Gosh how much I miss this amazing Tiger Stadium. I was born in 1965 and started attending Tiger baseball games in 1969 at the age four years old. The Tiger’s won the World Series in 1968. In 1983, I joined the U.S. Army and in 1984 the Tiger’s won the World Series. Memories that’s will always be dear to my heart. Awesome video brother. Thanks for sharing. 👍🏻👍🏻
Such a great part of my memories. First game in 68 as an 11 year old kid. Was blessed enough to introduce our two sons to the sights, sounds, smells, and pure joy of Tiger Stadium. Have been to many MLB ballparks in my life, while enjoying each one, nothing compares to the magical place that was at Michigan and Trumbull!
I will forever cherish the memories I have of attending Tiger games during the summer of 1977 while I worked at The Windsor Star. My first game, oddly enough, was the first visit to the Old Lady by the fledgling Toronto Blue Jays. I was immediately taken in by the history and all the years that the greats of baseball graced this marvellous old place. Before the Blue Jays, I would often be able to pull in Tiger games on the radio, where I had the honour of listening to the great Ernie Hartwell call games. The beautiful thing about baseball is tradition - and the reverence players from the past have for it. A beautiful and fitting final tribute to the Grand Old Lady at Michigan and Trumbull…
I'll never forget the stoic voice of Ernie Harwell. I went to tiger stadium many times as a kid when tickets were only two to $5 and we had a great time and great experiences for great memories.
My first ballgame there was in June 1959. My hero Al Kaline hit a HR and they won. I will never forget the green grass, the stadium was also green, and I fell in love with it. God, do I miss it.
We moved out of Detroit when I was 10 years old, but lots of great memories. My dad or my grandfather would take me to many games in Biggs stadium. Obviously my favorite was Al Kaline but there was also guys like Jim Bunning,Rocky Colavito,Norm Cash,Dick McAuliffe and the Yankee Killer Frank Leary. 7 or 8 years later I was working in a factory in Wichita Kansas listening on a transistor radio as my Tigers won the World Series in 68. Man,I was over the moon. I eventually move to Colorado in the mid-seventies and became Rockies fan. It as been a tough 20 years,but thats baseball.
Some of my best childhood memories ever! Michigan and Trumbull! Twi-night double headers...(no day night emptying the stadium in-between), $3.00 third base box seats, my hero Al Kaline#6, watching McClain's 31 win season, 68 series, the heart break of the 67 season on the final day (McClain again and his so called broken toe), hot dogs, Ernie Harwell and George Kell on the mikes, the proximity to the field, the sounds of leather popping, aroma of the grass, WJR, the diners on the Detroit River post game for food, day games, bat day, ball days, sneaking transistor radios into my school roll top desk to listen to games while in class through an ear piece, getting kicked out of class for doing this, listening to games decades later at night when I could pick up WJR in the mountains of VA, Norm Cash, Harmon Killebrew, Jason Thompson, Reggie Jackson, Cecil Fielder, Kirk Gibson, Mickey Mantle and others all hitting it out of the stadium. I'll never forget and it can't be more vivid after watching this last game tribute.... It is still the American pastime to some, especially me!!!
We’re from Milwaukee & the two of us are trying to hit all 30 stadiums for Brewers games. In 2015, we hit stadium 7: Comerica. But on the morning of the game, we took a bus from downtown to Michigan & Trumbull. At that time, the field was wide open for anyone to play on. Anthony, who was 5 at the time, asked me why I was taking him to some baseball field. I asked him to close his eyes. “Imagine Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Kirk Gibson all coming to plate, rounding the bases. And imagine 50.000 screaming for them in two decks of stands surrounding you. “Anthony, they all played here. And right now, we’re playing catch on the same field, the same dirt they played on.” His eyes were as wide as saucers. He loved it. Detroit, thank you. You gave us one of the greatest memories of our sports lives. As I’m sure you have countless more memories of that special place.
Im 55 i remeber tiger stadium. From Grand Rapids it was real easy to get there and back. What memories this brought back thanks for doing this the right way! I was so sad they closed her Tiger Stadium down 😢
Very nice piece. I appreciate the Mickey Lolich interview. My son was too young to remember the day. This behind the scene footage will now be a family treasure.
For me it was Lolich, Horton and Gibson. Those three guys are etched in my memory from the time I was a little boy right up until the time I was in my forties. I'll never forget listening to a quiet radio with Ernie harwell's voice on the radio on a hot summer night as I fell asleep and the Tigers ahead 5 to 3 in the top of the ninth. Goodbye and good night old girl. We will never forget your Green Green Grass and your beautiful green seats and painted poles Everything Green
Living in Corktown meant seeing so many games. Many by slipping in @ no cost if you knew the people that knew you! Each time that same "gasp" would overtake my senses with all of the smells too! The turf, the hot dogs, the cigar smoke, hell, even the urinals' ALL came into play! For a young kid, that anticipation meant magic!!!
Still sad to see and think about the old gal being abandoned, left to rot, vandalized then unceremoniously demolished. Meanwhile Wrigley and Fenway were rebuilt and are still cherished shrines in Chicago and Boston. Yet again another example of Detroit’s inability to come together with surrounding cities and unite as a community. However, with Ford Motor Company’s purchase of Detroit Central Station and it’s redevelopment perhaps the tide has turned for my home town.
Bullshit. 39% attainable . pipes were rotted. Upper deck was 27% destroyed from wear and tear someone would have gotten killed. Oh. What anout wrigley. And fenway yea did 750 million dollars renovations 3 times.
Went there in Aug 95 for an afternoon game against the A's. Attendance was very low. We were in the center field bleachers and ...were they ever bleak. I think that park was past its lifespan, especially in this era. I'm so glad I went though. I'll never forget it.
If they had renovated Tiger Stadium, it wouldn't even look like the same park. It would be just like Soldier Field in Chicago. And the the Bears are looking at building a new stadium only 20 years after renovations were done.
The first time I went to the game I was about five or six years old. I remember my dad taking my brother and I. We lived outside the US mostly growing up. But I remember 1984 like it was yesterday. I was just a 10-year-old boy in northern Michigan and I got my very first Detroit tiger hat from a family friend. Some day I’d like to visit the corner.I’ve lived most of my 47 years outside the state of Michigan but I will always be a Michigander and a Detroit tiger fan. Bless you boys. My grandad grew up a poor farm boy in Michigan but he loved baseball and my goodness he would always reminisce the ‘68 Tigers team. Before moving to south Texas in 2016 I lived in south central PA for 20+ years but anytime the Tigers were in Baltimore I would try to go and my goodness us Tiger fans outnumbered O’s fans
I am a devoted LA dodgers fan but I always liked the Detroit Tigers because they are a cool and proud baseball team with a lot of class and they got awesome fans 👍😎👍
Some of my memories of Tiger Stadium: watching Mark Fidrych pitch two innings, only to hurt his shoulder. Reggie Jackson in 1984 going completely over the right field roof. Dave Bergmans's 13 pitch at bat before launching a game winning three run homer, Walt Terrell in 1986 coming one out away from a no-hitter only to be broken up by Wally Joyner. Seeing some of the greats: Reggie, Nolan, Yaz, both Griffeys, Brett, Goose, Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor, and too many others to mention. Comerica is 25 years this year, and still feels like plastic.
Fireman's field day in the 50s. My parents and I shared a twenty-five cent "Red- hot" from a vendor in the stands above the Tiger dug out. We sat in the upper deck and I remember how steep the rows were below us.
Some people don't realize it, but it was also home to the Detroit Lions. It hosted the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1912 to 1999, as well as the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) from 1938 to 1974.
That dump they call Comerica park is nothing compared to Tiger Stadium. Illitch could have renovated the old ballpark. It was the 2nd oldest park by 1 day behind Fenway. Baseball was played on that ground since 1888. Professional ball since 1898 if I'm correct. Its a shame that place wasn't made into harwell park and left so anyone could play a game. They desiccated it and put that garbage little League field there. It should have been for young and old alike to play there. I've been to 3 games at the new place. And now since they don't accept cash there will not be another. God bless Tiger Stadium.
Tom. I also loved Tiger Stadium and loved working with Ernie Harwell on capturing its history. Check out “Michigan & Trumbull” on UA-cam. Unfortunately I needed a wheelchair after Tiger Stadium was closed and the accessibility for people with disabilities was vastly improved at Comerica over the old ballpark. I went to a game at Wrigley in my chair and they stuck people in in the back of lower deck, which is what they did at Tiger Stadium. Not a great seat. I’m sure they could have improved that with a thoughtful renovation. Miss the stadium, always have the memories
Gosh how much I miss this amazing Tiger Stadium. I was born in 1965 and started attending Tiger baseball games in 1969 at the age four years old. The Tiger’s won the World Series in 1968. In 1983, I joined the U.S. Army and in 1984 the Tiger’s won the World Series. Memories that’s will always be dear to my heart. Awesome video brother. Thanks for sharing. 👍🏻👍🏻
Ernie, Al Kaline, all the Tiger greats, and Tiger Stadium.... R.I.P. Gone, but never forgotten. Forever in my heart.
Amen
Spot on
Such a great part of my memories. First game in 68 as an 11 year old kid. Was blessed enough to introduce our two sons to the sights, sounds, smells, and pure joy of Tiger Stadium.
Have been to many MLB ballparks in my life, while enjoying each one, nothing compares to the magical place that was at Michigan and Trumbull!
I will forever cherish the memories I have of attending Tiger games during the summer of 1977 while I worked at The Windsor Star. My first game, oddly enough, was the first visit to the Old Lady by the fledgling Toronto Blue Jays. I was immediately taken in by the history and all the years that the greats of baseball graced this marvellous old place. Before the Blue Jays, I would often be able to pull in Tiger games on the radio, where I had the honour of listening to the great Ernie Hartwell call games. The beautiful thing about baseball is tradition - and the reverence players from the past have for it. A beautiful and fitting final tribute to the Grand Old Lady at Michigan and Trumbull…
Fantastic job John Owens! This elicited more than a few tears! Ernie was so unique! We were so lucky to have had him
The greatest stadium in my lifetime , thanks for the memories
I'll never forget the stoic voice of Ernie Harwell. I went to tiger stadium many times as a kid when tickets were only two to $5 and we had a great time and great experiences for great memories.
My first ballgame there was in June 1959. My hero Al Kaline hit a HR and they won. I will never forget the green grass, the stadium was also green, and I fell in love with it. God, do I miss it.
We moved out of Detroit when I was 10 years old, but lots of great memories. My dad or my grandfather would take me to many games in Biggs stadium. Obviously my favorite was Al Kaline but there was also guys like Jim Bunning,Rocky Colavito,Norm Cash,Dick McAuliffe and the Yankee Killer Frank Leary. 7 or 8 years later I was working in a factory in Wichita Kansas listening on a transistor radio as my Tigers won the World Series in 68. Man,I was over the moon. I eventually move to Colorado in the mid-seventies and became Rockies fan. It as been a tough 20 years,but thats baseball.
Thanks for the video. Baseball is more than just a sport.
Magnificent tribute to a fabulous baseball franchise and immortal stadium. ⚾️👍😓
Some of my best childhood memories ever! Michigan and Trumbull! Twi-night double headers...(no day night emptying the stadium in-between), $3.00 third base box seats, my hero Al Kaline#6, watching McClain's 31 win season, 68 series, the heart break of the 67 season on the final day (McClain again and his so called broken toe), hot dogs, Ernie Harwell and George Kell on the mikes, the proximity to the field, the sounds of leather popping, aroma of the grass, WJR, the diners on the Detroit River post game for food, day games, bat day, ball days, sneaking transistor radios into my school roll top desk to listen to games while in class through an ear piece, getting kicked out of class for doing this, listening to games decades later at night when I could pick up WJR in the mountains of VA, Norm Cash, Harmon Killebrew, Jason Thompson, Reggie Jackson, Cecil Fielder, Kirk Gibson, Mickey Mantle and others all hitting it out of the stadium. I'll never forget and it can't be more vivid after watching this last game tribute.... It is still the American pastime to some, especially me!!!
Beautifully said
And slipping over to Lindel's AC after the game for a meal on Michigan Ave.
We’re from Milwaukee & the two of us are trying to hit all 30 stadiums for Brewers games. In 2015, we hit stadium 7: Comerica. But on the morning of the game, we took a bus from downtown to Michigan & Trumbull. At that time, the field was wide open for anyone to play on.
Anthony, who was 5 at the time, asked me why I was taking him to some baseball field. I asked him to close his eyes. “Imagine Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Kirk Gibson all coming to plate, rounding the bases. And imagine 50.000 screaming for them in two decks of stands surrounding you.
“Anthony, they all played here. And right now, we’re playing catch on the same field, the same dirt they played on.”
His eyes were as wide as saucers. He loved it.
Detroit, thank you. You gave us one of the greatest memories of our sports lives. As I’m sure you have countless more memories of that special place.
Im 55 i remeber tiger stadium. From Grand Rapids it was real easy to get there and back. What memories this brought back thanks for doing this the right way! I was so sad they closed her Tiger Stadium down 😢
This made an old dog like me, cry like a little puppy.
Best, most moving video I have seen in years. Thanks for sharing!!!
Very nice piece. I appreciate the Mickey Lolich interview. My son was too young to remember the day. This behind the scene footage will now be a family treasure.
Just an outstanding documentary….thanks so much for sharing. Had never seen this before
For me it was Lolich, Horton and Gibson.
Those three guys are etched in my memory from the time I was a little boy right up until the time I was in my forties. I'll never forget listening to a quiet radio with Ernie harwell's voice on the radio on a hot summer night as I fell asleep and the Tigers ahead 5 to 3 in the top of the ninth. Goodbye and good night old girl. We will never forget your Green Green Grass and your beautiful green seats and painted poles Everything Green
Living in Corktown meant seeing so many games. Many by slipping in @ no cost if you knew the people that knew you! Each time that same "gasp" would overtake my senses with all of the smells too! The turf, the hot dogs, the cigar smoke, hell, even the urinals' ALL came into play! For a young kid, that anticipation meant magic!!!
Still sad to see and think about the old gal being abandoned, left to rot, vandalized then unceremoniously demolished. Meanwhile Wrigley and Fenway were rebuilt and are still cherished shrines in Chicago and Boston. Yet again another example of Detroit’s inability to come together with surrounding cities and unite as a community. However, with Ford Motor Company’s purchase of Detroit Central Station and it’s redevelopment perhaps the tide has turned for my home town.
It could have been saved. The owner valued money over history.
Bullshit. 39% attainable . pipes were rotted. Upper deck was 27% destroyed from wear and tear someone would have gotten killed. Oh. What anout wrigley. And fenway yea did 750 million dollars renovations 3 times.
Went there in Aug 95 for an afternoon game against the A's. Attendance was very low. We were in the center field bleachers and ...were they ever bleak. I think that park was past its lifespan, especially in this era. I'm so glad I went though. I'll never forget it.
If they had renovated Tiger Stadium, it wouldn't even look like the same park. It would be just like Soldier Field in Chicago. And the the Bears are looking at building a new stadium only 20 years after renovations were done.
it was a grand last game given the Grand Slam by Robert Fick!
The first time I went to the game I was about five or six years old. I remember my dad taking my brother and I. We lived outside the US mostly growing up. But I remember 1984 like it was yesterday. I was just a 10-year-old boy in northern Michigan and I got my very first Detroit tiger hat from a family friend. Some day I’d like to visit the corner.I’ve lived most of my 47 years outside the state of Michigan but I will always be a Michigander and a Detroit tiger fan. Bless you boys. My grandad grew up a poor farm boy in Michigan but he loved baseball and my goodness he would always reminisce the ‘68 Tigers team.
Before moving to south Texas in 2016 I lived in south central PA for 20+ years but anytime the Tigers were in Baltimore I would try to go and my goodness us Tiger fans outnumbered O’s fans
I was at the 17th and 16th to last games. Flew from San Diego to see it. Very sad.
I am a devoted LA dodgers fan but I always liked the Detroit Tigers because they are a cool and proud baseball team with a lot of class and they got awesome fans 👍😎👍
Ghosts are real. Fick, wearing Cash's 25, hits it out of the park like Cash did? C'mon.
Some of my memories of Tiger Stadium: watching Mark Fidrych pitch two innings, only to hurt his shoulder. Reggie Jackson in 1984 going completely over the right field roof. Dave Bergmans's 13 pitch at bat before launching a game winning three run homer, Walt Terrell in 1986 coming one out away from a no-hitter only to be broken up by Wally Joyner. Seeing some of the greats: Reggie, Nolan, Yaz, both Griffeys, Brett, Goose, Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor, and too many others to mention. Comerica is 25 years this year, and still feels like plastic.
I was there on Sunday afternoon 9/26/99
I visited Tiger Stadium from Atlanta to be part of the last game ever in 1999. Ernie Harwell is from Georgia.
Love tiger stadium
That was back then when announcers were priceless as the players, when baseball was real baseball. Far from today. No comparison
I was at game 5 in 84
Grass was greener and thicker at Tiger Stadium 🏟.
So sad to see it go.
Fireman's field day in the 50s. My parents and I shared a twenty-five cent "Red- hot" from a vendor in the stands above the Tiger dug out. We sat in the upper deck and I remember how steep the rows were below us.
Six bucks for a hot dog now at Comerica
Tiger Stadium > Comerica Park
yech!!
Some people don't realize it, but it was also home to the Detroit Lions. It hosted the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1912 to 1999, as well as the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) from 1938 to 1974.
Great memories
That dump they call Comerica park is nothing compared to Tiger Stadium. Illitch could have renovated the old ballpark. It was the 2nd oldest park by 1 day behind Fenway. Baseball was played on that ground since 1888. Professional ball since 1898 if I'm correct. Its a shame that place wasn't made into harwell park and left so anyone could play a game. They desiccated it and put that garbage little League field there. It should have been for young and old alike to play there. I've been to 3 games at the new place. And now since they don't accept cash there will not be another. God bless Tiger Stadium.
Tom. I also loved Tiger Stadium and loved working with Ernie Harwell on capturing its history. Check out “Michigan & Trumbull” on UA-cam. Unfortunately I needed a wheelchair after Tiger Stadium was closed and the accessibility for people with disabilities was vastly improved at Comerica over the old ballpark. I went to a game at Wrigley in my chair and they stuck people in in the back of lower deck, which is what they did at Tiger Stadium. Not a great seat. I’m sure they could have improved that with a thoughtful renovation. Miss the stadium, always have the memories
Sick of cashless nonsense too. But it what the liberals want. 🙄
These things make me cry like a little girl with a skinned knee.
I certainly miss Tiger Stadium 😢
Awesome
Why am I crying
Let's honor it's 87 year past by tearing it down. So dumb. What a shame
Thank Dennis Archer and Coleman Young, for destroying Baseball history!
And Kwame too.
Mickey gutted me at the end.
They should’ve renovated that gem of a ballpark. A tragedy they didn’t.
one less reason to watch baseball.
Mike illich was a great man.
Was there no way to save it? Too sad. Come rica has a long way to go to be as cool
Never will be
Only thing cool about COMERICA will be when it is replaced and torn down.
Didn't mark fidrych make it to the last game ceremonies?😢
6
Who’s the guy with the yellow teefs in the preview pic? Yuck 🤮
Beautiful