Must have been 1977 or 1978. In the Lions glory years of the 1950s, Detroit was considered one of the toughest venues in the league to play. Ruth hit 60 homers there, the most by any visiting ballplayer. Just nine homers short, hewas well aware of what he had to do. There were very few concerts held over the years at The Corner. I thought I saw Tony Clark hit a monster on the roof, but Im so old my memory is shot. Several players have landed balls in top of it images, but never completely over it in the air. Although the ballpark suffered little damage, the citys name was sullied. It was said the lights at the ballpark were so bright that it could light up a city of 10,000 people. I grew up in Bridgeport Michigan. It was years later, after the Tigers began to field pennant-contending teams, that the tall, roofed, left-field stands were built (in order to accommodate increased attendance), and consequently the out-of-the-park left-field homers became more difficult, i.e., they became that rare feat now enjoyed by the three players mentioned. Detroit Outfielder Cullenbines Skills Were Ahead of His Time, Jon Warden made the most of his one season with Tigers, The longest home runs hit at Tiger Stadium in Detroit. The Tigers' Kirk Gibson hit a home run onto the street in 1983 but it was less than 600 feet. "I think we like seeing it fly like that, especially if it's our guys hitting it," Marlins manager Don Mattingly told Weinrib. 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 actually did it twice that season, the first of two straight seasons he was an All-Star for the Tigers. For what it's worth, it passes the "Wow, he sure hit that ball a long way" eye test. He hits balls that just keep carrying. Slate's John Pastiercalculated a similar distance of roughly 479 feet. There should be no doubt about the authentication of these conclusions. Facing Seattle's Mike Moore in a game on September 14, 1986, Bo hit his first major league home run, a titanic blast that landed high on the grassy knoll of left-center field. Tiger Stadium didnt go down easily. The trajectory had it coming near me but it just never came down inside the ballpark! Whitaker hit 146 homers at the old ballpark, most of them after he matured into a better power hitter in his late 20s. 1969 i attended my first game at Tiger Stadium the next day, Self correction. When I hit it, I knew it was gone, I just didnt know where it was going. Detroit OF Rocky Colavito tied a major-league record when he went 7-for-10 in the game. There was Babe Ruth's 700th career shot and the one he hit an estimated 600+ feet, Reggie Jackson's All-Star homer off the light towers, and Kirk Gibson's massive longball in the 1984 World Series. June 3, 1987, which reportedly went a staggering. The Times reported that Cecil Fielder became the first Detroit player to hit a home run over the left-field roof at Tiger Stadium (''Fielder Belts Two as Tigers Rout A's, 14-4,'' Aug. 26), and that only Harmon Killebrew (in 1962) and Frank Howard (in 1968) had accomplished that feat. By AdamBishop. The team began a downward spiral on and off the field. I just saw and heard the crowd going crazy.. Great 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. 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. Strawberry hit another dinger during New York's Opening Day victory and matched his previous season's career high with 39 homers that year. When baseball's biggest stars need a haircut, they come to Jos 'Jordan' Lpez, By I found it refreshing to be served by people who truly knew everything and who came across as glad i stopped in and only care about me getting the service beyond what i deserved. 6/14/83: Kirk Gibson's home run clears the right-field roof at Tiger StadiumCheck out http://MLB.com/video for more!About MLB.com: About MLB.com: Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced on January 19, 2000, that the 30 Major League Club owners voted unanimously to centralize all of Baseball's Internet operations into an independent technology company. (The next year, a screen was placed on top of the fence. Future Legends Sports Complex (Northern Colorado Owlz) Per National Baseball Hall of Fames Matt Kelly, it went an estimated 535 feet. In 1961, John Fetzer bought the team and renamed its home Tiger Stadium. In virtually every other field of endeavor in which physical performance can be measured, there are no Ruthian equivalents. Despite the scarcity of film onRuth, we can still make definitive evaluations of the approximate landing points of all of his 714 career home runs. Amazingly, many of those records remain unequaled, which is to say that, is a true athletic anachronism. (Cerdan claimed he dislocated his shoulder in the first round.) Harmon Killebrew hit a home run that ricocheted off the left field roof and sounded like a gun blast off his bat. He was 38 years old in his 16th season, but he still went yard 28 times over 450 plate appearances and earned a .567 slugging percentage. Briggs Stadium, as it was now known, held 53,000 seats. Eric Chesterton In the 17 years afterwards (before moving to Pontiac), they had few memorable days at Tiger Stadium. The Times reported that Cecil Fielder became the first Detroit player to hit a home run over the left-field roof at Tiger Stadium (''Fielder Belts Two as Tigers Rout A's, 14-4,'' Aug. 26), and . I know Alan Trammell hit a lot of homeruns on the road while playing for Detroit, and as a total for his career, he hit 185 HRs total both on the road and at home. Have Your Own Jersey? I didnt know what I was going to end up with that season but I knew it was going to be great.". One of the major highlights as a kid back then was that game and especially that Jackson blast that Curt Gowdy called for a national viewing audience. The slam hit the right field roof and became the . Bill Freehan deserves special mention in that he hit exactly 100 home runs at Tiger Stadium and also 100 on the road. The ballparks other famous boxing matches involved Jake LaMotta. Field of Dreams ballpark (Dyersville, IA) "The ball assumed what can only be called a majestic arc and landed on the left-field roof in Tiger Stadium," Ryan wrote. 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. The Tigers scratched out a run in the sixth to tie the game at 7. Although the blast was touted at 529 feet,ESPN arrivedat 468 feet. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Detroit Tigers OF Austin Meadows. Yet the story of his 565-foot moonshot still lives strong. 15. Gibson hit 95, and Gehringer hit 92. But he is prouder of the fact that he won three consecutive RBI titles (1990-92) than joining the 50-home run club, pointing out the only other players to do it in the American League are Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth. Few thoughts will terrify a pitcher more than Giancarlo Stanton lurking inside a Coors Field batter's box. 12, Todd McShay reveals Detroit Lions best draft pick, Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes puts NFL on HIGH ALERT, 3 Michigan State football players selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, Detroit Tigers SP Tarik Skubal takes big step forward, AJ Hinch on Zack Short Shorty brings a different skill set to that spot on the roster. "Balls with that trajectory, for a lot of guys it doesn't go out. Junior was upset that Sparky had intentionally walked him so often. the Nearest to me was Vintage. The league scheduled eight more games in the next five years. Three who did were Roberto Clemente in the 71 All-Star Game, Larry Herndon in 1983, and Mark McGwire in 1987. It was the type of park that inspired such feats. A year later, he returned to the stadium and retained his crown with a 15-round decision over Lauren Dauthuille. The late Ed Browalski of the Polish Daily News and veteran Detroit sports writer Edgar Hayes wanted to determine where Mantles 1960 homer landed. Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers) updates I remember it was hit right down the line towards the upper deck and it was like a Jack Nicklaus 1-iron shot as it went straight up in the air and never wavered," he said. Some of Susmans work has appeared in a Baseball Digest article on Mantles homers. Before Susmans research, Mantles longest homer was thought to be the one he hit in 1953 in Washington, a drive measured at 565 feet. Having hit 31 home runs in 506 at-bats with Toronto, in Japan Fielder produced 38 in only 384 at-bats. The second one was Gibbys blast in 1983, when some friends and I got bleacher tickets, and sat dead center, giving us a great view of the ball as it sailed out of the ballpark. Monaghan sold the team to a pizza rival, Mike Ilitch, in 1992. Bookmark Quiz Bookmark Quiz Bookmark. The park estimated his powerful swing at 505 feet, making it one of the longest homers to invite a Big Apple rising. It did not, however, journey 540 feet as have some suggested. "An inning or so later, they told us it was charted at 484 feet. It was out of the park in a split second. One of those occurred on June 24, 1962. the Nearest to me was Vintage. A hearty hack on May 20, 1978 which went further than any ball ever hit at Montreal Stadium. Please seek professional guidance. Nobody ever dreams of a statue, I certainly didn't.". I had a chance to see a few games at Fenway, and while it is great, Tiger Stadium was more historic. As part of the transfer, the city gave the place a major paint job, changing the interior from green to blue. No advertising or spamming is permitted. Partially because of that incident, a pad was put in place on the flagpole. Two pitches later, broadcaster Larry Osterman screamed into his microphone: Long drive, deep left field, this is on the roof! 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. Or the blast off Gibsons bat that landed on the roof of the lumber yard across Trumbull Avenue. Although there aremultiple talesof Babe Ruth's hitting his mythical home run beyond 600 feet, no accurate measuring tools existed during his playing days. The Tigers Kirk Gibson hit a home run onto the street in 1983 but it was less than 600 feet. So, you didnt have much of a chance to see a four-bagger back in those days. Depending who you talk to, the upper deck in right field was built to hang 5-10 feet over the warning track. Kept me posted every step of the way, literally. But it burns bright in the memories of hitters like Tom Matchick. Its like the difference between hearing a PGA player tee off and an everyday golfer.. In 80-degree weather on Aug. 25, 1990, Tiger Stadium hosted 45,474 fans eagerto watch the Oakland Athletics' Bash Brothers, Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, face off against the Tigers' Cecil Fielder, the league leaderin home runs. In 1934, the Tigers won the AL pennant but lost the World Series to the Cardinals. 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. The Lions abandoned it for the Pontiac Silverdome. In 1945, Hank Greenberg belted a grand slam late in the season that not only won the game for Detroit, but clinched the pennant. Willie Horton hit a home run at Tiger Stadium when he was 16 years old during an all-city high school game. 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. As for why the ballpark was built so big, Tiger Stadium plays a role there, too. With apologies to those whose over-reported shots were downgraded or removed, bumping up a career .344/.482/.634 legend feels warranted. Among the performers that day: Erma Franklin, older sister of Aretha Franklin. NewHillsboro Hops ballpark That much is known. Dont forget about Frank Howard. 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. I was just glad nobody got hurt in Iraq, he said. Excludes Adidas Primegreen jerseys and e-Gift Cards. Three Rivers Stadium: 147: Tiger Stadium: 226: T-Mobile Field* 83: Tropicana Field* 129: Turner Field: 226: Veterans Stadium: 265 . New Hagerstown Atlantic League ballpark Among the dignitaries on hand that day: David Eisenhower (nephew of the president and the person for whom Camp David was named) and Dizzy Dean, who had been baseballs last 30-game winner. Detroit was one of the first powers in the new league, advancing to the World Series three years in a row from 1907-09. And on September 27, 1999, with flashbulbs popping, Robert Fick hit the final home run at The Corner, a grand slam in the last game at Tiger Stadium. , The Metropolitan Museum of Art has one of the best baseball card collections in the world thanks to one man, By The legendary hitter tookFred Hutchinson yard onJune 9, 1946, for a dinger deemed to have traveled 502 feet. The noted historian also backed ancient anecdotes of the Sultan of Swat's hitting one. I was at a game when Frank Catalonatto hit a ball onto the RF roof down the line, but the ball rolled back off the roof and fell on the field. 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. He never played another game. He was a regular at baseball games there for years. Comerica Park is NICE; Tiger Stadium was GREAT!!!! Carolina Hurricanes eliminate Nashville Predators in OT [VIDEO], Detroit Lions TE T.J. Hockenson loves him some Jared Goff, Detroit Tigers make decision on Austin Meadows, claim Braden Bristo off waivers, Rumor surfaces as to why Detroit Lions selected Jahmyr Gibbs at No. Heplayed in Toronto from 1985 to 1988 as a backup, but batted .302 with 38 home runs and 81 RBIs in 106 games in Japan in 1989. Later in the same game, Cecil Fielder hit a home run over the left field roof to show Canseco who was stronger. 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. 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. Who were the batters? Most of (Mantles) longest homers were obstructed by lights, roofs or something, Susman said. Six years later, Cecil Fielder hit a moonshot over the left field roof on his way to 51 homers that season. Not to be picky but Griffey didnt flip off Sparky. New York Mets fans don't hold many fond memories of Mo Vaughn. I swear one of the Angels hit one either on or over the roof in 84 or 85. . , Where to live in New York if you've just come into $324 million. Crews, who recently moved into the LSU all-time Top 10 list for home runs, launched a three-run dinger - his 12th homer of the season - in the third inning to increase the Tigers' lead to. Ficks homer hit the roof in right and just missed going out of the stadium. It is believed to be the only time in the sports history this has occurred. In 1921 there was no SportsCenter, no 24-hour highlight machine called the Internet. Privacy Policy 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. The date:April 17, 1953. 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. After the game, it was revealed Hughes had passed away from a heart attack. Recently got a blank jersey stitched at Vintage Detroit and the finished product looks awesome! I had always been a tremendous Mantle fan my growing years, Susman said. I read that the ball nearly hit a police car on Trumbull ave.That is the longest HR i ever witnessed in person. 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. 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. Currently, Mantle works for a Dallas insurance firm, does color commentary on 25 of the Yankees cablecasts for SportsChannel and public relations work for the Claridge Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J. Mantle played his entire career with the Yankees, from 1951-1968. In 1968, his last at-bat came there when he struck out in Game 5 of the World Series. In his penultimate 2000 season, Glenallen Hill registered a career-high 27 home runs for the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees. 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. ESPN's Home Run Tracker has also studied long balls since 2006, giving fans a better sense of how homers travel. As a result, no assortment of baseball's longest blasts can be considered 100 percent credible. This never happened. Oh yeah, that's not even Fielder's entry. "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.". Hinchliffe Stadium renovations 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? In its early years, Navin Field was a pitchers paradise. Bennett Park was still their home field, when six years later, they joined the AL as a charter member. The following year, his five postseason home runs led the Pirates to a World Series championship. Big Frank Howard loved to hit there, as did Killebrew and Reggie and Ken Griffey Jr. in 1926. Frank Lary, who had made a career out of beating the Yankees (he was 29-6 lifetime against them from 1955-63), was the Detroit starter. "The ball assumed what can only be called a majestic arc and landed on the left-field roof in Tiger Stadium," Ryan wrote. Over 40 scorching-hot games, Hill hit .333/.378/.735 with 16 homers for the eventual World Series champions. I never saw anything like it, Sutton said, per Kelly. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. The latter once flipped off Sparky Anderson after hitting a home run into the right field upper deck in 1993. Privacy Policy Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. I was watching the ball because I am a fan, too, Trammell said. Purchased a New Era Gruff Michigan Syaye hat, and I absolutely love it. In this case, however, initial estimates appeared to have sold Ted Williams short. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. 2 others that hit the light towers. 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. 2023 Ballparks Dan: Great column. Anyone can read what you share. The new system pinpointed a 115.8-mph exit velocity with a launch angle of 18.3 degrees. These were not temp help that knew nothing these were professionals who knew not just everything but were truly looking out for me. I put the location into google maps off I went. Oh yeah, that's not even Fielder's entry. (The movie Detroit Rock City was based on this concert.). 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. Order Tracking Copyright 2023 August Publications. 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. They checked it over and off I went. 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! There were strange home runs: one hit on a line drive that stuck under the wall and allowed Dixie Walker to circle the bases in 1939; a homer that rattled around the flag pole in deep center field while Lou Gehrig ran around the bases in 1933; and the inside-the-park homer that Kirk Gibson hit in which he was a stride behind teammate Lou Whitaker who slid safely in front of him scoring from first base.
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