Tiger Stadium opened in 1912. Ty Cobb, Hank Greenberg, Charley Gehringer and other great Tigers called it home. Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell called so many games there. Sparky Anderson became the first manager to win a World Series in both leagues when he lead the Tigers to the title in 1984.
The history is spine-tingling and bone-chilling. Almost 100 years of baseball were played at that field.
Then it was gone. Poof. All that was left was a semlance of the diamond and a marker indicating it was the former site of Tiger Stadium.
Cuzz Gekas, Matt Parker, Jason Fleigel and I visited the spot on a trip to the Motor City Comic Con in 2012. We could not pass the chance to stand on this legendary ground, even if all visual aspects of it were gone.
I took my rightful place behind what would be home plate. Forget Mount Rushmore, Monticello and Plymouth Rock. This was history at its' finest.
As we left, a couple groups of people were arriving. They were actually going to play a game of baseball on that diamond. I resisted the urge to ask to play, too.
Unfortunately, even the remnants are now gone or at least fenced off. I am very happy I had the chance to visit it when I did. At least I can say I stood (or squatted) where some of the greats did!
Me at home plate in Tiger Stadium in Detroit, MI-May 2012.
3 comments:
A few greats from opposing teams also squatted there -- Dickey, Berra, Munson, Fisk. Hallowed ground indeed.
That may be true Matthew R,
BUT..... NO ONE "SQUATS" LIKE JOHNGY...
Geez Johngy, you could have walked around the corner and used the men's room at McDonalds!!!!
Take it,
EZ
That is really neat that you got to stand/squat on that special ground!!
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