot wide Trumbull Avenue adjacent to Tiger (then Briggs) Stadium and landed in the Brooks Lumber Yard across the street. 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. In 1968, his last at-bat came there when he struck out in Game 5 of the World Series. Norm Cash: the Detroit first baseman hit four balls out of Tiger Stadium, which is probably . April 14, 1976. Although it came nowhere close to 734 feet, ESPN determined an impressive true distance of 503 feet. It seemed like Rusty Staub hit more than his fair share of those, and Dave Bergman too. 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. The 1971 All-Star Game was held at Tiger Stadium, a stadium that, according to Ballparks.com, saw 19 players hit 28 home runs that cleared the roof and left the parkliterally. I don't live nearby so the ability to have it shipped for $10 was well worth the cost. The previous year, the Tigers finished with the worst record in baseball (59-103) and were desperate to find a power-hitting first baseman. Robert Fick hit a grand-slam homer to help Detroit to an 8-2 win over Kansas City. Ficks homer hit the roof in right and just missed going out of the stadium. There were occasional amateur games played there, a 2002 fantasy camp and occasional special segments were taped there. Having hit 31 home runs in 506 at-bats with Toronto, in Japan Fielder produced 38 in only 384 at-bats. But it burns bright in the memories of hitters like Tom Matchick. 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. "An inning or so later, they told us it was charted at 484 feet. 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.. Kept me posted every step of the way, literally. The HBO movie 61* was filmed there. He handled things so well with the media, fans, and his teammates.. Three who did were Roberto Clemente in the 71 All-Star Game, Larry Herndon in 1983, and Mark McGwire in 1987. Whitaker hit 146 homers at the old ballpark, most of them after he matured into a better power hitter in his late 20s. Future Legends Sports Complex (Northern Colorado Owlz) "I don't think anyone could ever be comfortable getting a statue, I mean that respectfully," Thome said during the unveiling ceremony, per. Bud Metheny Ballpark renovations (Old Dominion University) "Watch that splash on the scoreboard," Keith Hernandez said during his earlier years as a Mets broadcaster. A 125-foot flagpole stood just to the left of the 440-foot sign in dead center field. Few thoughts will terrify a pitcher more than Giancarlo Stanton lurking inside a Coors Field batter's box. 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. See More by this Creator. Ill never forget playing the Cardinals in St. Petersburg when Cecil hit home runs against the wind in right field, center field, and left field, said Dick Tracewski, the former longtime Tiger coach. The NFL Lions left University of Detroit Stadium to move downtown. Not bad at all, but. After Giancarlo Stanton decimated a baseball during the World Baseball Classic, MLB Network informed viewers that the hulking outfielder torpedoed the ball 424 feet at an exit velocity of 117.3 miles per hour. [ Cecil Fielder became a Tigers superstar, thanks to Sparky Anderson's positivity ], I always shined against the Bash Brothers, Fielder said from his home in Tampa, Florida. Purchased a New Era Gruff Michigan Syaye hat, and I absolutely love it. The final act came on September 27, 1999. The hit itself was a gunshot, echoing back from center. He was the only man to hit 4 home runs in one day in the history of Brigs/Tiger Stadium or Navin Field for that matter. Killabrew was in 62. For medical advice, always consult your medical doctor. Just ordered the military green Lions shirt and couldn't be happier. Thank you so much, I can't wait to wear my jersey to a Wings game! That guy went on to hit 51 home runs in 1990, the 11th player in history to reach the 50-homer milestone. See the article in its original context from. I was just hoping it was going to stay fair, Trammell said. *(previously Briggs Stadium & Navin Field), Most Homers hit by opposing players Follow. About Us Thank you so much, I can't wait to wear my jersey to a Wings game! 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. Cecil Fielder stroked a two-run blast into the upper deck left-center field bleachers off of Dave Stewart for his 40th home run of the season, becoming the fourth Tiger ever to reach that mark in a season. Answerbag wants to provide a service to people looking for answers and a good conversation. Instead, let's look back to September 14, 1991, when the Detroit Tigers slugger pounded a ball beyondMilwaukee County Stadium's bleachers. Monaghan had to get a helicopter to fly in pizzas to writers working inside the old ballpark while overzealous fans partied too hard directly outside Tiger Stadium. With the OPEN sign light I though well came all this way just aswell give it a try and am I glad I did. Awesome article Dan as usual! He never played another game. Order Tracking Initial estimates credited him with hitting a 656-foot bomb in college, a mark outlandish even for an MLB star using performance-enhancing drugs. 2 others that hit the light towers. He frantically signaled to the sidelines to get help for Hughes. As i pulled in I quickly understood this was a warehouse & office thinking this is a internet retailer. What existed was simply a wall, and many players hit home runs over that wall and out of the stadium into Cherry Street, which paralleled the wall. On November 28, 1974, the Lions played their last game at Tiger Stadium. ESPN's Home Run Tracker docked his true distance down to 487. ESPN's Home Run Tracker has also studied long balls since 2006, giving fans a better sense of how homers travel. On June 14, 1983, Gibson belted a blast over the right field roof against the Red Sox. As he was for Fielders over-the-roof blast, Trammell was on first base. We were all rooting for him and were relieved when he hit that one because it was such a big deal since it had not been done in quite a while. Decades before these modern advances, historians were left to make questionable estimations or even use an actual tape measure. Michigan native Rocky Roe was the home plate umpire. Shipping Service Thompson was my favorite player at the time, so it was an awesome moment, to be sure. 1 9 batters have hit home runs completely out of Tiger Stadium. Cannot be combined with any other offer. 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. While the Miami Marlins slugger doesn't need a ballpark's help to punish a baseball, he collaborated with the high-altitude venue to produce a 504-foot homer on Aug. 6, 2016. in 1926. Later measurement revealed the ball traveled close to 600 feet. Washington's Griffith Stadium. Urban legends of Mickey Mantle's power prowess have run wild. I seem to recall Big Frank Howard (Hondo) of the Washington Senators, blast one over the left field roof sometime between 1966 and 68 (I think). I grew up in Bridgeport Michigan. Although it was the park where he was booed regularly, Tiger Stadium played a huge role in Maris career. 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. Fielder joined Harmon Killebrew (1962) and Frank Howard (1968) as the only players to hit a home run over those left-field grandstands. 15. Oh yeah, that's not even Fielder's entry. In 12 World Series, he hit 18 home runs, No. "I wasn't cheating, I was real. I was there for Gibsons shot over the roof onto brooks lumber. Mark McGwire made a living socking dingers for the St. Louis Cardinals. ESPN's Home Run Tracker yielded a projected true distance of 443 feet. The latter once flipped off Sparky Anderson after hitting a home run into the right field upper deck in 1993. "I know if he throws that changeup, he'll make me look like an ass, because he had such a good one, if you don't sell out to it. Navin Field got a lot of play in the newsreels that winter but it was not the sort of publicity one desires. What are your home run memories of Tiger Stadium? Target Field renovations, 2024 Ballparks Coincidentally, Roewas the home plate umpire. Please seek professional guidance. Al Kaline told the. Its first day was overshadowed by the news the Titanic hit an iceberg and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean. 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' Cecil. He only fought once at Briggs Stadium, defeating Bob Pastor on September 20, 1939. Few sluggers were stronger in their prime, making him one of baseball's most feared batters despite his strikeout woes. 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. 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. Please let us know when you find out. The left-handed raker quickly set a gaudy benchmark duringGreat American Ball Park's second season on Aug. 10, 2004, when he crushed a Jose Lima offering well beyond the fence in center field, which stands 404 feet out. During the PASS telecast, former Tiger Jim Northrup said: Cecil had a tremendous swing at that one and probably overswung just a little bit. Dismiss, Copyright 2022 Vintage Detroit Collection, Spinnaker Center, 44692 Helm St, Plymouth. I was just so impressed by this blast., Harwell told Susman Mantles blast was about the longest weve seen.. I highly recommend if you live within a 30 minute drive of this place and you are looking for authentic NBA NFL and MB items stop in and see them they also have a lot of very rare items which will make you stand out. Oh yeah, that's not even Fielder's entry. Our motto is simple: We enjoy doing cool things and are overjoyed we can make a living doing so. MLB.com also offers extensive historical information and footage, online ticket sales, official baseball merchandise, authenticated memorabilia and collectibles and fantasy games.Major League Baseball consists of 30 teams split between the American and National Leagues. Out of concern for the neighborhood, the team moved a series to Baltimore. Text by Dave Wright Photos by John Moist. By AdamBishop. The short porch in right field wasnt the only unusual feature of the park. As I approached the area I quickly realized I was in more an industrial & commercial area then retail. At the last game played at Tiger Stadium, on Sept. 27, 1999, Robert Fick delivered a dramatic eighth-inning grand slam on the first pitch he faced. Either way, everyone can agree he hit the ball very far. briggs stadium, detroit, detroit tigers, michigan, mlb, national league, navin field, tiger stadium. In the years he played for his hometown team, Kirk Gibson frequently displayed his power. Not knowing where the ball landed on April 4, 1988, the Mets outfielder stopped at second before receiving clearance to finish rounding the bases. Anyone can read what you share. (Cerdan claimed he dislocated his shoulder in the first round.) This is not a replacement for the newsletter, but rather a real-time notification system! As reported by the New York Times' Joseph Durso, physics professorBob Moore said the ball would have carried 525 feet if not for hitting the lights. 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. There had been occasional Monday night games played in the league over the years. Good article. The club went 68-86 and hit 18 fewer home runs than the year before. Bennett Park was still their home field, when six years later, they joined the AL as a charter member. Dismiss, Copyright 2022 Vintage Detroit Collection, Spinnaker Center, 44692 Helm St, Plymouth. Fielder, now relaxed, offered a grand finale fireworks performance when he drilled a three-run, 406-foot homer in the eighth inning off right-hander Alan Mills for No. Reggie Jackson's All-Star Game homer off the Tiger Stadium roof is He retired with 536 home runs, sixth on the all-time list. Have Your Own Jersey? In virtually every other field of endeavor in which physical performance can be measured, there are no Ruthian equivalents. Fielder displayed his power early in spring training. Detroit OF Rocky Colavito tied a major-league record when he went 7-for-10 in the game. The team's historic old home was known for its homer-friendly tendencies, despite its 440-foot dimension to center, thanks in . Thanks for reading. The people there are awesome and they clearly don't get much walk in business however they know their product while intending in only buying one jersey I walked out with much more! Mantle hit the memorable homer off Paul Foytack on Sept. 10, 1960. Check out the Tigers All-Time Leaders in multiple statistical categories. About Us As a kid in May 1967? Hitting a baseball hundreds of feet is incredibly hard. 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. Some of Susmans work has appeared in a Baseball Digest article on Mantles homers. The ballparks history actually dated back to 17 years before its generally accepted debut. The Tigers scratched out a run in the sixth to tie the game at 7. Hurry, offer ends 5/14/23.Use code: "MOM" at checkout! Doak Field at Dail Park upgrades (NC Wolfpack) His name? A shot like that you remember because you had to have some pretty good hang time to get it up and over that left field roof, which was much farther back than right, where a lot of other balls had gone out, Roe said from this home in Florida. There's a lesson for all the kids hoping to leave behind a lasting legacy: Stay humble, work hard and hit dingers. Comerica Park is NICE; Tiger Stadium was GREAT!!!! To make the park appear like Yankee Stadium, the parks seats were painted green and a skyline of the Bronx was added. Writers described fire and smoke behind the outfield walls as a game went on. "You play the game as a kid, you progress through high school, you get drafted, you go through the minor leagues. As ESPN's Home Run Trackerverifies, one moonshot onMay 11, 2000, went 500 feet with a116.7 mph exit velocity. All rights reserved. The late Ed Browalski of the Polish Daily News and veteran Detroit sports writer Edgar Hayes wanted to determine where Mantles 1960 homer landed. Tiger Stadium / Detroit Tigers / 1912-1999 - Ballpark Digest There is one other football item worthy of note regarding Tiger Stadium. One of the hardest ever at the corner was a blast by Jimmie Foxx deep into left center, just to the left of the center field scoreboard. Hinchliffe Stadium renovations When I interviewed Sam he didnt hesitate an instant as he pinpointed the exact landing site.. Fetzer sold the team to a pizza magnate, Tom Monaghan.