Detroit Tigers Baseball

Bummer

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:08:00 +0000

Heck of a ball game tonight as the Tigers came up short in the one game playoff with the Minnesota Twins. Once again the Tigers were unable to capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities. Too many times all season Detroit was unable to turn runners into runs. Too many times they failed to score guys from 3rd with 1 or less outs. I've really never seen anything like it. Unable to even get the ball out of the infield with guys in scoring position. Still they had chances to end the game. Placido Polanco once again failed to make a routine play on a soft ball hit towards the 2nd base bag and failed to put ball in play with runners in scoring position, twice striking out. The catcher Laird should not be on a roster. Nothing he does behind the plate is worth having an automatic out every ssingle time he steps to the plate. One would think a catcher would at least have a clue about the strike zone, but this guy almost goes down to one knee to swing at a obvious ball four with the bases loaded and pops out on a bunt attempt. Nice job dumbass. You would think he would accidently get a hit sometime, nope, not Gerald. I have to add that Leyland seems to have no clue half the time. Makes a lot of bad decisions during the course of the game.

Hats off to the Twins, go beat the Yankees!

Big Game

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:10:00 +0000

Huge game tonight for the Tigers as they try to hold off the Minnesota Twins. The boys had plenty of opportunity to put runs on the board they just couldn't get a hit with runners on base. Same story. Huff and Washburn sucks. They have done nothing to help. Huff at the plate is painful to watch. Twice he couldn't get the ball out of the infield with runners in scoring position. Nice wild pitches from Lyon. Tough Loss.

Verlander throws a gem and the Tiger bats get to the rookie in this must win game!

Floundering

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:21:00 +0000

What a disappointing year this has been. We all came into the year with huge expectations. I guess we're all guilty. Everybody should have seen this coming. The Detroit Tigers have a terrible pitching staff and a few too many players without hearts. Its possible for Tigers baseball to finish last in the central, who would have thunk it!

Go Lions!

Why?

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 02:50:00 +0000

Another why Jim why? Miner pitching great tonigh and Jimbo takes him out after six innings. Tigers bullpen promptly go out and blow another one. This season is a lost cause. If the players don't screw it up the manager will. Its time to get back to blogging about the history of the Detroit Tigers baseball club and forget about this major league baseball fiasco.

7-28-08 Detroit vs Cleveland

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 22:44:00 +0000

Not a lot to say about this game. A terrible pitching performance by Kenny Rogers and a miserable performance from our hitters. Someone needs to remind Rogers that this is major league baseball and that garbage doesn't work. On the bright side Granderson had a decent game, Ordonez and Joyce had hits. Aquilino Lopez pitched 2.1 innings of 1 hit scoreless ball and the White Sox also lost so we didn't lose any ground. Another game with Cleveland tonight.

7-27-08 Detroit vs Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:53:00 +0000

Six strong innings from Zack Miner and a new closer for Detroit may just be what the doctor ordered for Detroit Tigers baseball. In a must win game the Tigers showed true character and some timely hitting to get within 6 1/2 games of the Central Division lead. Home runs by Granderson and Thames, RBIs by Granderson, Ordonez, Cabrera, Thames, and Renteria propelled the Tigers to their 53rd win of the season, more importantly it saved them from what would have been a crushing sweep at the hands of the division leading Chicago White Sox. Next up the Cleveland Indians. Lets see if we can build on the big win yesterday!

7-26-08 Detroit vs Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:14:00 +0000

Not the kind of pitching performance I (or the Tigers) was expecting from Justin Verlander (4 innings, 9 hits, 7 runs, 110 pitches, 2 home runs). The bullpen came through with 5 scoreless innings. The Tigers almost came back but could not get the one big hit they needed. Granderson, Ordonez, and Renteria all had mutiple hits. Ordonez and Sheffield hit homers. 7 1/2 games behind the White Sox and we need a win today. Getting swept by the Sox is not on the best interest of the Detroit Tigers in their quest to win the Central Division. Zack Miner takes the mound today in a must win game. Major League Baseball is a funny game, just when a team thinks their turning it around they get smacked in the head by a baseball bat and brought back down to earth. Today's game will show a lot about the character of the Detroit Tigers baseball club, I hope it shows we have some fight left in us!

7-25-08 Detroit vs Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 17:29:00 +0000

Wake me up from this nightmare! Game in the bag against the division winner and Todd Jones blows the save in the ninth inning. You have got to be kidding me. A great ball game wasted by one of the worst closers in the game. I believe it's time the Detroit Tigers make a change in the closer role. Give Fernando Rodney (been throwing lights out as of late) a chance in the ninth. He can't do any worse than Jones (3 0f last 7 chances blown). Rather than sitting 3 1/2 games behind the Sox the Tigers ball club is 6 1/2 behind and had their hearts ripped out last night. A quality start by Nate Robertson wasted. Once again Detroit hit the baseball well, although they wasted a few chances. Carlos Guillen had a huge homer in the seventh only to be outdone with Jermaine Dye's bomb in the ninth. Justin Verlander takes the mound today with Detroit Tigers baseball needing a big outing to get back into this pennant race. The baseball schedule favors Detroit the rest of the season, they just have to capitalize.

7-23-08 Detroit vs Kansas City

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:08:00 +0000

Another victory for the Tigers. 33-6 combined series score! As dominate a series as you will see in Major League Baseball. Armando Galarraga carried a perfect game into the 7th inning, retiring the first 18 batters, finishing with seven innings pitched, 7 strikeouts, and giving up only one run and three hits. Strong games from most everybody, with Cabrera and Ordonez leading the way with five combined RBIs. Still 5 1/2 ganes back as the Chicago White Sox came back from 5 down in the 8th inning to win the game. The club has Thursday off before welcoming the Chicago White Sox to the ball park for a 3 game weekend series. Let the games begin!

7-22-08 Detroit vs Kansas City

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:03:00 +0000

The Royals have been just what the doctor ordered for Tigers baseball. A strong outing by Kenny Rogers (6 ip, 1 run, 4 k's) and the bullpen results in a 7-1 beat down of Kansas City. Strong games from Polanco and Ordonez, both with multiple hits and RBIs. 5 1/2 back, if the pitching continues to be competitve the Tigers have a good shot at winning the central division.

7-21-08 Detroit vs Kansas City

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:47:00 +0000

19-4, 18 hits, a great baseball game from Zach Miner (6 innings pitched, 3 hits, 0 earned runs). Matt Joyce is showing us he is the real deal belting a home run, a triple, and 2 singles to go along with 5 RBIs. Strong games from Curtis Granderson and Carlos Guillen with three hits each. Miguel Cabrera is finally showing everybody why the Detroit Tigers made the trade knocking in 6 runs with 5 hits matching his career high. This was one heck of a major league baseball game. To temper my enthusiasm a bit the bullpen, specifically Freddy Dolsi was bad again giving up 4 hits and 4 earned runs in one inning. The Tigers need to continue to play good baseball as they are now only 5 1/2 games behind the struggling Chicago White Sox.

7-20-08 Detroit vs Baltimore

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:52:00 +0000

Led by Justin Verlander's strong 8.2 innings the Detroit Tigers have moved withing 6 1/2 games of the Chicago White Sox with a 5-1 victory over the Twins. Magglio Ordonez and Marcus Thames led the offensive charge, each hitting home runs. Ryan Rayburn also had a strong game going 2-4 with 2 RBIs. These young guys are really stepping up and playing solid baseball when called upon. If we can get decent pitching from the rest of our staff the Tigers may have a chance to catch the White Sox and win the division. The club must take it one ball game at a time and might possibly turn in one of the great comebacks in major league baseball history. Next up the Kansas City Royals.

7-19-08 Detroit vs Baltimore

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 02:35:00 +0000

Neither a 6-0 lead in the first inning or a 10-9 lead in the ninth is safe with this Detroit Tigers pitching staff. Big games from Granderson, Polanco, Sheffield, 2 RbIs from Ordonez and homers from Cabrera and Larish weren't enough for a victory. led by Nate Robertson and his 7 earned runs in 2.1 innings the Tiger staff was again awful. If Detroit can't get better pitching in the second half then this baseball club is never going to win the MLB Central Division.

7-18-08 Detroit vs Baltimore

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:01:00 +0000

Out hitting the Orioles 14-9 the Tigers ended up on the wrong side of the scoreboard. Leading 4-3 after 5 innings Detroit was unable to hold on. Giving up four home runs (Luke Scott, 2 homers) ultimately was to much to overcome as the Tigers dropped a game they should have won. Pudge Rodriguez (4-4, 2 RBIs), Magglio Ordonez (2-5, run scored), Curtis Granderson (2-4, 1 RBI) and Matt Joyce (2-4) led the Detroit Tiger attack. A. Galarraga pitched 6.2 innings giving up 8 hits and 4 earned runs recording his fourth loss of the season. These are games the ball club must win to be in contention in September, time to turn it around.

7-17-08 Detroit vs Baltimore

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:52:00 +0000

With a 6-5 win the Detroit Tigers have started the second half of the baseball season exactly how they needed to. Led by Gary Sheffield and Marcus Thames the Tigers got the win despite being out hit 14-9. Kenny Rogers picked up his seventh win of the baseball season despite giving up 11 hits. The bullpen threw 3 shut out innings.

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:06:00 +0000

Great read by Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News. It's a sad time, many memories for many people at the old ballpark. Going to Tiger Stadium was like going to heaven for many. With a tear in my eye I say goodbye old friend, I'll see you again!

DETROIT -- The pilgrimage continues, day after day, carload after carload. They come at all hours, from the Bloomfields and the Grosse Pointes, from Detroit's east and west sides, old and young, black and white, dry-eyed and misty-eyed, all connected by an old building that's empty and falling, but in many ways, forever full.

It's mostly a somber processional, marked by the occasional shout of dismay from an on-looker as a mechanical claw takes another bite. Tiger Stadium has been crumbling for a while, since the last game there on Sept. 27, 1999, but now it's officially dying, and it can be agonizing to watch.

But they watch, we watch, in growing numbers, stopping on the I-75 service drive, standing on car hoods and straining to see over the fence, to see what's left, to remember what used to be. Is it gawking? Not really. It's reminiscing, which means the occasional tear is allowed to escape.

Tiger Stadium has stood, in various forms under various names, at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull since 1912, and soon it will be gone. It's disheartening that another of Detroit's one-time treasures will be reduced to trash, that a story of baseball and tradition and family will end with another vacant lot, with no clear plan for development.

Ernie Harwell and the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy are trying desperately to raise money to preserve some element of the ballpark, and it's absolutely a worthy cause. If you have the means and harbor the memories, you should help. If you're ambivalent about saving any of her, I suggest you swing by the lot that's rapidly becoming a plot and gaze at the hole where the center field bleachers once stood, where the flagpole still stands, flying the colors.

From the freeway at dusk, Tiger Stadium looks like some grotesque road kill, spilling twisted metal and frayed aluminum, as clouds hover and the machines gnaw. If you have the time, if you believe that paying last respects serves the mourner as well as the mourned, come spend one more night at the Old Ballpark.

• • •

Larry Whitfield was running errands on Saturday night when the lure became too great. He turned and headed toward his favorite corner, got out of his car and just stared.

"The more I look, the more I talk about it, the more emotional I get," he said. "I've been coming here since the '60s. My grandmother used to bring me here for bat day. Remember bat day? Oh my God, bat day was great."

Whitfield, 53, from Detroit, blinked through his frameless glasses. He still has the sod from 1968, when he ran on the field after the Tigers won the American League pennant. He still has the memories of sitting in the frigid stadium with his dad, sipping hot chocolate, watching the Lions.

It all returns now, as the big crane swings and another chunk tumbles.

"I've been wanting to come by for the longest time," he said. "It's kind of sad, but I like Comerica Park. I just wish they could've done something with this, renovate it or something. It's part of our history, part of my family's history. Now it just looks spooky."

For a moment, there's a flash of annoyance.

"Why do they have to put up that plastic to block people's view? Isn't the fence good enough?"

Through the opening, you can see the distant blue and orange seats. You can see the light tower on the right field roof, where Reggie Jackson hit a ball during the 1971 All-Star Game. You can see once-forgotten games and fathers and mothers sitting with sons and daughters.

"Fond memories, man, fond memories," Whitfield said. "It's like you're losing somebody, you know?"

. . .

Jim Reno drove over from Grosse Pointe Woods with his wife and two sons, and they came not to mourn, but to reminisce. This is how it is during the final nights at the ballpark, like it is at funerals. You tell stories, you smile.

"My first job was right here, as a seat wiper," Reno, 51, said. "Well, I was an usher, but all we did was wipe seats. Most I ever made in tips was 50 cents."

His sons, James, 25, and Marc, 19, laughed. They joked about Tiger Stadium's famously daunting bathrooms with the massive urinals, where as kids they were lifted up for the first time by their dad.

It's funny what you remember at the end. It's funny too, while spending four hours over three nights outside Tiger Stadium, I heard only warm stories, nothing about the losing seasons or the obstructed views or the dark, narrow concourses.

In the dying light, all is bright.

"My dad saw Babe Ruth play here, right on this field," Reno said. "It's sad to see it come down, piece by piece. Couldn't they just do one big boom?"

His family nodded. More cars pulled up. More people wandered over.

"It's really shocking to look at," Reno said, "like a decaying corpse."

It's unfortunate Tiger Stadium never garnered the national appeal of Fenway Park or Wrigley Field, but it was every bit as wonderfully distinctive, from the right-field overhang to the closeness of the seats to the field. There was an intimacy about it, despite its size. It was completely enclosed, a placid scene in the middle of a rugged city, a world suddenly, obscenely opened to the outside now, as the walls fall.

• • •

The security guard didn't want to give his name. He patrolled the sidewalk, reminding people not to climb on the chain-link fence, not to tear away the plastic. He says he's had to call the police a few times but they've stopped coming. Since the demolition began a couple weeks ago, he has caught two people inside. One was a young lady he handcuffed to a post. When he returned, she was gone, leaving the bloody cuffs behind.

The guard shook his head.

"The more they tear down, the worse it gets," he said. "I get grown men crying, begging me to let 'em get a chunk of grass or a brick. These people really love this place. It's making them sad, so just tear it down already."

The guard, who appeared to be in his mid-20s, admitted he didn't quite get it. He went to a few games there and he loves sports, but not enough to weep over a relic.

As the cars kept coming and the pleas grew more insistent, he understood a bit more.

"I wish I could open it up for people, but I can't," he said. "I got a job to do."

• • •

Scott Sitner, 43, clicked away, poking his camera over the fence to take random photos. They came out amazingly sharp, the grass amazingly green inside.

He wasn't sure he wanted to come because he had driven past many times and the old stadium saddened him. But he knew he had to see.

"As I pulled up, I was thinking it's time for the place to come down," said Sitner, from Birmingham. "But then you walk up and you get that feeling in your stomach and you see the hole and it's just the finality of it. It's jarring."

Joe Grutza and his friend, Val MacIsaac, stood nearby. They drove up from Trenton, and like many, felt compelled to visit.

"I don't feel sad, because right now, all the good times I had here are flooding back," Grutza said. "It would've been nice if they could've saved it, but it's time."

No tears?

"Nah, we paid our respects at the last game in '99," he said. "Only two events in my life I cried at -- when Yzerman raised the Cup and the closing of Tiger Stadium. I said my good-byes then, and I don't mind saying, I cried like a baby."

• • •

For the most part, there aren't tears, at least not yet, with one corner of the stadium knocked down. But the crowds will increase in the coming weeks and people will discover what many already have found.

The lump in the throat returns, no matter how long it's been gone.

"When I saw that hole in the wall, it was like somebody punched me in the gut," said Dan Centers, 32, of Taylor, who drove over with a couple buddies, one sporting an Olde English D tattoo on his right forearm. "I remember seeing Cecil Fielder, sitting in the bleachers with my friends. I remember just the smell of it, you know what I mean?"

Everyone knows what he means. It was the smell of old cigars and fresh grass and grilling hot dogs and musty bathrooms. It was the smell of tradition passed through the ages, of generations connected.

"I was gonna watch the All-Star Game (Tuesday night), but then I heard them talking about the nostalgia of Yankee Stadium and I said the hell with that, I'm going down to Tiger Stadium," said Ric Vivyan, 39. "This is killing me."

The Tigers won four World Series here -- 1935, 1945, 1968 and 1984 -- and the Lions won their last championship here in 1957, when it was known as Briggs Stadium.

But it's not just about the games. It never really was.

"I'm feeling a lot of hurt right now," said Edward Lee, 60, of Detroit. "I probably spent 50 years of my life down here. One of my father's last requests was to see a game here and we did, back in '97, just before he died."

Lee's gaze never left the old building. He stood next to his car, the door open, but couldn't leave, not yet.

"I can't think of one bad thing about this place," he said. "Remember the hot dogs? Oh man, I don't even eat hot dogs, but when I came here, I had two or three, right off the grill, mustard only of course."

He laughed good and hard. And then he stopped.

"I'll never, ever forget this place. I know it's outdated, but how come in Europe, they save all their old buildings and here we tear 'em down and put in parking lots?"

He didn't expect an answer, and there isn't a simple one. Some tried to save Tiger Stadium but there wasn't enough money, or solid-enough plans, or enough motivation from the city or from the Tigers. And eventually, there wasn't enough time, even after a decade of dormancy.

On this night, the crane tore into the white aluminum and as each layer peeled away, it revealed an older layer. The mechanical claw clutched a steel beam and battered away at the siding, literally using pieces of Tiger Stadium to beat itself to death.

"Aw man, that's terrible, like they're making it suffer," Lee said, wincing, staring, shaking his head slowly.

In the fading light, the old building was succumbing, its guts spilling out. Amid the loud crunch of metal, you could hear the soft click of cameras. In the growing crowd, nothing was said, and no one turned away

7-13-08 Detroit vs Minnesota

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:30:00 +0000

Another strong outing from Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers win 4-2 in a much needed game against the Minnesota Twins. The young guys came through again for the Tigers. Matt Joyce and Clete Thomas both had homers to help lead the ball club to victory. Joel Zumaya pitched a scoreless eighth and Todd Jones the ninth for his 17th save. Going into the all star game the Tigers regained some of the momentum they had earlier in the month. 7 games behind the Chicago White Sox, the Detroit Tigers have some work to do in the second half of the season. There is a lot of baseball to be played and I believe the Tigers ball club has a good chance of tracking down the Sox. If the Tigers continue to get solid pitching and timely hitting it is very possible.
Go Tigers!

7-12-08 Detroit vs Cleveland

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:18:00 +0000

Another division loss 6-5 to the Twins. Detroit Tigers baseball has been derailed lately. This time the Tigers were done in by Brendan Harris who went 3-3 with a homer and 3 RBIs. The solo shot off Nate Robertson in the seventh inning gave the Twins the lead for good. Curtis Granderson and Matt Joyce had good days for the Tigers. With one more baseball game before the all star break and the Tigers need to desperately win and get some momentum back.

7-11-08 Detroit vs Minnesota

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 20:18:00 +0000

13-23. That pretty much sums up the season so far. 13-23 record against division foes is not going to get it done. After a 3-2 loss against the Twins the Tigers need to get back on track and win some ball games within the division. Another good performance from Armando Galarraga was wasted by a lack of key hitting. The Detroit Tigers battle the Twins again today in another key divisional game.

7-10-08 Detroit vs Minnesota

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:50:00 +0000

Tiger killer Justin Morneau did it again. It seems this guy has a big hit every time we play the Minnesota Twins. Morneau had 5 hits including a game winning home run in the 11th inning. The Detroit Tigers had a 6-4 lead in the top of the ninth when Matt Joyce (2-6 with a homer) let a Joe Mauer hit ball get by him for an error. In the bottom of the inning Joyce was unable to get a bunt down with runners on first and second. Joe Nathan finished the inning by striking out Larish (3-5, rbi, run scored) and Ivan Rodriguez setting up Morneau's heroics. Marcus Thames had another strong game at the plate going 3-4 with a run scored.

The Tigers baseball club seems to have a ton of young baseball talent. Guys like Joyce, Larish, and Clete Thomas have proven capable of playing baseball at the major league level albeit with a few growing pains. If the Tiger's young pitching can come around we should have a fine future in the motor city. Go Tigers!

1924-1925

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:21:00 +0000

1924-In what would be the highlight of Ty Cobb's managerial career, the Detroit Tigers stayed in the pennant race until the final weeks finishing 86-68, 6 games behind the Washington Senators. Charlie Gehringer suited up for the Tigers for the first time and Heinie Manush replaced Bobby Veech in th Tigers outfield. Harry Heilmann led the club with 114 RBIs and a .346 average. Earl Whitehill led the pitching staff with a record of 17-9.

1925-The Tigers continued their stretch of mediocre finishes ending the season 16 1/2 games behind the Washington Senators with a record of 81-73. Both Harry Heilmann and Ty Cobb had great years with Heilmann hitting .393 (1st AL) with 134 RBIs (2nd-Stan Musial) and Cobb batting .378 with 102 RBIs.

7-9-08 Detroit vs Cleveland

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:36:00 +0000

Miguel Cabrera continues hitting the baseball well, hitting another home run in the bottom of the ninth during the Tigers 8-6 win against the Indians. This Tigers are playing inspired ball, coming back from a 6 run deficit in the sixth to notch another win. Marcus Thames and Curtis Granderson continue to swing the bat well. Next up: 7-10-08 at home against the Minnesota Twins. This is an important series, the Twins are in the Tigers way as they march to the top of the American League Central division.

7-8-08 Detroit vs Cleveland

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:28:00 +0000

The Detroit Tigers are playing good baseball finally. Miguel Cabrera hit two homers and went 4-4 in a 9-2 beatdown of the Tribe. Marcus Thames continues his torrid hitting going 2-3 with a double and a jack collecting 3 RBIs. Justin Verlander looked strong again pitching 7 innings and striking out 7 for his 6th win off the season. With 21 wins since June 7 (most in the majors) the Tigers baseball club has clawed right back into the pennant race.

So Long Old Friend!

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:19:00 +0000

Tiger Stadium's outfield walls begin coming down

by The Associated Press
Wednesday July 09, 2008, 4:20 PM

AP Photo
Demolition crews smash the historic walls of Tiger Stadium on Wednesday. The stadium, built in 1912, hosted its last Major League Baseball game Sept. 27, 1999 after 6,783 games.

DETROIT — Demolition crews smashed the historic walls of Tiger Stadium on Wednesday, punching through to the interior of the ballpark that stood for decades.

Outfield walls cleared by baseball legend Mickey Mantle as well as Detroit Tiger sluggers Norm Cash and Cecil Fielder began to come down as two contractors intensified their efforts to bring down the venerable park.

Backhoes and excavators, sometimes hard to see through dust and spraying water, whizzed around the site, picking up debris and dumping it in oversized bins. During one flurry Wednesday morning, an excavator smashed through the exterior wall beyond left field, throwing support girders to the side.

The scene was tough to take for longtime Tigers fan Chas Matreal and his 23-year-old son, Ryan.

"All beautiful memories," Chas Matreal said. "It is something beautiful that we're destroying, and it's history."

The 49-year-old bricklayer from Milford said he attended 400 to 500 games at Tiger Stadium, many with his own father, starting in 1966.

"Demolition means progress," declared signs on a construction vehicle at the site. But Matreal disagreed, saying priceless memories are being lost.

"It's a natural museum of a hundred years that they're destroying," he said.

Robert Neil, 42, also stopped to take a look at the demolition. The Detroit native worked at Tiger Stadium as a crowd manager from 1996 until it closed in 1999.

"My microwave oven is still in there, for all I know," he said, pointing out the window of the staff break room.

Neil said he used to show up to work early to watch batting practice, smell the grills starting up and walk around the historic park.

"You find all the little nooks and crannies, and you see where (Tigers star Hank) Greenberg scribbled his signature," he said.

The Tigers' new home at Comerica Park simply can't compare, he said.

Farrow Group owner Michael Farrow said crews planned to spend all day demolishing some of the stadium's massive concrete walls.

The Detroit contractor and MCM Management Corp. of suburban Bloomfield Hills started demolition of the ballpark last week.

They expect to make an estimated $1 million by selling scrap from the park.

City officials say an Aug. 1 deadline still stands for a nonprofit group to raise enough funds to preserve the field and part of the stadium between first and third base.

Gary Gillette, treasurer of The Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy, said the group is hopeful about meeting the city's mandates, mostly by using loans and identifying federal and state tax credits for the project.

"We would love to have some wealthy individual write us a check," Gillette said. "We're not counting on it."

The ballpark opened in 1912 as Navin Field and hosted among other things thousands of Tigers games, Babe Ruth's 700th career home run in 1934 and a speech by South African president Nelson Mandela in 1990. The final major league game was played there Sept. 27, 1999.

With a tear in my eye I say goodbye old friend! We've had many a memory at the corner of Michigan and Trumbell, many a 'dog eatin, many a peanut cracked. I am sad to see you go this way, you deserved much better.

1922-1923

noreply@blogger.com (The Monarch) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:38:00 +0000

1922-The Detroit Tigers 79-75 record in Ty Cobb's second season as manager was good for 3rd place 15 games behind the New York Yankees. The Georgia Peach hit .401 (3rd and last time in carreer) finishing a distant second to George Sisler of the St. Louis Cardinals who hits the heck out of the baseball all season and ends the year batting .420. Bobby Veech leads the team with 126 RBIs. Herman Pillette led the pitching staff with a record of 19-12.

1923-With a record of 83-71 the Detroit Tigers baseball club finished in second place, still a distant 16 games behind the New York Yankees. With a record of 45-32 at home the Tigers treated the Navin Field fans to some good summer baseball. The road was a different story. Going 38-39 away from home doomed any thoughts of taking the division from the Yankees. Harry Heilman wins the batting crown hitting .403 and knocking in 115 runs. Hooks Dauss goes 21-13 to lead the pitching staff.

Detroit Tigers Baseball

Bummer

Big Game

Floundering

Why?

7-28-08 Detroit vs Cleveland

7-27-08 Detroit vs Chicago

7-26-08 Detroit vs Chicago

7-25-08 Detroit vs Chicago

7-23-08 Detroit vs Kansas City

7-22-08 Detroit vs Kansas City

7-21-08 Detroit vs Kansas City

7-20-08 Detroit vs Baltimore

7-19-08 Detroit vs Baltimore

7-18-08 Detroit vs Baltimore

7-17-08 Detroit vs Baltimore

7-13-08 Detroit vs Minnesota

7-12-08 Detroit vs Cleveland

7-11-08 Detroit vs Minnesota

7-10-08 Detroit vs Minnesota

1924-1925

7-9-08 Detroit vs Cleveland

7-8-08 Detroit vs Cleveland

So Long Old Friend!

Tiger Stadium's outfield walls begin coming down

by The Associated Press Wednesday July 09, 2008, 4:20 PM

1922-1923

by The Associated Press
Wednesday July 09, 2008, 4:20 PM