Awesome article Dan as usual! [97], The pilot of the HBO series Hung featured the stadium's demolition in its opening scene. Charlie Steiner with ESPN highlights of Oakland A's/Detroit Tigers. Fielder didnt hit his 50th that night, but it remains one of my more memorable spontaneous moments. I ended up buy a very nice winter Tiger jacket and as I tried it on and decided on it they noticed a very minor blemish on the back and quickly informed me I had a hard time even seeing it & probably would have never noticed it. WebFont.load({ google: { families: ["Lato:900:latin", "Lato:300:latin", "Playfair+Display:700italic:latin", "Merriweather:700:latin", "Crete+Round::latin", "PT+Sans+Narrow:700:latin"] } }); Detroit Red Wings jerseys are back in stock! [4] A week into demolition, it was announced that the field, foul poles, and flagpole would be preserved. In the first game Cash hit the shot over the roof and another home run off McClain. It was part of a memorable summer as the city healed its wounds, got behind its baseball team ands flocked to the ballpark in record numbers. [51][52], The stadium hosted the 1941, 1951 and 1971 MLB All-Star Games. When Medwick took his position in left field in the bottom of the inning, the Tiger fans pelted him with fruits, vegetables and just about anything else they could get their hands on. But the Yankees turned on their old nemesis, knocking him out with seven runs in two innings. Returns & Exchanges The Tigers. Frank Lary, who had made a career out of beating the Yankees (he was 29-6 lifetime against them from 1955-63), was the Detroit starter. Cecil Fielder hits homerun over Tiger stadium roof. Cash hit the ball over Tiger Stadiums right field roof four times in his career. I was there. Tiger Stadium (formerly known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium) was a stadium located in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. (Nobody ever knew for sure just close of a target that upper deck really was. Plainsman Park (Auburn) upgrades A doctor who was sitting in the stands tore from his seat, broke past an official and ran to help Hughes. Although only three strongmen (Frank Howard, Harmon Killebrew, Cecil Fielder) hit balls that went over the roof in left field, several folks shot the ball over the right-field roof. In the eighth inning of a game against the Rangers, Fielder turned on a Matt Whiteside offering, hitting it onto the roof of Tiger Stadium. ", "Home run facts from The Corner in Detroit", "September 27, 1999: Tears and cheers: Tiger Stadium hosts final game", "Kansas City Royals at Detroit Tigers Box Score, September 27, 1999", "Closing ceremony brought a lineup of stars back to Tiger Stadium", "The Unknown Kid Who Hit the Real Last Home Run at Tiger Stadium", "Tiger Stadium rises from the ashes for Bud Bowl 2006", "A six-pack to go at Tiger Stadium's hallowed ground", "Detroit Should Sell Tiger Stadium As Is Summer of Privatization", "The Navin Field Grounds Crew: Detroit Diehards Stand on Sacred Grounds", "Detroit EDC OKs plan to tear down Tiger Stadium", "Council OKs Detroit ballpark's demolition", "NEW! Many fans were saddened when the last game was played at "The Corner". Returns & Exchanges The company pioneered in the use of reinforced concrete and built municipal and industrial facilities throughout the country. Dismiss, Copyright 2022 Vintage Detroit Collection, Spinnaker Center, 44692 Helm St, Plymouth. Most spectacular was Cash's performance in the doubleheader that June Sunday 60 years ago. The benches for both the Lions and their opponents were on the outfield side of the field. Junior was upset that Sparky had intentionally walked him so often. Before leaving Oakland for St. Louis, McGwire would become the fourth and final player to homer over the left-field roof at Tiger Stadium, connecting off Brian Moehler on April 21, 1997. The city received a $5 million federal grant and issued $8.5 million in bonds to pay for renovations, including replacement of the old green wooden seats with blue plastic seats. Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in favor of an $80 million south end-zone upper deck expansion that added 70 "Tiger Den" suites, over 3,000 club seats and 1,500 . Minnesotas Harmon Killebrew had been the first in 1962, followed six years later by Washingtons Frank Howard. In 1911, new Tigers owner Frank Navin ordered a new steel-and-concrete baseball park on . Thats so true, every game can be legendary. [35][36][37] It originally had one before it was removed. Cabrera Shipping Service The most notable one easily was a KISS concert held on June 28, 1996. On July 2, 1993, Tigers first baseman Cecil Fielder hit a home run that has only just now come back to Earth. Berry lay injured while Horton, who was hardly fleet afoot, circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run. Among the performers that day: Erma Franklin, older sister of Aretha Franklin. Monaghan sold the team to a pizza rival, Mike Ilitch, in 1992. He has four other children and four grandchildren. I highly recommend if you live within a 30 minute drive of this place and you are looking for authentic NBA NFL and MB items stop in and see them they also have a lot of very rare items which will make you stand out. As i pulled in I quickly understood this was a warehouse & office thinking this is a internet retailer. [48], On July 18, 1921, Babe Ruth hit what is believed to be the longest verified home run in Major League Baseball history. On October 24, 1971, Chuck Hughes, a 27-year-old wide receiver for Detroit, suddenly collapsed on the field at the end of a play. The bleachers had their own entrance, concession stands and restrooms. He installed an area in the lower deck (between first and third base) that had padded seats and added waitservice. Cash hit the ball over Tiger Stadium's right field roof four times in his career. The home run record was reset to 235 three years later, during the Tigers' final campaign at Tiger Stadium. While with the Red Sox he hit one home run to dead center at the 488 foot marker. Watched Harmons HR shot go over the left field stands-right over the top of me-I was working as a stand-boy out in left field and got a break to go out and and watch part of the gamemy only comment was WOW! Proudly powered by WordPress | Why Ill never sell my Mark Fidrych rookie card, Ken Holloway: Detroits other Yankee Killer, These batters hit the most home runs at Tiger Stadium, #TBT: Tigers power hitting catcher Mickey Tettleton. Detroit OF Rocky Colavito tied a major-league record when he went 7-for-10 in the game. I was there in the left field upper deck when it was first hit we thought it was coming right to us, but it just kept going over the roof. Cecil hit the longest homerun Ive seen in my life during a minor league game in Kinston , N.C.The left field at Grainger Stadium is 370 ft. from home plate ; Cecils homerun cleared the fence , the street behind the fence , and landed on the roof of a 3 story building that was 20 yards on the other side of the street . On June 27, 1963, he played an entire game at first base without a chance, as the Minnesota Twins won 106. In the decade after the Tigers vacated the stadium, several rejected redevelopment and preservation efforts finally gave way to demolition. For the current stadium of the Detroit Tigers, see, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, 1999 Detroit Tigers season Final game at Tiger Stadium, "Tiger Stadium still holds a special place in hearts of fans", "Sept. 21, 2009: The day Tiger Stadium died", "Bennett Park/Navin Field/Briggs Stadium/Tiger Stadium", "50 Years ago Briggs Stadium was Renamed Tiger Stadium", "National Register of Historic Places MICHIGAN (MI), Wayne Country", "First pitch thrown at former Tiger Stadium site, now home to youth league", "April 28, 1896: There used to be a hay market here: Detroit Tigers open Bennett Park", "April 20, 1912: Frank Navin's field of dreams opens in Detroit", "Tigers say Detroit is prime stadium site", "Old Tiger Stadium's famed flagpole gets new life", "Detroit Tigers: 10 Things You May Not Know About Comerica Park", "June 15, 1948: 'Look at your wonderful lights here': Tigers win first night game in Detroit", "The Game That Was NotPhiladelphia Phillies at Chicago Cubs, August 8, 1988", "Remembering old Tiger Stadium and its final game", "In pictures: Remembering the Tigers' original home in Detroit", "1957 Detroit Lions: What happened each game during championship season", "Tiger Stadium History, Photos & More of the former NFL stadium of the Detroit Lions", "FORMER PONTIAC SILVERDOME . [67][68], In February 2006, a tent on Tiger Stadium's field played host to Anheuser-Busch's Bud Bowl 2006. Thanks for reading. It was the last hit and the last run in the stadium. In his first professional season, 1975, he batted .324 with 10 home runs and 38 runs batted in for the Southern League's Montgomery Rebels. 59,203 fans attended the game, the largest crowd ever to see a football game at the Corner. highlights - the Tigers 1984 miracle season, and the stadium's most famous home run: a mammoth home run by Reggie Jackson off a light tower atop the right-field roof during the 1971 All-Star Game - and lowlights, such as October 9, 1934, when in the sixth inning of Game Seven of the World 1. I placed an order and received a follow up call within 24 hrs due to item was not available. Briggs Stadium was the scene of another famous event, which was actually something that did not occur. Talk about luck, but wow were they wrong. Although that game was never televised, Tiger Stadium remained a part of the opening for the series for many years long after the Lions had moved to the Pontiac Silverdome. One of them came n Thanksgiving Day in 1962 when they sacked Green Bays Bart Starr 10 times en route to a 26-14 win the lone Packer loss of the season. Detroit's Police Athletic League (PAL) headquarters would relocate to the site and maintain the field. Detroit responded quickly, trailing 7-6 after just three innings. (Cerdan claimed he dislocated his shoulder in the first round.) He responded by going four-for-five in his third game as a major leaguer. Team: Cleveland Indians. Cecil signed an autograph for me the next year at the stadium, on my birthday in fact. Reggie Jackson's All-Star Game homer off the Tiger Stadium roof is still jaw-dropping By Chris Landers July 12, 2017 There's no way to say for sure whether Reggie Jackson's homer at the 1971 All-Star Game is the longest in the history of the Midsummer Classic -- the game is over 80 years old, after all, and data is incomplete. Once or twice a year, an outfielder would have to go behind the pole to chase an errant hit. [31][32][33], Tiger Stadium featured an upper and lower deck bleacher section that was separated from the rest of the stadium. He was a regular at baseball games there for years. PNC Park upgrades In the 22nd inning, Jack Reed hit the only home run of his 129-at bat career off Phil Regan for a 9-7 win. (Rumor was this came at the behest of the teams first star, Ty Cobb.) Reggie Jackson's 1971 All-Star Game shot at Tiger Stadium would have travelled more than 600. When Ford Field hosted the 2006 Super Bowl, a tent on Tiger Stadiums field played host to the Bud Bowl, an event that featured (among other things), a performance by Snoop Dogg. Copyright 2023 August Publications. How many home runs did Harmon Killebrew have? (The Cubs claimed their last World Series title there in 1908.) I was there the day Fielder hit the over-the-roof shot. Luis Polonia, the Tigers' left fielder, wearing Willie Horton's No. On June 27, 1963, he played an entire game at first base without a chance, as the Minnesota Twins won 10-6. It hosted the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball team from 1912 to 1999, as well as the National Football League 's Detroit Lions from 1938 to 1974. In the 17 years afterwards (before moving to Pontiac), they had few memorable days at Tiger Stadium. Although they only won six pennants during their tenure there, the hometown Tigers were often an interesting team with individual stars. This is not a replacement for the newsletter, but rather a real-time notification system! It seemed like Rusty Staub hit more than his fair share of those, and Dave Bergman too. In 1895, Detroit had a team in the Western League, an eight-team loop that eventually melded into the American League. (Thirteen years earlier, he was the only player ever to homer over the center-field bleachers, which consisted of one deck at the time.) A short while later I left with a new cap and a custom Fidrych T-shirt. On July 19, 1968, the Tigers trailed Baltimore 4-3 with one runner on and two out in the bottom of the ninth inning when Matchick, a .226 hitter, lofted a fly ball to right. The Tigers' Kirk Gibson hit a home run onto the street in 1983 but it was less than 600 feet. Where is Rocky Colviato (spelling) on the list? In the 1971 All-Star Game, Reggie Jackson hit a ball off a transformer in deep right-center field that left the bat so fast that all TV could catch was its return trip to earth. Detroit was one of the first powers in the new league, advancing to the World Series three years in a row from 1907-09. Even more unusual for the time, all three games were televised locally in an effort to distract minds of Detroiters. [2][19] Plans to modify and maintain Tiger Stadium as the home of the Tigers, known as the Cochrane Plan, were supported by many in the community, but were never seriously considered by the city or the Tigers. By the way, where did TRAM rank for the amount of HRs he hit during his career with the Tigers when they played at Tigers Stadium for going yard? This never happened. In 1968, his last at-bat came there when he struck out in Game 5 of the World Series. None had occurred since 1955. When did the Detroit Tigers Stadium get demolished? The third deck in right field would be 75 feet high and 375 feet from home plate. I was there with my dad. What do you get when you combine a block party and a baseball league? It bounced twice before plopping over the edge and onto the street. The Tigers will move to Comerica Park next year. As you'll notice, Aaron Judge hit four 500-foot blasts. Only four of the game's most powerful right-handed sluggers (Harmon Killebrew, Frank Howard, Cecil Fielder and Mark McGwire) reached the left field rooftop. [56], Toward the end of the Lions' game against the Chicago Bears at the stadium on October 24, 1971, Lions wide receiver Chuck Hughes collapsed and later died of a heart attack, making Hughes the only NFL player to date who died during a game. [54][55] Of the many home runs in those games, the most often replayed is Reggie Jackson's drive to right field that hit so high up in the light tower that the TV camera lost sight of it, until it dropped to the field below. Matt Monagan Seven of the Tigers' eight runs came off home runs. And on September 27, 1999, with flashbulbs popping, Robert Fick hit the final home run at The Corner, a grand slam in the last game at Tiger Stadium. Yankee Stadium is listed in the credits at the end of the film as being played by Tiger Stadium. Customer Service The following inning, Dick Wakefield sent a Ferriss pitch over the wall for a solo home run, his third homer of the season. There were strange home runs: one hit on a line drive that stuck under the wall and allowed Dixie Walker to circle the bases in 1939; a homer that rattled around the flag pole in deep center field while Lou Gehrig ran around the bases in 1933; and the inside-the-park homer that Kirk Gibson hit in which he was a stride behind teammate Lou Whitaker who slid safely in front of him scoring from first base. Harmon Killebrew hit a home run that ricocheted off the left field roof and sounded like a gun blast off his bat. PNC Park (Pirates) That pocket is the deepest part of the park at 410 feet, 11 feet farther than dead center. In 1964, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle had an idea he wanted to try. Cecil Fielder clears left field roof at Tiger Stadium. Some call this the longest home run ever hit. The people there are awesome and they clearly don't get much walk in business however they know their product while intending in only buying one jersey I walked out with much more! Detroit reliever Terry Fox threw eight scoreless innings of relief. The stadium was nicknamed "The Corner" for its location at the intersection of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues. Nomar Mazara (505 Feet) Ted Williams said Briggs Stadium had the best sight lines of any ballpark, and that was back when the interior was painted green. [2] By 1938, the city had agreed to move Cherry Street, allowing the left-field seats to be double-decked, and the now-renamed Briggs Stadium had a capacity of 53,000. Ruth hit 60 homers there, the most by any visiting ballplayer. [71] Funded by local businessman and ardent stadium supporter Peter Comstock Riley, and directed by Gary Glaser, it earned solid reviews and won three Telly awards and two Emmy awards for the film's writer and co-producer, Richard Bak, a local journalist and the author of two books about the stadium. That ball is measured at 634 . Whitaker hit 146 homers at the old ballpark, most of them after he matured into a better power hitter in his late 20s. But it burns bright in the memories of hitters like Tom Matchick. Hammerin Hank Greenberg probably hit more home runs to deep left-center field at Navin Field/Briggs Stadium than any other player. Al Kaline used to scale the fences in right field to take away home runs, and he played that area so well that it became known as Kalines Corner.. Center field was even farther 467 feet. They checked it over and off I went. Six years later, Cecil Fielder hit a moonshot over the left field roof on his way to 51 homers that season. Trammell hit 97 homers at Tiger Stadium, good for 11th all-time. As I mentioned above, a list that includes significant home runs at Tiger Stadium has to include Charlie Maxwell hitting 4 HRS in 4 consecutive at bats on May 3, 1959 in a double header against the Yankees. AL West: Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers. Through snow flurries and a first-pitch temperature of 32 degrees at Comerica Park, Cabrera stepped to the plate in the first inning and ripped an opposite field home run just inches over the yellow line in right field to give the Tigers a quick 2-0 lead on the Cleveland Indians (scroll for video below). Negative racial/anti-Semitic, or religious stereotypes are prohibited. Eric Chesterton But there was nothing anybody could do. It was the final Major League hit, home run, and RBI in Tiger Stadium's history. Babe Ruth hit his 700th career home run there in 1934. The film dramatized the efforts of New York Yankees teammates Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris during the 1961 season to break fellow Yankee Babe Ruth's single-season home run record of 60. Teams had to stand on the same sideline in right field. Historian Mark Gallagher estimated that the home run Mantle hit in September of 1960 at Tiger Stadium traveled a whopping 643 feet. 1965 2017: History of Inception and Planning", "The Detroit Lions' Last Game at Tiger Stadium", "Louis Proved to Be Clever Ring Master in Victory over Bob Pastor", "Remembering when the Titans played Notre Dame at Briggs Stadium", "DCFC-Glentoran match marks 50th anniversary of Detroit Cougars", "DCFC to host MSU at old Tiger Stadium site", "Babe Ruth birthday: He owned the Detroit Tigers", "July 18, 1921: Babe Ruth's 560-foot blast against Tigers sets career home run record", "This Day in Baseball: Lou Gehrig's historic run ended in Detroit", "Reggie Jackson's All-Star Game homer off the Tiger Stadium roof is still jaw-dropping", "Detroit Lions Player Dies After Collapsing on Field", "Football Thursday: Legacy of Chuck Hughes goes deeper than being only NFL player to die on field during a game", "Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers Box Score, April 7, 1986", "Detroit Tigers vs. Boston Red Sox Opening Day: Remember What Happened in 1986? It was the 29th home run to clear the roof in right field. By the early 1990s the owner of the Tigers wanted a new luxurious ballpark for team. A year later, he returned to the stadium and retained his crown with a 15-round decision over Lauren Dauthuille. Non-Baseball Events Held at Tiger Stadium The year 1938 was significant in the ballparks history. He never played another game. Today's Posts; Member List; Calendar; Forum; American League; Chicago White Sox; If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. [81], After a hiatus wherein various plans to preserve portions of the stadium were considered,[82][83][84][85] demolition was completed on September 21, 2009. Progressive Field renovations [71][72] It was also shown at the inaugural National Baseball Hall of Fame Film Festival in November 2006. Frank Osborn founded Osborn Engineering in Cleveland in 1892. [14], The stadium was seen in the 1980 feature film Raging Bull where it was the site of two of Jake LaMotta's championship boxing matches. He only fought once at Briggs Stadium, defeating Bob Pastor on September 20, 1939. . In 80-degree weather on Aug. 25, 1990, Tiger Stadium hosted 45,474 fans eager to watch the Oakland Athletics' "Bash Brothers," Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, face off against the Tigers'. When baseball's biggest stars need a haircut, they come to Jos 'Jordan' Lpez, By What a game. But on August 25, 1990, during a Saturday game against Oakland, Tigers first baseman Cecil Fielder joined the exclusive circle of sluggers. There is one other football item worthy of note regarding Tiger Stadium. A World Series victory in 1984 didnt seem to help. , Where to live in New York if you've just come into $324 million. Although few improvements were made to the ballpark over the years, it was still considered a showcase of baseball with a flair for memorable games. [2] In 1961, new owner John Fetzer took control of the stadium and gave it its final and longest-lasting name: Tiger Stadium. I had Ernie on the radio listening to the game. (In those days, home games were blacked out 75 miles from the site of competition. Although never as well known as Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park or Wrigley Field, Tiger Stadium held an unique place in the hearts of Detroiters, who have now seemed to come to terms with the fact it will be torn down, probably in September 2008. Many seats were replaced. [80] Demolition began on June 30, 2008. [14], In 2018, the Corner Ballpark opened at the site. My sons at 10 and 8 thought I was a genious. A record that cant be broken, You are correct he hit 4 out of the Stadium. Take your pick, his three-home run outburst against Catfish Hunter in the 1978 Championship Series, the 1983 Pine Tar home run, or the 1980 upper deck jack off arch-nemesis Goose Gossage that all . Our motto is simple: We enjoy doing cool things and are overjoyed we can make a living doing so. Aaron Judge (2017) - 513 feet in Miami Bullying, racism, personal attacks, harassment, or discrimination is prohibited. According to former Tiger Stadium groundskeeper Frank Feneckit, it took almost a howitzer to send a ball over the left-field grandstand at The Corner. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. [14], In 1895, Detroit Tigers owner George Vanderbeck had a new ballpark built at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues. In 1977, a fire wiped out the press box. Stopped by Wed morning 7/6 and had the pleasure of dealing directly with Lynne. All in all, however, the ballpark had a helluva good run. [79], The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation awarded the demolition contract on April 22, 2008, with the speculation that demolition revenue would come from the sale of scrap metal. [39][40] The football field ran mostly in the outfield from the right field line to left center field parallel with the third base line. called the stadium home in the late 1960s. A dozen years later, after Navins death, Walter Briggs bought the club, adding an upper deck along the foul poles and seats in right field. Outfield Wall Height: A left-to-right representation of the outfield wall and the minimum/maximum heights (in feet) of the wall. Cash hit the ball over Tiger Stadiums right field roof four times in his career. Extremely satisfied with the wonderful personable service! Historians generally agree the longest home run hit in the ballpark was probably achieved by Detroit 1B Norm Cash, who ripped a shot over the center field scoreboard in a 1962 game that landed on the roof of a parked taxicab. [2] Spotlights were added above the warning track to illuminate the area beneath the overhang. A short while later I left with a new cap and a custom Fidrych T-shirt. This was their first stop and they sold out the place in record time. Comerica Park is NICE; Tiger Stadium was GREAT!!!! Extremely satisfied with the wonderful personable service! My guess is there is a more effective way for the Athletic Department to spend 20 million dollars (or 50 million..or whatever it would cost). To make the park appear like Yankee Stadium, the parks seats were painted green and a skyline of the Bronx was added. Out of concern for the neighborhood, the team moved a series to Baltimore. (When the credits rolled at the end of the movie, it is duly listed that the role of Yankee Stadium was played by Tiger Stadium.). I,my son and two friends were sitting on the first base side in the upper deck when he hit that one, it went up so high I thought it wasnt coming down until it disappeared over the edge of the roof, Jose Cansenco hit on into center field at the flag pole that game too. 5 Reasons to Update Your Business Operations, Get the Best Sleep Ever in 5 Simple Steps, How to Pack for Your Next Trip Somewhere Cold, Manage Your Money More Efficiently in 5 Steps, Ranking the 5 Most Spectacular NFL Stadiums in 2023. On August 25, 1986, McGwire had lined a Walt Terrell pitch into the centerfield bleachers at Tiger Stadium, the first of 583 round-trippers the controversial slugger would wind up hitting in his career. The team played as the Detroit Cougars in the United Soccer Association. ),

The Tigers moved to Comerica Park in 2000 but the Corner remained standing. Monaghan had to get a helicopter to fly in pizzas to writers working inside the old ballpark while overzealous fans partied too hard directly outside Tiger Stadium. 2023 Ballparks Climb up to the roof and look around, Fenecksaid in 1999, the Tigers final summer at The Corner, and you wont believe how high and hard they have to hit the ball to do that.. He did it on national television in a mid-September game against Oakland that was won with a dramatic two-run rally in the last of the ninth inning. Fick, a catcher and designated hitter, entered the game batting .200 with two home runs in 30 . I was there for Gibsons shot over the roof onto brooks lumber. It was a relatively soft touch compared to left field, with a 325-foot (99m) foul line and with a roof that was in line with the front of the lower deck. He makes numerous personal appearances as an ambassador for the Yankees. [64][66], On July 24, 2001, the day Detroit celebrated its 300th birthday, a Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League game between the Motor City Marauders and the Lake Erie Monarchs was played at Tiger Stadium. Saw Herndons line shot to center. In 1935, following Navin's death, new owner Walter Briggs oversaw the expansion of Navin Field to a capacity of 36,000 by extending the upper deck to the foul poles and across right field. There were home runs that didnt seem to be home runs. She is very accommodating and made me feel at home, especially since I was unaware they don't operate a standard retail shop. In 1955, right field returned to its 325-foot status. Theme: Envo Blog. My sons still talk about it. the Nearest to me was Vintage. Over the years, the distances gradually shortened down the lines. A year later, Tiger Stadium was in the national spotlight when Denny McLain became the first pitcher in 31 years to win 30 games. Thanks, J.D. [53] The ball was also carrying well in the 1951 and 1971 games. I found it refreshing to be served by people who truly knew everything and who came across as glad i stopped in and only care about me getting the service beyond what i deserved.