Exclusive Stadium Photos by Darren Proctor
Tiger Stadium, one of the most revered and nostalgic parks in all of professional sport has finally seen it’s sad demise. For nearly a century, the ballpark at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull was home to the American League’s Tigers, and on September 27, 1999, held it’s final nine-inning match.
My “Buddy” and PlanetZman fan extraordinaire, Darren Proctor lives in the Detroit area and recalls going to games with his dad as far back as he can remember. As James Earl Jones said in the movie, Field of Dreams, “The memories are so thick that they’ll have to brush them away from their faces.” A couple of days ago, Darren, his brother and sister drove past the site as it is going through the final stages of demolition and found it to be an eerie and almost tearful experience. “I just took out my camera and started to shoot,” says Darren. “I didn’t realize how incredible the shots would turn out. It was so surreal where words can’t even describe it.”
While we all love the new modern stadiums with the comfort, amenities, and site lines that we have never had the likes of before, it’s the stadiums of old that tear at our heartstrings and bring us back to our youth within the blink of an eye. Growing up in the New York metro area, I had the pleasure to experience New York Rangers games at the “old” Madison Square Garden. Also saw many a ball game at Yankee Stadium, Shea, and Jersey City’s onetime gem, Roosevelt Stadium, home to minor league’s baeball’s Jersey Giants. My dad has great stories of watching the likes of Monte Irvin and Jackie Robinson take to the field.
So hats off to Darren for capturing a rare moment of history. The photos are incredible, indeed. He set a sepia tone filter to get that amazing nostalgic look, and his sister shot the one at the bottom in color.
Tiger Stadium, the onetime home to Hank Greenberg, Denny McLain, Mickey Lolich, Kirk Gibson, Al Kaline and Alan Trammel, will live in the hearts of Detroit fans forever, and this is one amazing farewell to an old friend of the motor city, and baseball fans everywhere.
-Zman
June 18th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Always sad to see a venue demolished that houses countless memories.
Here in Seattle we had a minor league stadium on Rainier Avenue. it was the home of the Seatle Rainiers.
When they tore it down they marked the location of home plate and built a bronze figure at bat to mark the spot.
I used to pass it every time I went into the hardware store that was built in it’s place. I still have two autographed (team signed) baseballs caught in that stadium.
Nice pictures Darren, thanks.
Glenn
June 18th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
I saw my first baseball game at Forbes Field in 1966…I was 8 years old. I went to many games there and was in attendance for the finale in 69 or 70. (doubleheader against the Cubs
I remember little about the demolition, however, the memories I have of that stadium are special.
I have many great memories of Three Rivers Stadium…although I cheered when they imploded that round cement sewer. That place had no soul and it deserved the dynamite treatment.
Thanks for the great article…I attended one game at old Tigers stadium when I was a teenager and the memory of Reggie’s homer off Doc Ellis in the all-star game is still incredibly vivid.
June 18th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Great post, Burghguy. Ralph Kiner was the Mets announcer for many years and talked much about Forbes field. Three Rivers was from the cookie cutter stadium era and ugly as sin.
June 19th, 2009 at 6:17 am
Nice shirt, DinD!
I am surprised that they didn’t blow the thing up. But maybe that wasn’t respectful enough for what the old stadium held.
Nice photos. I like the sepia.
June 20th, 2009 at 2:10 am
Great pics, Darren. The one final missing touch might have been for a few days to have seen the American Flag flying a half-mast as a “farewell to an old friend of the motor city,” as Zman so fittingly puts it.