It was a day of mourning in Detroit Saturday afternoon.
One part of the mourn was seeing Tiger Stadium looking like it got the crap beat out of it in a fight. The other part of the mourn was seeing the Detroit Lions practice later that day.
One part of the mourn was seeing Tiger Stadium looking like it got the crap beat out of it in a fight. The other part of the mourn was seeing the Detroit Lions practice later that day. The old lady at Michigan and Trumbull looks pretty stripped to say the least. I am happy to report, however, that the center field flag pole is still standing strong amid all the rubble. Doke and I made Nemos on Michigan Avenue home base and saw some others in the parking lot tailgating. Were they tailgating to see the stadium? I found out later that Kenny Chesney was playing at Ford Field that evening so my 
stadium fan appreciation theory was put to rest. There were, however, about 30 of us looking in on the gutted left field. It brought back memories (cue the "way back machine") of my dad talking with the scalpers looking for "the deal." Or stories of him and his brother Joe working at the stadium as kids. Of that first game that I can actually remember with the Tigers and the Royals playing. Walking out of the concourse onto where the playing area was, it was utopia. I think the fact that all of the concourse was closed to 
seeing the field until you walked to your seats really added to the mystique. The sound delay of the ball coming off the bat when you were sitting in the bleachers. Pitchers warming up in the bullpen were RIGHT THERE! There were the select few that were able to hit a ball completely out of the park. Could you imagine if you were walking into Brooks Lumber that day when Gibson hit one onto the roof there? And what a great view the announcers had; right over the game. I'm glad Al, Doke and myself were able to catch a game in the last month of Tiger Stadium back in 1999. The ushers were being pretty cool
stadium fan appreciation theory was put to rest. There were, however, about 30 of us looking in on the gutted left field. It brought back memories (cue the "way back machine") of my dad talking with the scalpers looking for "the deal." Or stories of him and his brother Joe working at the stadium as kids. Of that first game that I can actually remember with the Tigers and the Royals playing. Walking out of the concourse onto where the playing area was, it was utopia. I think the fact that all of the concourse was closed to 
seeing the field until you walked to your seats really added to the mystique. The sound delay of the ball coming off the bat when you were sitting in the bleachers. Pitchers warming up in the bullpen were RIGHT THERE! There were the select few that were able to hit a ball completely out of the park. Could you imagine if you were walking into Brooks Lumber that day when Gibson hit one onto the roof there? And what a great view the announcers had; right over the game. I'm glad Al, Doke and myself were able to catch a game in the last month of Tiger Stadium back in 1999. The ushers were being pretty cool
that day letting the fans get a last glimpse of the many great angles the park has to offer. Okay, back to reality. It looks like they are going to keep tearing it down up to the first base area to the third base area. If they are able to keep that portion, what a cool museum that could be for people coming from out of town. Ernie Harwell's baseball memorabilia alone (especially the stadium urinal that he managed to purchase), I would definitely pay to see.
After giving our condolences there, we went to give our condolences to the Lions in Allen Park. Their scrimmage was WAY too structured with minimal hitting. They had Dan Miller from Fox 2 over the PA telling us what drill they were doing next, talking to us like we were idiots. "Oh, they are going to do a punt now, I never would have known." A bit on the cheesy side but it is good to see football again.
Trail Head
