TIGER STADIUM GRAND FINALE: 20 YEARS AGO TODAY

THE COMPLETE GAME FINALE * September 27, 1999 * 760 WJR [A]

THE END | TIGERS WIN ONE FOR ROAD AS FANS GATHER FOR BITTERSWEET LAST CHEER

By Bill McGraw and David Megoya

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The Corner rocked.

Music blared everywhere. So many flashbulbs were popping at times Monday that it seemed as if the Beatles were taking the stage. Strangers talked baseball to strangers.

On the final day at Tiger Stadium, fans staged a festive wake for the old ballpark that featured heavy nostalgia, 65 old-time players and a rooftop grand slam.

The daylong celebration concluded with an emotional ceremony in which groundskeeper Charlie McGee dug up home plate with a pickaxe and took the precious cargo in a motorcade across downtown to the new Comerica Park.

Moments later, a cast of former Tigers took their old positions to loud applause and participated in a ceremonial lowering of the stadium flag.

The evening ended with many of the 43,356 fans standing at their seats, piano music playing over the public address system and the lights slowly going dark for the final time. As some fans daubed tears from their eyes and other beamed wide smiles, beloved announcer Ernie Harwell bid farewell to one of the most historic piece of baseball real estate in America.

“Tonight, we must say goodbye,” Harwell said, “So long old friend. We will remember.”

Cheers for players, stadium

The game highlight was Robert Fick’s based-loaded home run that slammed into the roof in right-field and bounced back into the field. The blast iced the game for the Tigers, and Fick, hardly a household name in the game, was signing autographs well into the night.

After the game, fans grew hoarse cheering for the former Tigers who entered the field from centerfield for the closing ceremony as music from “Braveheart” played. First to appear was Mark “The Bird” Fidrych, the sensation of the mid-1970s who ran to the pitcher’s mound and scooped dirt into a plastic bag.

Players who received some of the loudest cheers were hometown favorites Willie Horton, Kirk Gibson and Ron LeFlore. Fans also screamed for Alan Trammel and Lou Whittaker, Gates Brown and Al Kaline. Some fans seemed stunned to see some long-forgotten heroes as Jim Bunning, Eddie Yost and Charlie (Paw Paw) Maxwell.

“Awesome, just awesome,” gushed Richard Coriaty, 36, a former Detroiter who traveled from Fontana, Calif. for the game.

Coriaty swept his hand toward the field, where the players assembled, dressed in the plain white uniforms with the old English D on their chest. “You know, of all the . . . things that have happened in this city, the one thing we all have in common is those guys out there.”

And the old building that became our field of dreams. END

Douglas Pettinga, 27, of Dearborn lets his sign speak for him before the start of the game at the Corner. (*ERIC SEALS/Detroit Free Press*)

— Detroit Free Press | Tuesday, September 28, 1999 —

Note: The above article was condensed for this presentation. The article appeared on the front-page of the Detroit Free Press, as dated.

THE COMPLETE GAME FINALE * September 27, 1999 * 760 WJR [B]

— THE FINAL GAME at TIGER STADIUM —

ABOUT THESE RECORDINGS

Motor City Radio Flashbacks presents today the entire ‘Last Game at Tiger Stadium’ as was aired on WJR 760.

Well aware of the stadium’s historic, long anticipated closure scheduled for that day, this author recorded the historic last game and kept (sealed) the 3 tapes ever since — 20 years now having passed.

In 2013, fourteen years after the game was recorded the tapes were played for the very first time. Found to be in remarkable pristine sound at first listen, the recordings were then transferred to CDs (and as back-ups) to preserve and retain the original source.

This past July, I reprocessed the CD files to digitized mp3 format for today’s featured presentation. The entire game (and files) will be archived on this site at a future date.

Comprised of over 5 and a half hours of recorded tapes, you will hear: the entire pre-game ceremonies; the pre-game show; the entire ball game; the post-game show; the entire post-game ceremonies.

You will hear the play-by-play voices of Ernie Harwell and Jim Price. The voices of Dan Dickerson; Paul W. Smith; Steve Courtney; Bo Schembechler; George Kell; Frank Beckmann; Al Kaline; Mike Illitch; Mayor Dennis Archer; Governor John Engler; Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig.

Also (former Tiger manager and Tiger players) Sparky Anderson; Willie Horton; Brad Ausmus; Jeff Weaver; Francisco Cordero (and former ’30s-’40s Tiger great) Elden Auker.

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A DAY TO REMEMBER

In commemoration of the closing of Tiger Stadium, Motor City Radio Flashbacks presents the complete game finale — Kansas City vs. Detroit — as was played at the Corner, Monday, September 27, 1999. Twenty years ago today.

A special day in Tiger history.

— ACKNOWLEDGEMENT —

A special THANK YOU to Charlie O’Brien for his assistance in editing these recordings.

THE LAST HOME RUN * Ernie Harwell * SEPTEMBER 27, 1999

— ABOUT THESE IMAGES —

The above featured images was ‘clipped,’ saved, and imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

— A VIEWING TIP —

To fully appreciate the above featured newspaper images on your PC click on image(s) 2x and open to second window. Click image anytime to return to NORMAL image size.

If viewing on your mobile device, tap over newspaper images. Open to second window. “Stretch” images across your device screen to magnify detailed view.

All images posted in this featured presentation was created in their presented form by the author.

All newspaper images courtesy of the Detroit Free Press

— THE FINAL GAME at TIGER STADIUM —

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The Pre-Game Ceremony

Prior to the final game at Tiger Stadium, a ceremony was held. It was emceed by then current Tiger broadcaster and Ford C. Frick Award recipient Ernie Harwell. At the ceremony, owner Mike Ilitch spoke along with then Michigan governor John Engler, then Detroit mayor Dennis Archer and Commissioner of Baseball Bud Selig. Also featured at the ceremony was longtime Tiger right fielder and Hall of Famer Al Kaline.

Instead of both managers exchanging lineups before the game, both clubs appointed honorary captains. Representing the Tigers was Al Kaline and representing the Royals was former MVP and Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett.

The Post-Game Ceremony

The game ended at 7:07 pm. The grounds crew then surrounded home plate. Groundskeeper Charlie McGee, using a pick axe, dug up home plate at 7:13. It would then be transported by Tiger pitchers Matt Anderson, Jeff Weaver, and Francisco Cordero, with police escort, to Comerica Park.

Ernie Harwell then read a history of Tiger Stadium accompanied by music from the movie Field of Dreams. He introduced a film containing images of such Tiger legends as Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, Hughie Jennings and Harry Heilmann. In addition, the Tigers Hall of Famers were honored: Heinie Manush, Mickey Cochrane, Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg, Hal Newhouser, George Kell, and Harwell.

Following remarks from Willie Horton and former manager Sparky Anderson, there emerged from the center field gate players from times past, including Mark Fidrych, Bill Freehan, Dick McAuliffe, Dave Bergman, Mickey Stanley, Willie Horton, Kirk Gibson, Cecil Fielder, Al Kaline, the combination of Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker, and Elden Auker. A line was formed from the center field flagpole to home plate, along which was passed the flag that had flown from the pole in dead center over the finale.

After Auker passed the flag to catcher Brad Ausmus, players threw souvenirs into the stands as some reached over and put dirt from the warning track into plastic bags. It was at this time that Harwell gave his final goodbye: “Tonight, we say good-bye . . . Farewell, old friend Tiger Stadium. We will remember.”

At 8:19, the scoreboard was shut off. At quarter to nine, a final team picture was taken, and by 9 the stands were empty. As the last of the fans left, a sign was hung on the famous right-center field overhang which read: “Today, there is crying in baseball. So long, old friend.”

(Source: ‘Final Game at Tiger Stadium‘; Wikipedia)

A TRIBUTE TO TIGER STADIUM * Mike Whorf * SEPTEMBER 27, 1999

HARWELL. THE VOICE OF SUMMER’S PAST REMEMBERED

WJR 760 * Ernie Harwell * AUGUST 20, 1986

ERNIE CALLS WALT TERRELL’S NO-HIT BID

— THE GREG INNIS COLLECTION —

*****

Ernie Harwell passed away on May 4, 2010. He was known as “the voice of the Detroit Tigers” for over 40 years. He called his last Tiger game in Toronto, on September 29, 2002. In 1981, Harwell was awarded baseball’s most prestigious Ford C. Frick Award.

He became only the fifth baseball broadcaster enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

— ACKNOWLEDGEMENT —

“2 nothing the Tigers lead in the last half of the eight inning . . .”. . .

A special THANK YOU to our senior website contributor Greg Innis for recently providing Motor City Radio Flashbacks with this Detroit Tigers Broadcasting (Ernie Harwell) audio play-by-play memory, as aired on WJR radio, Wednesday evening, August 20, 1986.

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50 YEARS AGO! RECALLED: THE YEAR OF THE TIGER, ’68

ERNIE HARWELL and RAY LANE * SIDE 01 * THE YEAR OF THE TIGER ’68

ERNIE HARWELL and RAY LANE * SIDE 02 * THE YEAR OF THE TIGER ’68

THE YEAR OF THE TIGER ’68

The Detroit Tigers Win The American League Pennant

___

The Year of the Tiger — 1968? Well, yes. But it was more than that. Far more. It was the year of Detroit . . . when an entire community, an entire city, was caught up in the frenzy of a baseball team trying to win a pennant. Not just any team. Not just any pennant. This was special. This was a stricken city, a worried citizenry, which finally found itself bound together in a common goal.

Corny? Maybe so. We can be pretty cynical. We newspapermen, but there was no doubting the fervor or the fever of the people of our city as they tried mightily to pull the Tigers along to the American League pennant . . . their first pennant in 23 years. That’s a long time, 23 years. You can raise families and send them through college in 23 years. Some can go to war. Some can start raising families of their own. All this happened since the last time the Tigers won the American League pennant.

The mood of our city was anything but gay in the spring of 1968. The summer loomed ominously. The newspaper strike droned on and on . . . but something happened in the middle of 1968. You would pull up to the light at Woodward and Clairmount and the guy in the next car would have his radio tuned up. ” . . . Horton stepping in. Willie’s had two hits tonight.” Or you would pick your way through the mobs at Metropolitan Beach and even though you wouldn’t have a radio, you wouldn’t miss a pitch. ” . . . Stanley leading off second. Northrup off first — here’s the pitch from Katt.” Rouge Park . . . Belle Isle . . . the kitchens of the poshest restaurants in town . . . and those awful moments at the bottom of the Windsor Tunnel when you couldn’t pick up Ernie or Ray — and just when Bill Freehan got around to third base with the tying run. The stirring strains of “Go Get ‘Em, Tigers” everywhere.

A baseball team trying to win a pennant. Men playing a boy’ game. Well, yes. That’s the way it was in The Year of the Tiger — 1968. But it was a year I will never forget. It was a year when an entire community, an entire city, was caught up in the frenzy of a baseball team trying to win a pennant. For a moment I even forgot some of my worries.

— Joe Falls, Sports Editor, Detroit Free Press

**TIGERS WIN THE PENNANT!** *Tiger Stadium September 17, 1968* *(Click image 2x for largest view)*

ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Authored by Joe Falls, his commentary (as worded verbatim in its entirety here) was printed on the B-side of the LP cover, “The Year Of The Tiger ’68”. The album was presented by the National Bank of Detroit and offered exclusively through their NBD outlets in the Detroit area.

“The Year Of The Tiger ’68” was officially released to the public, Friday, October 11, 1968, the day after the Detroit Tigers won the 1968 World Series.

HARWELL. THE VOICE OF SUMMER’S PAST REMEMBERED

The Anthem Gets Booed * ERNIE HARWELL’S AUDIO SCRAPBOOK

‘THE ANTHEM GETS BOOED’

*****

Besides the voice of Ernie Harwell, the various narratives you will hear throughout the entire audio book is by Raleigh, N.C. sports broadcaster Gordon Miller. Occasional questions you will also hear is by veteran Duke University sports broadcaster Bob Harris.

*****

He became only the fifth baseball broadcaster enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Voice of Summer Remembered

(CD audio set availability, link: Ernie Harwell’s Audio Scrapbook 2009

HARWELL. THE VOICE OF SUMMER’S PAST REMEMBERED

The Tigers Are World Champs * ERNIE HARWELL’S AUDIO SCRAPBOOK

‘TIGERS ARE WORLD CHAMPS’

*****

He became only the fifth baseball broadcaster enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Voice of Summer Remembered

(CD audio set availability, link: Ernie Harwell’s Audio Scrapbook 2009)

HARWELL. THE VOICE OF SUMMER’S PAST REMEMBERED

ERNIE HARWELL * McLain Wins 30 * ERNIE HARWELL’S AUDIO SCRAPBOOK

**Detroit Free Press** *Sunday, September 15, 1968 (On your PC? click image 2x for largest detailed read)*

On your mobile device? Tap on image. Open to second window. “Stretch” news print across your device screen to magnify for largest print view.

‘McLAIN WINS 30‘

*****

He became only the fifth baseball broadcaster enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

THE VOICE of SUMMER REMEMBERED

(CD audio set availability, link: Ernie Harwell’s Audio Scrapbook 2009)

HARWELL. THE VOICE OF SUMMER’S PAST REMEMBERED

ERNIE HARWELL * Ty Cobb * ERNIE HARWELL’S AUDIO SCRAPBOOK

‘TY COBB’

*****

He became only the fifth baseball broadcaster enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

THE VOICE of SUMMER REMEMBERED

(CD audio set availability, link: Ernie Harwell’s Audio Scrapbook 2009)

HARWELL. THE VOICE OF SUMMER’S PAST REMEMBERED

ERNIE HARWELL * Willie Mays * ERNIE HARWELL’S AUDIO SCRAPBOOK

‘WILLIE MAYS’

*****

He became only the fifth baseball broadcaster enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

THE VOICE of SUMMER REMEMBERED

(CD audio set availability, link: Ernie Harwell’s Audio Scrapbook 2009)

HARWELL. THE VOICE OF SUMMER’S PAST REMEMBERED

ERNIE HARWELL * Ted Williams * ERNIE HARWELL’S AUDIO SCRAPBOOK

‘TED WILLIAMS’

*****

He became only the fifth baseball broadcaster enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

THE VOICE of SUMMER REMEMBERED

(CD audio set availability, link: Ernie Harwell’s Audio Scrapbook 2009)

HARWELL. THE VOICE OF SUMMER’S PAST REMEMBERED

ERNIE HARWELL * 1984 – World Champs Again * ERNIE HARWELL’S AUDIO SCRAPBOOK

‘1984 – WORLD CHAMPS AGAIN’

*****

Besides the voice of Ernie Harwell, the various narratives you will hear throughout the entire audio book (or excerpts) is by Raleigh, N.C. sports broadcaster Gordon Miller. Occasional questions you will also hear is by veteran Duke University sports broadcaster Bob Harris.

*****

Ernie Harwell passed away on May 4, 2010. He was commonly known as “the voice of the Detroit Tigers” for over 40 years. He called his last Tiger game in Toronto, on September 29, 2002. In 1981, Harwell was awarded baseball’s most prestigious Ford C. Frick Award. He became only the fifth baseball broadcaster enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

*****

THE VOICE of SUMMER REMEMBERED

(CD audio set availability, link: Ernie Harwell’s Audio Scrapbook 2009)