Sunday, 3 August, 2008 11:34 PM
Fans Watch as Historic Tiger
Stadium is Demolished Before Their Very Own Eyes
![](http://americajr.com/sports/tigers/IMG_5097.JPG)
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
The
north side of Tiger Stadium is being torn down.
DETROIT
-- The corner. The grand lady. Navin Field. Briggs Stadium.
Tiger Stadium has had many nicknames over the years and has been
home to many memories for Detroit Tigers fans. Now, the ballpark
is being demolished and fans are watching their memories be erased
forever.
The historic ballpark opened on April 20, 1912 at the corner of
Michigan Avenue and Trumbull Boulevard. It was home to the Detroit
Tigers for 87 years, Detroit Lions for 36 years, Detroit Cougars
soccer team for two years, little league baseball for one year and
a concert when the Super Bowl came to the Motor City.
"I
want them to save the part they can," said Tim Noder, a Tigers
fan from Royal Oak. "It's sad to see it deteriorate. I remember
the first time my dad brought me. A ball hit the beam and came down
toward us. I came quite a few years with buddies up until the last
season."
Many baseball
fans have lots of memories from this old ballpark. Some of them
caught a ball, met a player or saw the Tigers won a World Series
pennant here. The Tigers won the World Series four times and they
all happened at Tiger Stadium.
As I watched
the stadium being torn down, fans kept showing up by the dozens.
They came with their cameras and camcorders to get one final glimpse
of the ballpark. One family came with a ladder they brought from
home to see over the fence and get a better look at the remains.
One man has a cart set up with peanuts for sale for those who want
to enjoy the moment with their old friend.
"It's
unfortunate that it couldn't be preserved with everything else going
on in the city," said David Schleussel, a Tigers fan from Walled
Lake. Schleussel came with his family to see the old ballpark. "Memories.
Memories of good times when you were little. It's sad. I've probably
been here about 20-30 times. Came to the last game. My dad caught
a ball once along the left field line third row. I was sitting where
the seats aren't left anymore. Many memories."
The demolition
of Tiger Stadium began on June 30 when crews punched a small hole
along the north side of the facility. The discussion to demolish
the building went on for years as several plans were considered
for the site. The city of Detroit rejected all those proposals and
chose to tear it down.
Some items
such as the lettering on the offices at the corner of Michigan and
Trumbull, the tiles above the entrance, and seat backs have been
given to the Detroit Historical Museum. Those items are currently
being displayed at the Detroit Historical Museum on Woodward Avenue
just a few miles from the ballpark.
The entire
stadium will not be demolished. Some sections were designated significant
and will be saved. Those areas include the field, the four poles,
the lower deck from first base to third base, the elevator tower
at Michigan and Cochran, the broadcast booth behind home plate and
the flagpole in the outfield. The rest of the stadium is set to
be dismantled.
"I
have lots of memories," said Bill Rayburn, a Tigers fan from
Ferndale who came out to take pictures. "Seeing this memories
start flooding back. A lot of childhood memories. Unfortunately,
they've taken this long to decide what to do with it. You know if
it has to be done, it has to be done. I look forward to the Tigers
playing at Comerica Park now.
"It's
very sad actually. It's an old friend and I'm sorry to see it go.
Onward and upward. It was a real family-oriented place. Except for
maybe Friday nights. I hope they can figure out what to do with
this spot cause it's a good spot in the city. My favorite memory
was the '71 All-Star Game. My father was able to get tickets for
that and I saw Reggie Jackson hit probably the longest home run
I ever saw at Tiger Stadium. There will be many more at Comerica
Park. Can't forget about this guy either or this grand lady as they
say."
Detroit
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick gave the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy until
Aug. 1 to secure enough money to save and redevelop the baseball
stadium. The goal was to raise $369,000. Funds would be used for
maintenance and security over the portion of the ballpark that will
remain. The ultimate goal is to raise between $12 million and $15
million to save the baseball diamond, 3,000 seats and an area that
would house legendary Tiger's broadcaster Ernie Harwell's vast collection
of sports memorabilia.
As of July
18, a U.S. Senate subcommittee has approved $4 million to towards
that goal to revive the ballpark and turn it into a youth baseball
stadium. Michigan senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow asked
for the funds. It will still need to go to the full Senate for consideration
as part of the Transportation, Treasury, House and Urban Development
budget bill.
Tiger Stadium
hosted many of baseball's historic moments. Babe Ruth hit his 700th
career home run there on July 13, 1934. That ball was estimated
to travel over 500 feet. On May 2, 1939, Yankees first baseman Lou
Gehrig voluntarily benched himself ending a streak of 2,130 consecutive
games. Due to the progression of the disease that was named after
him, it proved to be his final game of his career. The stadium hosted
the All-Star Game in 1941, 1951 and 1971.
"I
experienced the '84 World Series season here in Detroit," said
Samuel Daher, a sales account manager who came to catch a final
glimpse of Tiger Stadium on a business trip to the Motor City from
Cleveland. "I've been a Cleveland fan my whole life. We haven't
had a lot of success in Cleveland. I became a Tiger fan in '84 and
went to a number of games in Tiger Stadium and really enjoyed the
experience and became very fond of the old ballpark.
"I
happen to be on business in Detroit today and thought I'd stop by
and pay my last respects. It's a sad moment. I was hoping they would
have found a way to preserve the old ballpark. My fondest memories
is that World Series team in '84. I came here quite a bit. The beer
was terrible. A lot of history here you just hate to see the wrecking
ball take its course."
For
more information, visit the Old
Tiger Stadium Conservancy or visit the Detroit
Historical Museum to purchase seat backs and official programs
from historic Tiger Stadium. Click
here to make a donation and help save Tiger Stadium.
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
A
large section of Tiger Stadium has already been demolished.
![](http://americajr.com/sports/tigers/IMG_5075.JPG)
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
A
side view of the old Tiger Stadium. The ballpark is almost 100 years
old.
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