Tiger Stadium Drive Around

[@JamieSmith-fz2mz]

I worked there for a time in 1994. I played a game there after it closed. And of course, attended so many games. Today, I care nothing about MLB, but I still cling to these fond memories of that damn building.

[@edwinearl4584]

Brings back memories. There’s some history there. 🏈⚾️🏟️🧢

[@johnboehmer6683]

Yikes, to see the old ballpark only slightly removed from being that place of vibrant LIFE that thousands of Detroiters would come to all summer, every summer since 1912...still structurally willing it seems, at least from the outside, to be home to the joy and fun that took our minds off our problems for a few... to see these players we idolized as kids... To spend special time with good old dad and the family. And thousands of others that lived all around me... heartbreaking, the passage of time all too often is... But to see it here with snow on the ground in the winter...out of it's element, it's season... As if, despite its appearance that it could go another season, the death of winter seems to be in the very process of killing that off on the drive around. Ugh

[@acousticshadow4032]

As a lover of the old ballparks, I feel I've been robbed. Took many Baseball road trips from NH to points west & south over the years; most by auto, some by plane. Saw a lot of games at Tiger Stadium, and felt very "at home" there. Fact that it opened same day as Fenway Park had something to do with it. They were both built from same concrete & steel mold, which was especially evident underneath each ballpark. But it was more than that. It was the feeling I'd get sitting in each ballpark. Both were rich in baseball history, and both old gals oozed the essence of tradition; what baseball is all about, imho. I was at the Final Game at the Corner, September 27, 1999. I started off the evening the way I had on so many trips to Detroit - with a burger & a beer at Casey's Pub on Michigan. Best burger in all of MLB - bar none. Inside Tiger Stadium, a very rude man used my shoulder to propel himself past me, and several other people who were bumper-to-bumper on the concourse underneath, shuffling along like cattle trying to get to our seats. I was about to yell at this jerk, when I saw he was wearing a Tiger uniform with a # 6 on the back. Yup, it was Al Kaline...lol. I roamed the stadium all night long, watching an inning here, another inning there. Wanted to soak in as much of it as I could, while I could. I sat in the seats just beyond the LF fence, and thought - this is where Tiger fans pelted St Louis Cardinals LFer, Ducky Medwick, with rotten fruit during a Cards rout (11-0) of the 7th game of the 1934 World Series - until MLB Commish Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis removed Medwick from the game for his own safety (wouldn't happen that way today, of course). I sat in the upper deck CF bleachers, and watched Rob Fick's GS hit the roof. Caught him hitting that very pitch on my trusty Pentax, in fact. I was also at the final game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium (1993), and the last two at Comiskey Park in Chicago (1990). I picketed behind the Green Monsta' during the late 1990s when we almost lost Fenway Park (saved only by the purchase of the Boston Red Sox by Misters John Henry & Tom Werner; thank you, gentlemen). I hate losing old ballparks.

[@tarikeddins4028]

Great story Sir seeing this picture makes me want to cry my dad worked at the power station down the street he would always get tickets and we would go to the game I agree savior those old relics.

[@johnboehmer6683]

Time may make life easier with its technological advances, but almost never does it make anything better. I think that's a big reason why most of us value the past that reminds us of a better day, simpler, when there was greater human interaction, and appreciation...greater unity. God was still at the forefront of the USA, it was cleaner, much more wholesome. Ah, the good ol' days...

[@tymesho]

As a kid walking in holding Pops hand, when I saw the sunlight and green field, it was like when "The Wizard of Oz" changed from black and white to color film!

[@dirtylemon3379]

That's a childhood memory for so many people. For me it was Yankee stadium. Seeing that vivid slice of sunlight green grass between the upper and lower deck. Breathtaking.

[@tymesho]

James, wasn't it great?! Also, remember the smells, the cigars and the hotdogs? It blew me away!!!!! Also Also, the whiteness of the players uniforms! The Tigers were almost "cream colored"?

[@dirtylemon3379]

@@tymesho Yes. I was thinking that too.

[@tymesho]

James, the Yanks had a great uniform too, with the pinstripes. They were so cool. Watching on TV, you don't really notice it, but being there was a whole new thing. Since then, I always notice baseball and football uniforms.

[@dirtylemon3379]

@@tymesho Same here. Went to a Yankees, A’s game in1969. The A’s came come out with bright yellow vests, pants and helmets green sleeves and white shoes. Wow. Pretty cool. The 60’s. Yeah baby, yeah!

[@johnorr4866]

My first game: June 21, 1967 doubleheader with Kansas City Athletics and a rookie named Reggie Jackson, and of course in RF for Tigers, Al Kaline . Best day of my childhood:: smell of cigar smoke, lush green grass, and the twilight of an era.

[@dmac3551]

My Dad took me to a lot of Tiger games that summer when they were battling Boston for the pennant… Don Mincher for the Angels was the Tiger killer with home runs to steal games from the Tigers, as I recall

[@BENFRANK11267]

Thanks. I’ve been there many times ,when I was a kid. Used to sit in the center field benches! It was so cheap. Thanks again 😊

[@johnboehmer6683]

.50¢ in the 70s, right? And they kept it around $2.50 for a long time, most of the 80s, I think... You paid more for parking than you did for the game!

[@abathens]

I wish the Braves had a neighborhood ballpark like that.

[@69FOSTER]

Thanks for the fine video. I live in L.A. and when I see that Tiger Stadium can be touched from the sidewalk, it makes me envious. To get to Dodger Stadium, I have to go through a maze of freeway interchanges and a steep, long offramp and entrance, especially driving a car with a manual transmission. I loved the double deck bleachers that surround the field. It must've been an intimate setting for the fans.

[@ScratchGlass9]

It was... if you're on a railing seat in the upper deck .. you had to watch your kids . My first game there was in 1966.

[@trapezemusic]

@@ScratchGlass9 Difficult to believe that Dodger Stadium is now the third oldest MLB stadium. I believe it opened in 1961 or 1962.

[@johnboehmer6683]

...and then... After having gone through all that, don't you have to then go more still to get to the middle of a gigantic parking lot to finally get to the stadium?

[@randallgarton375]

I loved going there

[@t4texastom587]

I'm a Tom Landry-era Dallas Cowboys fan, since 1963. Like millions of other NFL fans, I watched many games played in Tiger Stadium on TV. What a sad thing. No more Tiger Stadium, Metropolitan Stadium, Comisky Park, Yankee Stadium, Kezar Stadium, Candlestick Park, Memorial Stadium, Polo Grounds, Municipal Stadium, Griffith Stadium, and the Cotton Bowl, Memorial Coliseum, and Franklin Field are no longer used for professional football. There are many old AFL stadiums gone as well. God bless our pro football heroes and stadiums from a by-gone era 🏈

[@stephenclemente7045]

I been to so many games here I missed this historic place rip

[@viprbludelta]

It was known as Briggs Stadium the first time I went there in the late 50's. We parked on the street and walked to the park. I can remember it like it was yesterday, what memories.

[@johnboehmer6683]

Gosh, just the thought of Detroit in the 50s, part of its heyday! OUR Auto industry was still king, the Lions (yes, the Lions, for all you youngsters) and Red Wings were in the middle of dynasties, the income per capita was the highest in the world...and aaaaaaahhhhh.... sweet, sweet summertime, and the Tigers! Ernie Harwell's time in was still to come...Soo goood!!

[@stewartsanders8740]

I'm from England 🇬🇧 was at tiger stadium when kiss played a sold out show on the reunion tour love detroit 👍

[@thefungoden3978]

That was the first show of the reunion. I wish I'd have been there. Saw them on the "Farewell Tour" in 2000.

[@Fireyninjadog]

The lions dynasty was at that building

[@glennbo923]

Got my 1st hit and 1st homer in in that ball park. Also played in my 1st Major League Game their.

[@johnboehmer6683]

You're Glenn Borgmann, per chance?

[@johnforrest9174]

Trumbull old checker taxi offices, garage, dispatch. Della Reese worked there, driver. Catholic Church catty corner Michigan Ave -Briggs Stadium. Norm cash and 'storming norman, both hit home runs over the fence in right field, over the crowds, Over the lights,, AND... "on to Trumbull Avenue!!!! , there you have it folks".

[@johnboehmer6683]

Where did "Rooftop" Thompson's land??🤔

[@kevinweakley2852]

Norm Cash is Stormin Norman.

[@jcroston3266]

Reminds me of the outside of Old Yankee stadium (no, not the last old one - that was born in 1973-1974. I mean the house that Ruth built!). They’re all dingy concrete and steel gigantic bunkers from the outside, but inside they were a thing of beauty. I miss these old ballparks!

[@JayDogTitan-he6wo]

I have a collection of Mlb teams I follow and Detroit is one of them, I'd like to have visited Tiger Stadium just once, I hate that it no longer exists, Living near the DC area RFK Stadium will be torn down soon, Our sports cathedrals are only a memory now. 😥

[@mike196212]

Pretty neat place. Terrible that it's gone. Wish I'd had the chance to see it.

[@hoopsheavenpa]

Great video! Wish I saw a game here and old Comiskey. Seats at Tiger Stadium seemed like they were right on the field. Even the upper deck outfield seats appeared to hang over onto the field. So intimate and old school.!

[@tomsampson8084]

I grew up going to Tiger Stadium. You are correct in that most seats seemed to be on the field. Yes, the stadium had flaws. That was because of the way it was built and added on to over the years. I've been to comerica - it's a piece of crap.

[@Flackack]

Yes. You were pretty much, almost literally, on top of the action.

[@lloydclaussen3925]

@@tomsampson8084 what the heck , built in 1912

[@lloydclaussen3925]

Agree about Comerica

[@tommclain8893]

My dad as a kid used to sneak into here late 40's early 50's. R.I.P. dad .

[@JStorm13]

It's too bad they didn't try to renovate it like they did to wrigley

[@wmw3629]

There was a plan known as the Cochrane Plan. It’s a damn shame it was never implemented.

[@johnboehmer6683]

They did do some renovations, I think the last one was in the late 70s, adding some exec boxes. There was originally a plan for a new stadium as early as 1972. There was a lot of fighting back and forth that delayed it, and just preserving the stadium with renovation, like you said. But final word was that it couldn't be done adequately, it was beyond repair in some spots.

[@daleatkinson941]

People should be serving time for the demolition of this Classic ballpark. Whenever I visited Detroit it was to view a MLB game in a classic, intimate, and historic setting. Tiger Stadium fit the bill and then some. The day this stadium came crashing to the ground was the day Detroit lost something very unique. So sad.

[@b.j.banditt206]

Completely agreed, Dale. Additionally, the people in Comerica Bank's Marketing Dept shall also b incarcer8d 4 FRAUD. How is that? Comerica Bank's slogan @ that time was "We Listen. We Understand. We Make It Work." When the L8, GR8 Mr. I (Mike Ilitch) sought out financial assistance 2 build Comerica Park, Comerica Bank REJECTED his loan request (Japan's Sumitomo Bank was the primary lender 4 that loan) yet had the audacity 2 buy the naming rights as such. That's the same thing as u baking me a blueberry pie & I tell my friends that I made it all by myself. If I did that, u'd b fuckin' pissed off. That's how I feel RE: Comerica Bank after they financially "raped" me (w/service maintenance fees on my savings account w/them) 20+ yrs ago. So when Comerica Bank said "We Listen. We Understand. We Make It Work.", that's FBS. Any1 employed by Comerica Bank during the "We Listen" period needs 2 b in PRISON!!!!!

[@johnboehmer6683]

For 60 years Detroit has had nothing but it's past to stand upon. Which makes it just that much more heartbreaking every time one of these architectural masterpieces disappears...

[@daleatkinson941]

Everything that drew me to Detroit time and again has been taken away with Tiger Stadium being at the top of the list. Just heart wrenching.

[@johnboehmer6683]

@@daleatkinson941 Tiger Stadium, Boblo, Stroh's, Hudson's, JP McCarthy, Ernie & Paul, Olympia, Motown Records, (some years) the fireworks display on the River on the 4th, its proud status as "The Arsenal of Democracy", or 5th largest U.S. city, the auto industry...the list goes on. People say the city never recovered after the riots, that's basically true. Truly sad. I've been waiting now forty years to see a turnaround, still waiting...the casino ain't gettin' it...

[@daleatkinson941]

As it turns out the Detroit riots were the least of the city's problems.

[@LANESxNOWONLYx]

The 1st time I've ever seen a complete drive around of the stadium. Thank you!

[@faulltw]

Living in a small town like Onsted MI the first time I saw Tiger Stadium in 1977 my eyes were as big as saucers!

[@faulltw]

@Rabbi Noah Kitty yep

[@faulltw]

@Rabbi Noah Kitty All the better to see you with ;)

[@lloydkline1518]

Michigan& trumbell ❤️ tiger stadium

[@ericw3229]

You missed it when the seats were green. Looked far better then

[@skymike12]

amazing. I'm from Houston, and I find Michigan stuff fascinating. I've seen snow... about 5 times. How anyone can tear down a treasure like this is beyond me. Its not pretty outside, (but still fascinating) but ive seen video of the inside. So much history. I'd much rather watch a game here, than any of these disney-fied corporate shams standing now.

[@johnboehmer6683]

That's how we all felt too... That's why the plans to build a new stadium, that began around 1972, didn't come to fruition until 2000. We fought it hard...but the almighty $ wins out every time.

[@Knightmessenger]

The old stadium was better than the new complex there now but everything else in the area looks so much better today.

[@kenwbrenner]

Thank you for providing this. I miss the old stadiums, they seemed closer to the field.

[@patearly9492]

Fantastic memories. God bless everyone and thank you for sharing

[@robertbyrd4731]

Thanks guys. I drove t Detroit just to see a game in Tiger Stadium before they quit using it. Sat in the box seats under the awning down the first base line as warmups started and stopped several times due to rain. Got rained out. Still, at least my trip let me hang out in the Grand Old Stadium for a few hours and watch Black Jack McDowell warm up for the White Sox. Too bad owners didn’t have the foresight to see what sold out jewels that Wrigley and Fenway have become.

[@TrevorEMayo]

all you have to do is walk around the neighborhoods surrounding Fenway and Wrigley and then look at this video to see why your conclusion is hilarious

[@dannydubya9410]

So cool. You are basically looking at a Polo Grounds era ballpark, smack dab in the middle of town. I understand the business reasons for abandoning these gems for newer, more practical stadiums. But damned if we aren't losing a part of our culture by tearing them down. Those old jewel box ballparks were more then a venue, they were a work of art. Castles in the modern age......

[@jamesrivera4947]

A first-class country deserves first-class stadiums ⚾🏀🏈 --Thomas Aquinas

[@lloydkline1518]

❤️ tiger stadiium

[@Razorbacks1]

@@jamesrivera4947 If we lived in Europe Ebbets Field, Crosley Field, Forbes Field, old Yankee Stadium, Tiger Stadium, Shibe Park, Sportsman’s Park, Metropolitan Stadium, Polo Grounds and Comiskey Park would have been preserved and still standing.

[@gordonlandreth9550]

@@Razorbacks1 I agree , they have a respect and reverence for the original buildings .

[@johnboehmer6683]

You forgot the most important quality of the old stadiums...their priceless history.

[@DoubleStar92]

First time I walked into Tiger Stadium as a kid in the early 80’s I was awestruck! Rip !!

[@patman7421]

I think Wrigley is the only one left!

[@Classicrocker6119]

This was very nice. I’m a huge baseball fan in western Canada and love the game and it’s history. I never had the privilege of going to Tiger Stadium but this drive around tour was awesome.

[@cheefadareafer]

Should never of been torn down. Alot of history lost 😞

[@pep2st8p64]

Looks like a warehouse...

[@johnboehmer6683]

Don't judge a book by its cover...

[@lloydkline1518]

❤️ tiger stadium

[@billschipper1718]

It sad to see it go. I remember watching the twins play the tigers on TV in the 70s. It was a great park that went to the recking ball.

[@69zenos1]

I will never forget standing in line for tickets one HOT AS FFFFF Saturday for a night game against the Oakland As in 1984. I was so hungover from a night of drinking in Greek Town the night before, that I projectile vomited at least twice while in line. I fit right in with the rest of the bums hanging around looking for spare change. I was fine by game time later that evening. Them were the days, I tell ya.

[@davidsekowski1710]

That is the coolest most Detroit thing I’ve ever heard. Hell yeah man.. One of my few regrets in life is never going to a game here.

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

@@davidsekowski1710 All was cool except for the vomit

[@hadihatab3126]

That areas changed so much now, it’s all trendy restaurants and new condo’s.

[@sawchiefs29]

Back when stadiums created the fan experience, not by X&Y architect firm

[@wadiigo]

Thanks for the memories.

[@lloydkline6946]

❤old tiger 🐅stadium

[@greglayson8694]

Hey there. Is there any way I can contact you about this video? I have a question about it. Thanks.

[@sb66516]

i loved tiger stadium. sometimes i sat behind a pole in the glory days but that was ok. I met Jim Rice on day who played for the red sox, yeah he was rude. Used to see Lou, Steve Kemp, Tram and others drive into tiger stadium players parking lot.

[@vestibulate]

Esteban B. Rude? Rice is actually a nice guy. But he got tagged with a label early on- aloof, arrogant, selfish- and decided he couldn't disappoint people.

[@johnboehmer6683]

Man, the Tigers prime years were from '76 through the mid-80s, awesome teams, a lot of fun to root for, a lot of fun gradually watching them build into a championship team!

[@Johntheripper87]

its disgraceful that this ballpark got abandoned. comerica is hideous.

[@bradkurtz2739]

John DuBois lots of awesome memories at Tiger stadium!!..I wish they were still playing there..it was definitely one of the great ball parks!Comerica has that cool view of the downtown but not the energy/atmosphere that old Tiger stadium had

[@zorro1955]

John DuBois - you’re right. I miss tiger stadium

[@zorro1955]

FigureItOut - ditto

[@bradkurtz2739]

R S I’ll never forget the energy inside Tiger Stadium!..It would hit you as soon as you stepped thru the gates!..I can only imagine what it would’ve been like being in the stands back in 84’ and 87’!!

[@bradkurtz2739]

R S so did you go to any of the games back in 84?..I would’ve been 4 so my earliest Tiger memories were from 87’..My first game I went to was in 88’

[@mrg8581]

Comerica Park sucks. Seats are further away from field. It always too warm and sunny for day games. Home plate umpires never wear plate coats. Like they used to wear at Tiger Stadium. They always wear the short sleeve black shirts at Comerica Park. 🤮. Tiger Stadium was better and ticket prices were cheaper. Baseball was more enjoyable and no politics or Covid 19 bullshit 😒

[@AlwaysHalloween000]

this is simple video but it's great just the same..thanks for taking it

[@josephppopp7493]

Just Sad 😢

[@ScratchGlass9]

My first 39 years we re at Tiger Stadium. #6 Mr. TIGER, Al Kaline was my hero. SAW Mickey Mantle play twice. Would skip school or get out of part time jobs in 76 for games every time Mark the bird was pitching .. Bleacher creature seats were $1.00...I'll never forget the looks of my kids when they walked through the tunnel to see that magnificent Kelly green ballpark....THEN, we lost Ernie Harwell. Comerica Park is a cement circus park. I take 2 grandsons to a game and it's costs. In the range of $300.00. F this corporate, woke world. 🇺🇲

[@j.d.schultzsr.9215]

We saw a game on the last season in this and a game on the first season in the new one. NO COMPARISON!

[@johnboehmer6683]

Remember the home openers every year? Just thinking about it right now, I'm getting euphoric!!😁 To see them back at the old ballpark in those classic uniforms, to play REAL baseball, not the fake Lakeland games...So synonymous with the oncoming of spring, and the near-end of school!! It was almost too much to handle as a kid and die hard Tigers fan coming up!

[@Milcom34]

Sad....The A Holes have to Tear Down Everything that Has Meaning For Modern Day CRAP!!!!!!!

[@wmw3629]

So right! Cosmetics is an amusement park!

[@dallasbrubaker6054]

Tiger Stadium: Home of the Detroit Lions from 1938-39, 1941-74.

[@johnboehmer6683]

And they too were ushered into a much uglier stadium... Even uglier than Comerica!

[@johnboehmer6683]

A LOT of history made, and legends of the game at the corner during the winter time, also. That stadium seems even more perfect for football, as incredible as it was for baseball.

[@Jleed989]

People forget there were a lot of great Lion games there too. So many memorable Thanksgiving Day games.

[@69zenos1]

There sure haven't been any GREAT lions games at FORD.... that is for sure.

[@duran007fan5]

@@69zenos1 You got that party with that comment. LOL

[@lloydkline6946]

It used to be the hangout with bars& restaurants, plus tiger stadium

[@ronaldarchibald2506]

Every lions championship and tigers world series championship was at that corner.

[@lloydkline1518]

Detroit lions football

[@Mamboland]

I didn't see the parking lot.

[@josephzilafro2720]

Thank you for the video! What a dump Tiger Stadium and Corktown was back then. The ballpark was basically donut shaped with a hole in the center and nothing but a 40 foot wall around it, not even 1 window. The stadium and general area was surrounded by open field parking lots that became "fields of trash" following games. Corktown today is booming with redevelopment and is cleaner, livelier. Even the field has been redeveloped with turf, infield stadium seating and the outfield surrounded by new condos and apartments.

[@timlamb9428]

Detroit should have took the Expos up on their offer and brought them to Detroit and had this stadium fixed up for them.

[@jtjurje357]

I never heard about that offer! Would Detroit have had 2 teams then?

[@daniellinehan63]

Comiskey Park was built to last 200 years and Jerry just let it go to seed

[@jonnie2bad]

anyone catch that turtle tag on the gate?

[@ryanthompsonthompson820]

hi michigan.

[@theworm6870]

I always remembered that red brick building on the corner of Michigan and Trumbull and the oddity that it is shaped like a triangle. I checked Google Maps and it's still there as of September, 2017

[@victorcastillo-dx9vh]

Historic stadium

[@doobielawson702]

Where did 40k people park?

[@ronaldarchibald2506]

In the surrounding neighborhood and pop up lots ran by home owners on their empty lot next to house. If you used same lot owner again and again he would save you a spot and you could come down late and still make game time.

[@veledajohnson1511]

That is the hood hood,...be careful,....don't get out,..

[@wmw3629]

It’s historic Corktown which is experiencing a true comeback.

[@ronaldarchibald2506]

I work there everyday and it isn't to scary unless your used to walking around draped in gold and diamonds.

[@jamesoconnor3562]

Now t's a soccer field for a league no one gives a shit about . It was the oldest major league stadium in the country until it's demise. And the new stadium is very nice, too. So you die hard Cubs fans, let it go and let them build a boatful new park for you, too.

[@sammyweed4771]

Awesome, been to so many games there, bleacher creatures!!!!