I Sure Do Miss Tiger Stadium

I was a very lucky kid that got to go to Tiger Stadium in the middle of the 60s. My parents were absolutely great with taking me to big games and shows. My first experience at the historic Tiger Stadium was a doubleheader with the Tigers playing the Kansas City Athletics. Reggie Jackson was a rookie. It was in 1967. I will always cherish that moment.

My parents took me from the concourse to our box seats. The aroma was unbelievable. You could smell the freshly cut grass on the playing field and those hot dogs. Nothing in your life is better than your first stadium hot dog. At Tiger Stadium, the vendors carried boiled dogs and the concession stands always broiled theirs. Just a secret I picked up after many years of attending games.

I saw so many great players at Tiger Stadium. For Instance, Brooks and Frank Robinson, Boog Powell, Dick Allen, Yaz, Roger Clemens, Thurman Munson and the great Tiger players like Kaline, McClain and Freehan.

Tiger Stadium was also known as Navin Field and Briggs Stadium. It was located in the Corktown area of Detroit. The Detroit Lions played football there until 1974. That’s when they moved to the Pontiac Silverdome. I was also fortunate enough to attend and witness the last game of the 1984 World Series. The Tigers beat up the San Diego Padres to win the World Series. The Tigers were 35-5 to start the season and won the going away. That was the last time Detroit was in the World Series too.

Navin Field broke ground in 1911. Of course, the great Ty Cobb called that his home. He played for many years for the Tigers in those early years. Tiger Stadium was closed for good in 2001. Robert Fick of the Tigers was the last man who batted in Tiger Stadium.

Now, I do love Comerica Park where the Tigers play now, but it’s just not Tiger Stadium aka “The Corner.”