I feel sorry, for, the people who only know about that song, because, of, Wayne's World, oh, and, the director, of, Bohemian Rhapsody, lost, a definite, Oscar, and, was, blackballed, because, of things that can't be brought up on this site, but, seeing as he's a terrible person, I, really, don't have that much of a problem, with, it, period.
@@jaguargator7 Yes, for songs that reached their peak in 1975, I would have said "Love Will Keep Us Together", or the song that came to hated for its overexposure, "Feelings".
I don't remember this controversy growing up in Detroit at that time. It would be nice if something like this was the "big controversy" for teams today.
I too followed the Tigers closely in 84. Never heard anything about John Denver. The lisping narrator doesn’t sound old enough to remember 1984. Feels like a stretch. 😂
@@mackymintle7806 Me too. I was a huge Tigers fan through the late 70s and 80s. I read the Detroit News everyday in 1984 to follow the Tigers. I had tickets to Game 2 of the World Series at Tiger Stadium. I don’t remember the controversy.
At Tiger Stadium every game in the 5th inning this song was always played as the grounds crew dragged the infield and one of the grounds crew members named Herbie use to dance as he dragged the field to the fans delight. I never heard of any controversy about this and I'm on top of everything sports in Detroit.
It just wasn't that big of deal. That year it was more about winning than a song they play while the grounds crew raked along. The only song I remember that year is, "Bless You Boys".
@@honolulublues5548 It wasn't a big deal, but it is mentioned in Eli Zaret's book on the 84 Tigers. I didn't know about it at the time, but read about it later.
I’m as big a Tiger fan as there ever was. I NEVER heard of this “controversy”. The only thing I remember even remotely negative was when Tiger players commented how obnoxious Seattle fans were.
I lived in Seattle for a time and I agree about their fan base. As far as this story I do remember the issue. But social media wasn't around and no 24/7 news cycle. The Tigers had to stop using it.
Born and raised in Detroit and I don't remember this. I was 22 years old and knew Tiger catcher Lance Parrish pretty well. I have no recollection of any John Denver controversy.
Kind of odd that with all of the local talent Detroit has produced over the years that they'd be playing John Denver. Aretha, Seger, Nugent, Mitch Ryder, MC5, etc. And that's not even counting the many, many, Motown acts. KISS isn't from there but "Detroit, Rock City" is iconic. Not to mention a ton of songs about cars produced in Detroit.
At, SB 40, instead, of any of those, they had, The, Rolling Stones, perform at halftime, that band, were, already, past their expiration date, in 2006.
I was thinking that too. Come to think of it, most cities outside the former Confederacy and large enough to support an MLB team are not places where you'd expect country music to be popular. (It's debatable whether JD was actually country, but he was close enough for my point.)
Country music is hardly the genre of music that comes to most peoples minds, imaginations, or feelings when it comes to a old, hardboiled, blackened-earth, grungier, fast-paced, loud and grey city like Detroit. Loud, hard, chaotic, and very fast music tends to fit and echo the livelihoods, and backgrounds, especially when one takes into consideration the city's complex, turbulent history surrounding race relations, systemic racism, police violence, bloody, week-long race riots which occured in 1943 and July 1967(one of the longest, bloodiest, and deadliest race riots in U.S. history, killed 43 people, 33 of them African-Americans, led to damaged and heavily looted businesses, homes, schools, the long-term socio-political, economic fallout was the acceleration of middle-and-upper class whites and blacks leaving the city for the suburbs, once-thriving tax base shriveled up, a slew of incompetent, inept and frankly idiotic local and state leaders who alternatively pissed off, and alienated their constituencies. Detroit's mayor from 1973-1997 was an avowed, former far-left Marxist who historians now believe was a member of CPUSA in the late 40's/early 50's and when asked to testify at a HUAC session once, laughed at and ridiculed the questions being directed at him. He made constant racially charged, borderline sexist/misgyonist remarks throughout his 24-year career as Motown's mayor and helped exacerbate the further decline of "Big Three" automobile makers efficiency, quality of products, and overall design of their products compared to their Japanese and German competitors.
The big question. What song did the Tigers settle in in for the 5th inning? answer: YMCA. The groundskeepers would drop there rakes to pantomime the letters every time they were sung. They did it every 5th inning since o started watching in 87ish until tiger stadium closed in 1999. The local sports channel (PASS at the time) would regularly not cut to commercial and show them dancing while doing game recaps.
I closely followed the Tigers in '84, and don't remember this being a controversy. I do remember Herbie Redmond getting the crowd going with his dance and hat waving routine during the fifth inning infield sweep. Unfortunately, there's only one short, blurry video here on UA-cam that shows Herbie's routine, and it's without the "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" music.
I've been watching Baseball for a long time. That 1984 Tigers team was the best team I ever saw. Sparky had Lou W, Alan T, Kirk G, Jack M playing at an elite level
This video is the very first time I “ever” heard of any controversy. I was clearly a fan of Denver, the Tigers and music in general. I think people just need content sometimes for videos. Crazy! 😂😂😂
We got screwed when the Cubs choked against the Padres in the 84 NL championship. Beating the Padres was good but I wanted the Cubs and so did a lot of other people
@@ScottRossProductions Those Reds teams were great. Best starting lineup, best inf, a guy who hit 50 HRs when nobody else was….their pitching was suspect though. Of course, when you average 6 runs a game you can get away with it I just googled greatest offenses in baseball history. The 75 and 76 Reds teams were both top 10 since 1920 The first category was percentage above league average. The 75 team was 10th. They scored 840 runs when the league average was 668. That’s 25.7% higher than lg average. The next yr the Reds in 76 scored 857 runs while the league average was 645. That’s 32.9% and 2nd all time since 1920. The league average in 76 went down from 668 to 645….but the 76 Reds scored 857…the Reds scored 17 runs more than the yr before while the league scored 23 less. The number 1 team was the 1931 Yankees who scored 1067, the lg ave was 794 for an 34.3% increase over lg average for runs scored. Their 2nd list was based on what they called “standard deviations from the league average”. In this list they have the 75 Reds team 2nd and the 76 Reds team 1st. EVERY team of the 10 on this list all went to the World Series. 76 Reds 75 Reds 53 Dodgers 93 Phillies 82 Brewers 65 Twins 86 Mets 35 Tigers 68 Tigers 49 Dodgers Other teams in the first list 1950 Red Sox 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers 1927 Yankees 1930 Yankees 1942 Cardinals 1965 Reds 1946 Red Sox Edit…one last thing about that 76 Reds team….and this is how crazy good they were offensively…the 76 Reds led the league in all these categories…….. Runs scored Hits Doubles Triples Home Runs Walks Stolen bases Stolen Base% Fewest Groundball Double Plays On base% Slugging% AND BATTING AVERAGE That’s every category I think I saw those Reds teams and they were scary. I’m also a Tiger fan who was there in 84 outside the stadium after they won.
@@williamgullett5911 ha! sparky never had a Tom Seaver until he got Tom Seaver in 77, but he knew how to work that staff. 6 runs does help. Don Gullett may be one of the greatest lefties that never became one of the greatest lefties... that 84 Tiger team was a great team.
Of all the, terrible, years to close their stadium, perhaps, there, "might," have been legitimate structural problems, but, it, truly, should have been pushed to 2010.
The song was played starting in 1975 at Tiger games and a grounds crew guy would dance and wave his cap while he dragged the field midgame to smooth the field dirt.
@@jamesbowen8960 DId You know Father John- Mr Smoltz- he was the father of a high school class mate- we went to many games in 1975 for free and got to meet many hall of famers as Mr Smoltz operated the visitors elavator in addition to grounds crew work.
@@jamesbowen8960 Yes. "Father John " was the hall of famers grandfather. On the way home from a game one nigh he said " Little johnnies going to be good one day just watch"
The irony is the one John Denver song I'LL forever remember first is Catch Another Butterfly, from his Rhymes And Reasons album. I'll be shocked if anyone here knows that one.
@a.grimes4202 Hope is a dangerous thing, their, best, shot at a, World Series, got, thrown away, because, Jim Leyland, indefensibly, preferred, losing, to getting booed.
@@matthewdaley746 LOL That’s got to be the biggest crock of BS I’ve ever heard. Leyland, like any manager worth his salt, never preferred losing over anything.
This is very similar to what happened 4 years later when Rangers FC in Scotland decided to play Rod Stewart's "Forever Young" along with "Your in My Heart" during their matches as a way of diversifying the soundtrack at games. The major issue with this (and what really angered Rangers fans) is that Rod Stewart is a die hard supporter of bitter rivals Celtic. Heck there is a lyric in "Your in My Heart" where Rod Stewart professes his love of Celtic (along with Man United). The controversy surrounding this was so extreme that it forced Rod Stewart to stop attending any match in which Celtic & Rangers play each other. Then to make things even more bizarre, one Rangers supporter group consisting of younger fans asked the club to play "Straight Outta Compton" by NWA as a replacement song. Rangers absolutely said no to this once they heard the lyrics because they did not want younger supporters to get into fights with rival fans because they were inspired by the lyrics to do so. I should point out that this was at a time in which hooliganism was still a problem in British soccer. Not only that the Scottish Parliament threatened to fine Rangers & make them play the rest of their home games that season behind closed doors if they played that song. Rangers decided to play Madonna tracks instead at games as a way of hyping up the crowd.
As a diehard Orioles fan, I knew exactly where this video was headed. Never knew Herbie Redmond danced to "Thank God I'm a Country Boy," though. During the 1970s, he danced to whatever Tiger Stadium organist Dan Greer played, which was primarily anything pre-1966 non-rock 'n' roll.
Speaking of which, they, won, three, World Series, from, 1966-1983, only the Oakland Athletics, won, as many, during that period, but, they found themselves, undone, by, The, Miracle Mets, and, twice, by, Pirates teams, that could, never, (legitimately), beat, the Reds, that's, one, of the, most, depressing baseball statistics, ever.
@@mrg8581 Jim Leyland hated intentionally walking hitters, with, the bases loaded, in 2013, this counterproductive strategy turned from nonsensical to suicidal.
@@mrg8581 You are correct. If I remember correctly, Campbell, or maybe then owner Tom Monaghan, suggested Tiger Rag (Hold That Tiger) as a replacement for Thank God I'm a Country Boy. Tiger Rag was first recorded in 1917.
True, they were 35-5, but then they came to play my city's Seattle Mariners at the Kingdome and the M's swept the 3-game series. I remember the (Sunday May 27, 1984) final game of the series, where many fans brought brooms.
John Denver also wrote Country Roads about Western Maryland. He changed the lyric to West Virginia because it fit better. The Os still play Thank God I’m a Country Boy at every game. When they tried to change it Os fans booed every other song. That’s why they kept using it. It can never be changed now, and all of the minor league teams use it too. (Not always in the 7th, but it’s used)
@@matthewdaley746 fit better meaning lyrically, not contextually. Again it was written about western Maryland. But it doesn’t flow well to sing that in the song.
@@ryanc4209As a West Virginia person I believe that’s false. The song is clearly written for West Virginia. How else do you think we have the best country roads in all of America? Hmm
Or Na,Na,Hey Hey Goodbye that's associated with the White Sox. Much like "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" with the Orioles. For the record, "Rocky Mountain High" is the song I connect to John Denver with more than anything, IMO
My association with that song is a bit darker. I was 6 and living in Omaha, Nebraska. I heard that song on the radio just before the sirens wailed and the area faced a cluster of F5 tornadoes which, adjusted for inflation, is still among the top 10 costliest natural disasters in US history.
The Detroit Tigers were a bunch of snowflakes about this. The Orioles had been using TGIACB during the seventh inning stretch for longer and more famously. No one even knew the Tigers were playing it. Who plays music during the FIFTH inning anyway?
As a West Virginia person, I find that falles The only reason why people say it’s inspired off of Maryland We just don’t want you guys to feel bad or relevant so ha
@Mountaineer News 2 It was objectively inspired by Clopper Road in Montgomery County, Maryland. But here's the reality of the situation, the song is not actually about Maryland or West Virginia. The song is actually about returning home, wherever that may be. The song uses the aesthetic of rural Appalachia because there's a romanticized element of Americana in that approach.
Yeah, I remember this. I was bummed. It tarnished my opinion of Denver a bit. Although, I thought I remembered Denver actually saying he didn't like the Tigers. I see I was wrong.
If I, someone who follows the Rays and the Marlins, wrote a hit song, I'm wondering it the Red Sox or the Braves would play it in the middle of the 5th inning.
Never heard a word about this, Believe this in 1984 the Tigers were our sports obsession and I'm quite suprised . Denver made some great music, but I could see the Tigers finding a new tune considering the "rival" narrative at the time. But Tigers fans true rival was always the New York Yankees they were the standard you measured your team to then there was everyone else period.
Sorry, I've been a Tigers fan since the 1960's, I don't remember this at all. Sounds more like something between the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche. Now that would have been some thing to stir up that rivalry. They played the song during the fifth inning of games? If they were going to play music, there are plenty of Motown songs they should have played instead.
As a life long Tiger fan. This is ridiculous. If your fans like the song or players like it just play it. That was real petty by the Tiger organization.
Well.... Turns out neither side "won". Tiger fans have been saddled with Chris Illitch as an owner & we know what happened to Mr. Denver - so it's a wash......
I recall all this and wasn’t a big deal. The song was played out here in Detroit by 84. I recall for fact using in 1977. We the farthest thing from a “country boys”. Except Downriver Boys 😉. Song was more for Herbie and the crew to dance to. But this was NOT a big deal. Monaghan purchased team in 84 and changed a lot of things.
If you wanted good sounding music Metrodome was the place to be. Great range as indoor goes. Heart Attack by ONJ sounded great when played through PA. Twins were later robbed as the team was prevented from playing 'Star Wars' theme after every Hrbek HR. Also speakers had the organ/synth which I do miss as at new ballpark The Twins load up the PRC (Livin on a Prayer, Don't Stop Believin) can barely hear the 'ol organ....
How many singers can say (well in the afterlife in John's case) that they wrote a song that became both a state anthem and their university's fight song? (both my HS and university's fight song is the boring generic "On on, [blank] of [blank]..."). The Osborne Brothers is the only other one I can think of, they did "Rocky Top" which is both one of Tennessee's state songs and the fight song for their university.
As a Tigers fan, F John Denver lol. Kidding. Silly shit happened between celebs and sports teams all the time. But John Denver was a good enough guy. He’s a fan of another team, let’s move on. Lol.
Yeah, but, he still, liked, John Denver, more, than, his owners, liked, him, after, 1976, they torpedoed the franchise, by, getting rid of, Tony Perez, Pete Rose, and, him, he, was, replaced at manager, by, John McNamara, yes, "that," John McNamara, if they hadn't, won, the, 1990, World Series, it's even, more, infamous, amazingly, an even, worse, owner followed them.
Actually, the Tigers were 35-5 after 40 games. I know my baseball. But I want to talk about John Denver here. Did you know that 'Country Roads' is an absolute staple at the Oktoberfest in Munich every year? Every tent plays it every day, all the time. Just one of several staples really. I go to the O'Fest every year and do tours. I love telling people to expect it. Also, Lou Whitaker belongs in the Hall of Fame. I'm an Orioles fan....
What are you smoking? I don't remember any kind of controversy like this. Except maybe that his best song was Rocky Mountain High not the other two you mention!
@@JayTemple I, meant, the Cardinals, in their, two, later, World Series, they, not, only, had to travel, cross-country, they had to, win, an extra Game, and, didn't have, home-field-advantage, (or, Keith Hernandez), and, thus, never, won, again, despite, their, weakest, team, (1982), also, facing their, toughest, opponent.
Been going to Orioles games since 1976 and this song has always been played (except late 80’s early 90’s). Has any team in any sport been playing a song so long? One point of note, the Orioles and Tigers haven’t won a championship since 😩
He is right about one thing that a trouble maker would need to dig very hard. He is also doing a good job of being a trouble maker. How in the world could Denver be an Orioles fan? He was born in Texas and lived most of his life in either in California or Colorado.
Completley remember this. It was just a fun thing, but in a season with no controversy, why not have some fun with it? They did get rid of it. I want to say it was Beat It, and that didn't work as well. I don't think this was ridiculous. It was a semi-tradition by that time. We all wanted to see Herbie on the basepaths and do his dance. But would Cowboys fans want a song sang at their stadium as a part of tradition if the singer said he loved the Redskins? Eh, people would want another song. And that would be that. Maybe there's some fun about it before it's changed, but that's it. The bigger controversy happened in this video when you mentioned the 37-9 record. I wonder if you really are a baseball fan because even non-Tiger fans bring up to me the 1984 35-5 start. That's what everyone remembers.. No one does that and ever did after the day they lost to go 37-10. To this day, I feel good when ever MLB team has more than five losses, as silly as that sounds.
They won the next game after they were 37-9 (14-2 vs, of all teams, Baltimore) to improve to 38-9. But you are absolutely right that it is the 35-5 start which is the record everyone mentions when talking the 84 Tigers. Why anyone would feature 37-9 is beyond me.
Tigers were playing Denver song since 1978 at least. I was there and recall singing the song and hated it. Ya it’s came a story in 84 (got Herbies Auto too). But do a story on why Detroit city even played this song. Ya we had our “Bleachers Creatures”. But wanna story on the Detroit PA idiot who even picked the song.
First of all Thank God I’m a Country boy isn’t nearly as popular as Rocky Mountain High. Secondly, you’ve made a controversy where there really wasn’t. This is petty-back-of-the-sports-section-stuff. I’ll guarantee you not one player from that Tiger’s team remembers this being anything other than a blip if that, yet you go on generating a fake controversy for 15 min , where there neither is nor was one. You also title it “why they hated EACH OTHER” but then talk about how Denver didn’t even realize this was a thing and when he did was like… oh well. So hardly hating each other. Wow.
The history doesn't agree with your claim that TGICB wasn't "nearly as popular" as RMH. A lot of people thought RMH was a (poorly) veiled drug reference, which cut into it's potential audience. RMH peaked at #9 on the Billboard charts. "Take Me Home Country Roads" reached #2, while "Sunshine On My Shoulders", "Annie's Song", "Country Boy", and "I'm Sorry" were all #1 hits for Denver. Now I'm no mathematician, but I'm pretty sure reaching #1 or #2 makes something more popular than reaching #9. Streaming-wise, on Spotify, RMH does lead Country Boy in total streams by a 111 million to 98 million total. But that only places them 4th and 5th, respectively. His top two Spotify streamed songs are actually two different versions of Country Roads, with a total of 726 million streams combined. Third is "Annie's Song" with 183 million streams.
@@kristopherloviska9042 you’ve got the #s and I respect that. I was more speaking from the perspective of what I’d picked someone off the street, what they’d associate with Denver. Obviously Country Roads (thanks for that tidbit. I didn’t know there were 2 versions) and be it for being famous or infamous, Rocky Mountain high. And actually it’s one of the few songs thought to be about drug uS that really isn’t. Denver actually testified to this before congress. Anyway good chatting with you.
The first eight minutes consists of saying the Tigers played the song during the fifth inning and that John Denver liked the Orioles. Get to the point!
Before the 2015 season, the Royals decided to stop playing "Friends in Low Places" after the sixth inning. "Don't Stop Believin" won in a fan vote. That was stupid in two ways: (a) Journey is from San Francisco, and the Giants used it as THEIR theme song during the 2014 season, when they beat the Royals in the World Series, and (b) it mentions the boy from south Detroit; the Tigers are a division rival of the Royals. The worst part? Garth Brooks is a huge Royals fan. That was a slap in the face. And all for the WORST song Journey ever released.
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This team is known for its 35-5 start as opposed to the 37-9. Nobody’s even come close to that since.
Yeah, they're, simply, the, greatest, team, in, the, modern, era, that, never, became, a, Dynasty, seriously, their, only, opponent, was, their, own, indifference, period.
2023 Tampa Bay Rays are trying to break that record. They're 20-4.
@Jared “JuniorWizard” S Economics always ready, unfortunately.
@@Jared787335-14.... missed it by 'that much'.
@@jetsamperes5762 Excellent, group, record, notwithstanding.
I would have actually said Rocky Mountain High instead of Thank God I'm a Country Boy, but I get your point.
Yup same.
Also for overplayed karaoke singalongs, I’m more used to hearing “Piano Man” and (because Detroit) “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
I was thinking the same thing Rocky Mountain high Is the most recognizable song by John Denver
I said that twice and was surprised both times it was a different song although I can understand Country Roads.
Agree, with Annie’s Song also in the running before Country Boy.
Exactly
I was 14 then and a John Denver and a Tiger’s fan. I had no idea about this.
I was 11 at the time and I remember it
In the movie Oh God, God says his last miracle he performed was the 1969 Mets to John Denver's character. I finally understand the joke 🤣😁👍
1:17 “the most recognizable hit song of 1975”
Bohemian rhapsody would like a word
I feel sorry, for, the people who only know about that song, because, of, Wayne's World, oh, and, the director, of, Bohemian Rhapsody, lost, a definite, Oscar, and, was, blackballed, because, of things that can't be brought up on this site, but, seeing as he's a terrible person, I, really, don't have that much of a problem, with, it, period.
In the USA, it became a hit song in 1976. If we’re counting it as 1975, that’s the clear winner, but I’m counting it as 76
@@jaguargator7 An, unfortunate, circumstance, unquestionably.
@@jaguargator7 Yes, for songs that reached their peak in 1975, I would have said "Love Will Keep Us Together", or the song that came to hated for its overexposure, "Feelings".
@@JayTemple Overexposure, a despicable occurrence.
I was a huge Tigers fan in 1984 and have never heard of this. John Denver has always been associated with the Baltimore Orioles.
I don't remember this controversy growing up in Detroit at that time. It would be nice if something like this was the "big controversy" for teams today.
I too followed the Tigers closely in 84.
Never heard anything about John Denver.
The lisping narrator doesn’t sound old enough to remember 1984.
Feels like a stretch. 😂
@@mackymintle7806 Me too. I was a huge Tigers fan through the late 70s and 80s. I read the Detroit News everyday in 1984 to follow the Tigers. I had tickets to Game 2 of the World Series at Tiger Stadium. I don’t remember the controversy.
I don't remember this either as a die hard Tiger fan born and bred in Detroit.
That was the longest one-minute story I ever heard.
At Tiger Stadium every game in the 5th inning this song was always played as the grounds crew dragged the infield and one of the grounds crew members named Herbie use to dance as he dragged the field to the fans delight. I never heard of any controversy about this and I'm on top of everything sports in Detroit.
It just wasn't that big of deal. That year it was more about winning than a song they play while the grounds crew raked along. The only song I remember that year is, "Bless You Boys".
@@honolulublues5548 It wasn't a big deal, but it is mentioned in Eli Zaret's book on the 84 Tigers. I didn't know about it at the time, but read about it later.
Harry: I thought the Rocky Mountains would be a little rockier than this. Lloyd: Yeah, that John Denver is full of shit, man.
R.I.P. John Denver.
I’m as big a Tiger fan as there ever was. I NEVER heard of this “controversy”.
The only thing I remember even remotely negative was when Tiger players commented how obnoxious Seattle fans were.
Same here.
This guys video is BS!
@@oldjarhead386 This dudes video is BS!
I remember it. They replaced it with “Tiger Rag”.
I lived in Seattle for a time and I agree about their fan base.
As far as this story I do remember the issue. But social media wasn't around and no 24/7 news cycle.
The Tigers had to stop using it.
Speaking as a lifelong Tigers fan who closely followed them throughout the 1984 season....I don't know what this guy is talking about.
Born and raised in Detroit and I don't remember this. I was 22 years old and knew Tiger catcher Lance Parrish pretty well. I have no recollection of any John Denver controversy.
Susan Dey wants her hair back, Henry John Deutschendorf Jr.
(Go O's!)
The Tigers could not have had a better nine game start if their pitchers had thrown a called strike on every single pitch of every single game.
Wow for a minute I thought JD was Cliff Richard.
Kind of odd that with all of the local talent Detroit has produced over the years that they'd be playing John Denver. Aretha, Seger, Nugent, Mitch Ryder, MC5, etc. And that's not even counting the many, many, Motown acts. KISS isn't from there but "Detroit, Rock City" is iconic. Not to mention a ton of songs about cars produced in Detroit.
At, SB 40, instead, of any of those, they had, The, Rolling Stones, perform at halftime, that band, were, already, past their expiration date, in 2006.
I was thinking that too. Come to think of it, most cities outside the former Confederacy and large enough to support an MLB team are not places where you'd expect country music to be popular. (It's debatable whether JD was actually country, but he was close enough for my point.)
@@JayTemple Geography is often confusing.
Country music is hardly the genre of music that comes to most peoples minds, imaginations, or feelings when it comes to a old, hardboiled, blackened-earth, grungier, fast-paced, loud and grey city like Detroit. Loud, hard, chaotic, and very fast music tends to fit and echo the livelihoods, and backgrounds, especially when one takes into consideration the city's complex, turbulent history surrounding race relations, systemic racism, police violence, bloody, week-long race riots which occured in 1943 and July 1967(one of the longest, bloodiest, and deadliest race riots in U.S. history, killed 43 people, 33 of them African-Americans, led to damaged and heavily looted businesses, homes, schools, the long-term socio-political, economic fallout was the acceleration of middle-and-upper class whites and blacks leaving the city for the suburbs, once-thriving tax base shriveled up, a slew of incompetent, inept and frankly idiotic local and state leaders who alternatively pissed off, and alienated their constituencies. Detroit's mayor from 1973-1997 was an avowed, former far-left Marxist who historians now believe was a member of CPUSA in the late 40's/early 50's and when asked to testify at a HUAC session once, laughed at and ridiculed the questions being directed at him. He made constant racially charged, borderline sexist/misgyonist remarks throughout his 24-year career as Motown's mayor and helped exacerbate the further decline of "Big Three" automobile makers efficiency, quality of products, and overall design of their products compared to their Japanese and German competitors.
@@davidroberts7282 A city's cultural obliteration.
The big question. What song did the Tigers settle in in for the 5th inning? answer: YMCA. The groundskeepers would drop there rakes to pantomime the letters every time they were sung. They did it every 5th inning since o started watching in 87ish until tiger stadium closed in 1999. The local sports channel (PASS at the time) would regularly not cut to commercial and show them dancing while doing game recaps.
No it was “Tiger Rag”
Came here to ask what song they settled on
@@jeffreydupont9731 Tiger Rag
Hardly even remember this and watched every game and read the paper every day. You weren’t even born yet.
The guy is BS Jack.
Ill never watch his channel again
Every time I see John Denver, I think of Monty Python "you came on my pillow...
I thought the Rocky Mountains would be a little rockier than this...
I know it's best known as a PP & M song, but Leaving on a Jet Plane is a flippin' jam!
I closely followed the Tigers in '84, and don't remember this being a controversy. I do remember Herbie Redmond getting the crowd going with his dance and hat waving routine during the fifth inning infield sweep. Unfortunately, there's only one short, blurry video here on UA-cam that shows Herbie's routine, and it's without the "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" music.
I've been watching Baseball for a long time. That 1984 Tigers team was the best team I ever saw. Sparky had Lou W, Alan T, Kirk G, Jack M playing at an elite level
This video is the very first time I “ever” heard of any controversy. I was clearly a fan of Denver, the Tigers and music in general. I think people just need content sometimes for videos. Crazy! 😂😂😂
We got screwed when the Cubs choked against the Padres in the 84 NL championship. Beating the Padres was good but I wanted the Cubs and so did a lot of other people
guess you weren't around for the 76 big red machine...
@@ScottRossProductions Those Reds teams were great. Best starting lineup, best inf, a guy who hit 50 HRs when nobody else was….their pitching was suspect though. Of course, when you average 6 runs a game you can get away with it
I just googled greatest offenses in baseball history. The 75 and 76 Reds teams were both top 10 since 1920
The first category was percentage above league average. The 75 team was 10th. They scored 840 runs when the league average was 668. That’s 25.7% higher than lg average. The next yr the Reds in 76 scored 857 runs while the league average was 645. That’s 32.9% and 2nd all time since 1920. The league average in 76 went down from 668 to 645….but the 76 Reds scored 857…the Reds scored 17 runs more than the yr before while the league scored 23 less.
The number 1 team was the 1931 Yankees who scored 1067, the lg ave was 794 for an 34.3% increase over lg average for runs scored.
Their 2nd list was based on what they called “standard deviations from the league average”. In this list they have the 75 Reds team 2nd and the 76 Reds team 1st. EVERY team of the 10 on this list all went to the World Series.
76 Reds
75 Reds
53 Dodgers
93 Phillies
82 Brewers
65 Twins
86 Mets
35 Tigers
68 Tigers
49 Dodgers
Other teams in the first list
1950 Red Sox
1953 Brooklyn Dodgers
1927 Yankees
1930 Yankees
1942 Cardinals
1965 Reds
1946 Red Sox
Edit…one last thing about that 76 Reds team….and this is how crazy good they were offensively…the 76 Reds led the league in all these categories……..
Runs scored
Hits
Doubles
Triples
Home Runs
Walks
Stolen bases
Stolen Base%
Fewest Groundball Double Plays
On base%
Slugging%
AND BATTING AVERAGE
That’s every category I think
I saw those Reds teams and they were scary. I’m also a Tiger fan who was there in 84 outside the stadium after they won.
@@williamgullett5911 ha! sparky never had a Tom Seaver until he got Tom Seaver in 77, but he knew how to work that staff. 6 runs does help. Don Gullett may be one of the greatest lefties that never became one of the greatest lefties... that 84 Tiger team was a great team.
You have to do a video on how Shea stadium got Rick Rolled during the final season at Shea in 2008.
Of all the, terrible, years to close their stadium, perhaps, there, "might," have been legitimate structural problems, but, it, truly, should have been pushed to 2010.
This just goes to show you that life ain't nothing but a funny little riddle
The song was played starting in 1975 at Tiger games and a grounds crew guy would dance and wave his cap while he dragged the field midgame to smooth the field dirt.
Yep,the late,great Herbie Redmond was his name! He was a great guy.
@@jamesbowen8960 DId You know Father John- Mr Smoltz- he was the father of a high school class mate- we went to many games in 1975 for free and got to meet many hall of famers as Mr Smoltz operated the visitors elavator in addition to grounds crew work.
I did not know him. Was he related to John Smoltz who attended Lansing Waverly High School and pitched for the Braves?
@@jamesbowen8960 Yes. "Father John " was the hall of famers grandfather. On the way home from a game one nigh he said " Little johnnies going to be good one day just watch"
@@edwardrossman9448 He wasn't kidding!
The only place where JD was less popular was Toledo, Ohio.
The irony is the one John Denver song I'LL forever remember first is Catch Another Butterfly, from his Rhymes And Reasons album. I'll be shocked if anyone here knows that one.
The, bigger, irony is that, neither, one, of these teams, ever, won, another, World Series, and, in the case of the Orioles, another, Pennant.
@@matthewdaley746 Never say never. I will always have the utmost in faith in my Detroit Tigers.
@a.grimes4202 Hope is a dangerous thing, their, best, shot at a, World Series, got, thrown away, because, Jim Leyland, indefensibly, preferred, losing, to getting booed.
@@matthewdaley746 LOL That’s got to be the biggest crock of BS I’ve ever heard. Leyland, like any manager worth his salt, never preferred losing over anything.
@@a.grimes4202 2013 ALCS, you're down, four, you, either, walk David Ortiz, and, win, by, three, or, pitch to him, and, subsequently, lose, simple as that, truly, obvious.
This is very similar to what happened 4 years later when Rangers FC in Scotland decided to play Rod Stewart's "Forever Young" along with "Your in My Heart" during their matches as a way of diversifying the soundtrack at games. The major issue with this (and what really angered Rangers fans) is that Rod Stewart is a die hard supporter of bitter rivals Celtic. Heck there is a lyric in "Your in My Heart" where Rod Stewart professes his love of Celtic (along with Man United). The controversy surrounding this was so extreme that it forced Rod Stewart to stop attending any match in which Celtic & Rangers play each other. Then to make things even more bizarre, one Rangers supporter group consisting of younger fans asked the club to play "Straight Outta Compton" by NWA as a replacement song. Rangers absolutely said no to this once they heard the lyrics because they did not want younger supporters to get into fights with rival fans because they were inspired by the lyrics to do so. I should point out that this was at a time in which hooliganism was still a problem in British soccer. Not only that the Scottish Parliament threatened to fine Rangers & make them play the rest of their home games that season behind closed doors if they played that song. Rangers decided to play Madonna tracks instead at games as a way of hyping up the crowd.
Jesus christ rangers fans were the worst. Thank god the culture has changed somewhat.
That explains the lyric: You're Celtic, United but baby I decided you're the best team I've ever seen.
Playing Madonna songs to hype up the crowd? Hype it up to do what, want to kill themselves?
No one cares about SOCCER 😂
And the song most associated with John is "Rocky Mountain High".
Rocky Mountain High more famous.
As a diehard Orioles fan, I knew exactly where this video was headed. Never knew Herbie Redmond danced to "Thank God I'm a Country Boy," though. During the 1970s, he danced to whatever Tiger Stadium organist Dan Greer played, which was primarily anything pre-1966 non-rock 'n' roll.
Speaking of which, they, won, three, World Series, from, 1966-1983, only the Oakland Athletics, won, as many, during that period, but, they found themselves, undone, by, The, Miracle Mets, and, twice, by, Pirates teams, that could, never, (legitimately), beat, the Reds, that's, one, of the, most, depressing baseball statistics, ever.
Tigers team president Jim Campbell hated rock n roll music.
@@mrg8581 Jim Leyland hated intentionally walking hitters, with, the bases loaded, in 2013, this counterproductive strategy turned from nonsensical to suicidal.
@@mrg8581 You are correct. If I remember correctly, Campbell, or maybe then owner Tom Monaghan, suggested Tiger Rag (Hold That Tiger) as a replacement for Thank God I'm a Country Boy. Tiger Rag was first recorded in 1917.
@@aarondersnah863 An obscure musical, unquestionably.
True, they were 35-5, but then they came to play my city's Seattle Mariners at the Kingdome and the M's swept the 3-game series. I remember the (Sunday May 27, 1984) final game of the series, where many fans brought brooms.
John Denver also wrote Country Roads about Western Maryland. He changed the lyric to West Virginia because it fit better.
The Os still play Thank God I’m a Country Boy at every game. When they tried to change it Os fans booed every other song. That’s why they kept using it. It can never be changed now, and all of the minor league teams use it too. (Not always in the 7th, but it’s used)
Afraid, not, West Virginia's, not, remotely, Heaven, despite, having beautiful areas, when things start to fall off, they, really, fall off, period.
@@matthewdaley746 fit better meaning lyrically, not contextually. Again it was written about western Maryland. But it doesn’t flow well to sing that in the song.
@@ryanc4209 Absolutely, research definitely required.
@@ryanc4209As a West Virginia person I believe that’s false. The song is clearly written for West Virginia. How else do you think we have the best country roads in all of America? Hmm
@@ryanc4209 Stop it with your Maryland propaganda because the people in the state know the truth
i grew up in detroit at the time and never heard of this controversy
Or Na,Na,Hey Hey Goodbye that's associated with the White Sox. Much like "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" with the Orioles.
For the record, "Rocky Mountain High" is the song I connect to John Denver with more than anything, IMO
My home Angels had Build Me Up Buttercup.
My association with that song is a bit darker. I was 6 and living in Omaha, Nebraska. I heard that song on the radio just before the sirens wailed and the area faced a cluster of F5 tornadoes which, adjusted for inflation, is still among the top 10 costliest natural disasters in US history.
The Detroit Tigers were a bunch of snowflakes about this. The Orioles had been using TGIACB during the seventh inning stretch for longer and more famously. No one even knew the Tigers were playing it. Who plays music during the FIFTH inning anyway?
And John didn't write "Thank God, I'm a Country Boy". It was written by John Martin Sommers
It's a strange song choice for either city, but especially Detroit given the rich heritage of rock and roll and soul/Motown music in that city.
I love the songs "Rocky mountain high" and "Annie's song" , John Denver made some great music in my opinion
Fun fact: Take Me Home Country Roads was actually inspired by Maryland, not West Virginia. It would make sense he’d be an Orioles fan!
As a West Virginia person, I find that falles The only reason why people say it’s inspired off of Maryland We just don’t want you guys to feel bad or relevant so ha
@Mountaineer News 2 It was objectively inspired by Clopper Road in Montgomery County, Maryland. But here's the reality of the situation, the song is not actually about Maryland or West Virginia. The song is actually about returning home, wherever that may be. The song uses the aesthetic of rural Appalachia because there's a romanticized element of Americana in that approach.
Yeah, I remember this. I was bummed. It tarnished my opinion of Denver a bit. Although, I thought I remembered Denver actually saying he didn't like the Tigers. I see I was wrong.
If I, someone who follows the Rays and the Marlins, wrote a hit song, I'm wondering it the Red Sox or the Braves would play it in the middle of the 5th inning.
If they don’t have a Herbie Redmond statue at Comerica they should.
Never heard a word about this, Believe this in 1984 the Tigers were our sports obsession and I'm quite suprised . Denver made some great music, but I could see the Tigers finding a new tune considering the "rival" narrative at the time. But Tigers fans true rival was always the New York Yankees they were the standard you measured your team to then there was everyone else period.
Boy, you strung this out to over 14 minutes? smh
Totally agree. Dragged on and on. Cut at least 5 min.
Seriously...this was a 4-minute story told excruciatingly slow.
I think of Thank God I'm a Country Boy first
Sorry, I've been a Tigers fan since the 1960's, I don't remember this at all. Sounds more like something between the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche. Now that would have been some thing to stir up that rivalry. They played the song during the fifth inning of games? If they were going to play music, there are plenty of Motown songs they should have played instead.
I'll be honest with you - I couldn't tell you a single song of his other than Country Roads.
As a life long Tiger fan. This is ridiculous. If your fans like the song or players like it just play it. That was real petty by the Tiger organization.
You had to dig pretty deep for this controversy. Seems you always pick on a Detroit team. Well they had the last laugh didn't they?
The Tigers have stunk for a very long time.
Well.... Turns out neither side "won". Tiger fans have been saddled with Chris Illitch as an owner & we know what happened to Mr. Denver - so it's a wash......
Who came on his pillow?
#2 would be Rocky Mountain High
Yeah, this was always more of a cult classic than a perennial hit. I didn't even realize it was an hit at the time before this video.
RHM was only the 7th most popular Denver song, going by Billboard chart ranking.
Strange to say to least. If only there were minor controversies like this today.
Their “worst” song as of a few years ago was the most viewed/downloaded song in history.
We don't play with our sports like that here in Detroit...go cheer for your pretty birds
These days most singers would have sued for using his music without permission!
I remember this!
So do I
Just throwing those poor pre schoolers under the bus...SMH. 😡
So, you're saying that the Detroit Tigers killed John Denver!
I recall all this and wasn’t a big deal. The song was played out here in Detroit by 84. I recall for fact using in 1977. We the farthest thing from a “country boys”. Except Downriver Boys 😉. Song was more for Herbie and the crew to dance to. But this was NOT a big deal. Monaghan purchased team in 84 and changed a lot of things.
Detroit playing thank God I'm a country boy makes absolutely no sense
Shoulda played something by Bob Seger - like Ramblin man
If you wanted good sounding music Metrodome was the place to be. Great range as indoor goes. Heart Attack by ONJ sounded great when played through PA. Twins were later robbed as the team was prevented from playing 'Star Wars' theme after every Hrbek HR. Also speakers had the organ/synth which I do miss as at new ballpark The Twins load up the PRC (Livin on a Prayer, Don't Stop Believin) can barely hear the 'ol organ....
How many singers can say (well in the afterlife in John's case) that they wrote a song that became both a state anthem and their university's fight song? (both my HS and university's fight song is the boring generic "On on, [blank] of [blank]..."). The Osborne Brothers is the only other one I can think of, they did "Rocky Top" which is both one of Tennessee's state songs and the fight song for their university.
Could have told the story in half the time.
Oklahoma State used to play Toby Keith "Should Have Been a Cowboy" even though he is an avid fan of Oklahoma.
Yeah, This wasnt a thing.
As a Tigers fan, F John Denver lol. Kidding. Silly shit happened between celebs and sports teams all the time. But John Denver was a good enough guy. He’s a fan of another team, let’s move on. Lol.
First assumption is incorrect. It was "Rocky Mountain High."
Could you POSSIBLY pace this video any slower?
So, it's safe to say, Sparky Anderson liked the Dead Milkmen more than John Denver?😂
Yeah, but, he still, liked, John Denver, more, than, his owners, liked, him, after, 1976, they torpedoed the franchise, by, getting rid of, Tony Perez, Pete Rose, and, him, he, was, replaced at manager, by, John McNamara, yes, "that," John McNamara, if they hadn't, won, the, 1990, World Series, it's even, more, infamous, amazingly, an even, worse, owner followed them.
You're thinking of Jim Walewander
@@bcluckey A notorious man, unquestionably.
Love your videos but they all could be about half the length. Lots of repetition or too long of an introduction.
How about Sunshine on my Shoulders?
This was a waste of time watching. Can you imagine a life where you have to put this garage out there for any reason?
Actually, the Tigers were 35-5 after 40 games. I know my baseball. But I want to talk about John Denver here. Did you know that 'Country Roads' is an absolute staple at the Oktoberfest in Munich every year? Every tent plays it every day, all the time. Just one of several staples really. I go to the O'Fest every year and do tours. I love telling people to expect it. Also, Lou Whitaker belongs in the Hall of Fame. I'm an Orioles fan....
GET TO THE F'N POINT!
What are you smoking? I don't remember any kind of controversy like this. Except maybe that his best song was Rocky Mountain High not the other two you mention!
Best is subjective. Objectively, using chart performance as your metric, RMH was only the 7th "best" Denver song.
Wow - so crazy - LoL
The Jays had their best year to date in 84 but noooooooooooooobody could catch those Tigers, happy that the Jays got their revenge in 85
Ironically, the 1984 Tigers screwed Toronto, they, were, so, dominant, the, LCS, was, expanded, to a, best-of-seven, this, ultimately, cost them the, Pennant, this, also, cost the Cardinals, because, their, two, LCS, appearances, were, against, California teams, and, required, Six, and, Seven, Games, respectively.
@@matthewdaley746 Do you mean the Cubs? The Cardinals' first appearance in a best-of-seven LCS was the following year, and they won games 6 and 7.
@@JayTemple I, meant, the Cardinals, in their, two, later, World Series, they, not, only, had to travel, cross-country, they had to, win, an extra Game, and, didn't have, home-field-advantage, (or, Keith Hernandez), and, thus, never, won, again, despite, their, weakest, team, (1982), also, facing their, toughest, opponent.
@@matthewdaley746 Okay, that makes sense.
@@JayTemple No problem, confusion generated.
Been going to Orioles games since 1976 and this song has always been played (except late 80’s early 90’s). Has any team in any sport been playing a song so long? One point of note, the Orioles and Tigers haven’t won a championship since 😩
Indiana pacers have been playing the song because I can dance because I can dance since early 70s
@@stutzmantod1 every game?
@@kevinevans5921 yes going back to the ABA days Long Tall Glasses by Leo Sayre
He is right about one thing that a trouble maker would need to dig very hard. He is also doing a good job of being a trouble maker. How in the world could Denver be an Orioles fan? He was born in Texas and lived most of his life in either in California or Colorado.
Born New Mexico. Grew up various parts of the US (his dad was in the Air Force).
Rocky Mountain High
Completley remember this. It was just a fun thing, but in a season with no controversy, why not have some fun with it? They did get rid of it. I want to say it was Beat It, and that didn't work as well.
I don't think this was ridiculous. It was a semi-tradition by that time. We all wanted to see Herbie on the basepaths and do his dance. But would Cowboys fans want a song sang at their stadium as a part of tradition if the singer said he loved the Redskins? Eh, people would want another song. And that would be that. Maybe there's some fun about it before it's changed, but that's it.
The bigger controversy happened in this video when you mentioned the 37-9 record. I wonder if you really are a baseball fan because even non-Tiger fans bring up to me the 1984 35-5 start. That's what everyone remembers.. No one does that and ever did after the day they lost to go 37-10. To this day, I feel good when ever MLB team has more than five losses, as silly as that sounds.
They won the next game after they were 37-9 (14-2 vs, of all teams, Baltimore) to improve to 38-9. But you are absolutely right that it is the 35-5 start which is the record everyone mentions when talking the 84 Tigers. Why anyone would feature 37-9 is beyond me.
Tigers were playing Denver song since 1978 at least. I was there and recall singing the song and hated it. Ya it’s came a story in 84 (got Herbies Auto too). But do a story on why Detroit city even played this song. Ya we had our “Bleachers Creatures”. But wanna story on the Detroit PA idiot who even picked the song.
This video could have been a lot faster. Too slow lost interest
Get a job
I've been a Tiger fan my entire life.....watched the Tigers intently in 1984......never heard any of this, who cares?
First of all Thank God I’m a Country boy isn’t nearly as popular as Rocky Mountain High. Secondly, you’ve made a controversy where there really wasn’t. This is petty-back-of-the-sports-section-stuff. I’ll guarantee you not one player from that Tiger’s team remembers this being anything other than a blip if that, yet you go on generating a fake controversy for 15 min , where there neither is nor was one. You also title it “why they hated EACH OTHER” but then talk about how Denver didn’t even realize this was a thing and when he did was like… oh well. So hardly hating each other. Wow.
The history doesn't agree with your claim that TGICB wasn't "nearly as popular" as RMH. A lot of people thought RMH was a (poorly) veiled drug reference, which cut into it's potential audience. RMH peaked at #9 on the Billboard charts. "Take Me Home Country Roads" reached #2, while "Sunshine On My Shoulders", "Annie's Song", "Country Boy", and "I'm Sorry" were all #1 hits for Denver. Now I'm no mathematician, but I'm pretty sure reaching #1 or #2 makes something more popular than reaching #9.
Streaming-wise, on Spotify, RMH does lead Country Boy in total streams by a 111 million to 98 million total. But that only places them 4th and 5th, respectively. His top two Spotify streamed songs are actually two different versions of Country Roads, with a total of 726 million streams combined. Third is "Annie's Song" with 183 million streams.
@@kristopherloviska9042 you’ve got the #s and I respect that. I was more speaking from the perspective of what I’d picked someone off the street, what they’d associate with Denver. Obviously Country Roads (thanks for that tidbit. I didn’t know there were 2 versions) and be it for being famous or infamous, Rocky Mountain high. And actually it’s one of the few songs thought to be about drug uS that really isn’t. Denver actually testified to this before congress. Anyway good chatting with you.
As usual, you're completely overblowing this. They didn't hate each other, and this wasn't really a drama. This channel is pure trash.
Thank God I'm A...WHITE SOX Fan⚾️😛
Painful video.
Your story: BORING!!!!!!!!!!
Not a J Denver fan
The first eight minutes consists of saying the Tigers played the song during the fifth inning and that John Denver liked the Orioles. Get to the point!
Before the 2015 season, the Royals decided to stop playing "Friends in Low Places" after the sixth inning. "Don't Stop Believin" won in a fan vote. That was stupid in two ways: (a) Journey is from San Francisco, and the Giants used it as THEIR theme song during the 2014 season, when they beat the Royals in the World Series, and (b) it mentions the boy from south Detroit; the Tigers are a division rival of the Royals.
The worst part? Garth Brooks is a huge Royals fan. That was a slap in the face. And all for the WORST song Journey ever released.
World, Champions, however, perfect.
Trust me. Journey recorded several songs worse than that one.
@@kristopherloviska9042 Definitely, numerous awful recordings.
Colorado - Detroit
Norm