In 1999, Joe Falls commiserated the closing of Tiger Stadium by recording and interviewing many of those who played and called “Tiger Stadium their home.” At the time these interviews were conducted, Joe Falls had been a Detroit Sports writer for 53 years, while having covered the Detroit Tigers for 47 years, In the 1960s, Falls was the sports editor at the Detroit Free Press.
The legendary sports reporter also was a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Falls’ interviews were highlighted on WJR 760 throughout the Detroit Tigers’ baseball season, 1999, the final year of Tiger Stadium’s history.
George Cantor, the famed lead reporter covering the Detroit Tigers for the Detroit Free Press in the 1960s, relates of his own personal memories of Tiger Stadium as a child growing up in the Motor City, and covering the team as a newspaper reporter. His recollections opens the introduction to this Joe Falls collection of recordings and interviews from 20 years ago.
Cantor is the author of ‘The Tigers of ’68: Baseball’s Last Real Champions‘, published in 1997.
— DARNELL BROOKES COLLECTION —
NEW! A special THANK YOU to Darnell Brookes of Midland, Michigan, for recently sharing (September 2019) this Detroit sports audio memory (and information of this recording he provided as well) with Motor City Radio Flashbacks, as featured today.
Joe Falls(Press Photo)George Cantor(Press Photo)1974
IN THIS RECORDING YOU WILL HEAR THE VOICES OF:
Joe Falls; George Cantor; Kirk Gibson; Fr. Vincent Horken; Willie Horton; Jim Schmakel; Jim Price; Ted Williams; Paul Carey; Virgil Trucks;Jack Morris; Frank Fenick; Frank Beckmann; Mayor Dennis Archer; Tom Gage; Tony Clark; John McHale, Jr.; Gates Brown; Larry Parrish; Mark Fidrych; Dave Bergman; Max Lipes; Sonny Eliot; George Kell; John Hiller; Mickey Stanley; Bob Talbert; Earl Wilson; Denny McLain; Harmon Killebrew; Ernie Harwell; Charlie Maxwell; Ralph Snyder; Al Kaline; Steve Boros; Fred Smith; Billy Rogell; Alan Trammell; Bill Freehan; Mike Illitch; Mickey Lolich; Sparky Anderson; Jim Northrup; Irwin Cohen; Dan Petry; Dan Ewald; Jim Hendricks; Lance Parrish; Frank Tanana; Jim Bunning; Paul W. Smith; Conclusion
Joe Falls passed away on August 11, 2004. He was 76. George Cantor passed away on August 13, 2010, he was 69.
(Created by Joe Falls. Produced by Irwin Cohen, Primeau Productions; 1999)
— PHOTO CREDIT —
— Tiger Stadium photo (above): Bill Edwards; July 2008 —
— THE FINAL GAME at TIGER STADIUM —
In commemoration of the anniversary since Tiger Stadium formally closed twenty years ago, Motor City Radio Flashbacks last month featured the entire “last game” played at the Corner on September 27, 1999.
If you missed our special (September 27, 2019) feature, you can find it now archived on this site, HERE.
Joy in Tiger Town 4:20 p.m., Thursday, October 10, 1968(Photo courtesy Detroit Free Press archives)
Detroit Tigers fans revel through Detroit downtown streets over the Detroit Tigers 1968 World Series victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, October 10, 1968.(Photo courtesy AP)
Jubilation! Detroiters celebrate through the night in series championship. Thursday, October 10, 1968(Photo courtesy Detroit Free Press archives)
Detroit Free Press Friday, October 11, 1968
— ACKNOWLEDGEMENT —
A special THANK YOU to CKLW’s Charlie O‘Brien for sharing this (10/10/1968) Don Patrick 20/20 News memory with Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
— THE 1968 WORLD SERIES on NBC RADIO —
Motor City Radio Flashbacks featured the seven games of the 1968 World Series to commemorate the Detroit Tigers World Series victory over the St. Louis Cardinals — fifty years ago — last year in October.
All seven games of the 1968 World Series broadcasts over the NBC Radio Network is archived on this site,HERE.
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THE COMPLETE GAME FINALE * September 27, 1999 * 760 WJR [A]
THE END | TIGERS WIN ONE FOR ROAD AS FANS GATHER FOR BITTERSWEET LAST CHEER
ByBill McGraw and David Megoya
_______________
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-playvoices 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.
_______________
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 —
Above newspaper images courtesy from the freep.com newspaper archive. Copyright 2019. Newspapers.com.
The above featured images was ‘clipped,’ saved, and imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks
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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 —
_______________
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 Michigangovernor 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.”
All seven games of the 1968 World Series aired on Detroit radio NBC affiliate WWJ-AM 950 and also on Detroit CBS affiliate WJR-AM 760.
WJR was the flagship station for the Detroit Tigers baseball broadcasts with Ernie Harwell and Ray Lane calling the games.
The 1968 World Series games was telecast on Detroit CBS WJBK TV (Channel 2) and also on Detroit NBC WWJ TV (Channel 4).
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Motor City Radio Flashbacks features Game 7 of the 1968 World Series — today — the represented date the game actually aired 50 years ago, October 1968.
NBC RADIO ’68 WORLD SERIES: Missed any previous ’68 World Series games featured on Motor City Radio Flashbacks? GO HERE
Detroit Free PressFriday, October 11, 1968
Detroit Free PressFriday, October 11, 1968
Busch StadiumJubilation! Thursday, October 10, 1968 (Photo courtesy Detroit Free Press archives)
Busch Stadium Thursday, October 10, 1968 (Photo courtesy AP)
1968 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS! Thursday, October 10, 1968 (Photo courtesy Detroit Free Press archives)
Busch Stadium Celebration! Thursday, October 10, 1968 (Photo courtesy Detroit Free Press archives)
The above featured news prints was clipped, saved, and imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
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October 10, 1968: Tigers 4 — Cardinals 1
Detroit Free Press Friday, October 11, 1968
JOY IN TIGER TOWN! 4:20 p.m., Thursday, October 10, 1968 (Photo courtesy Detroit Free Press archives)
“OUR DETROIT TIGERS ARE BASEBALL’S WORLD CHAMPIONS!”
A SPECIAL THANK YOU!Above CKLW audio (10/10/68) courtesy of Charlie O’Brien (CKLW)
DETROIT REVELS IN PENNANT WIN! Saturday, September 14, 1968 (Photo courtesy Detroit Free Press archives)
All seven games of the 1968 World Series aired on Detroit radio NBC affiliate WWJ-AM 950 and also on Detroit CBS affiliate WJR-AM 760.
WJR was the flagship station for the Detroit Tigers baseball broadcasts with Ernie Harwell and Ray Lane calling the games.
The 1968 World Series games was telecast on Detroit CBS WJBK TV (Channel 2) and also on Detroit NBC WWJ TV (Channel 4).
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Motor City Radio Flashbacks features Game 6 of the 1968 World Series — today — the represented date the game actually aired 50 years ago, October 1968.
Game 7: Wednesday, October 10, 2018 Motor City Radio Flashbacks
The above featured news prints was clipped, saved, and imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
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All seven games of the 1968 World Series aired on Detroit radio NBC affiliate WWJ-AM 950 and also on Detroit CBS affiliate WJR-AM 760.
WJR was the flagship station for the Detroit Tigers baseball broadcasts with Ernie Harwell and Ray Lane calling the games.
The 1968 World Series games was telecast on Detroit CBS WJBK TV (Channel 2) and also on Detroit NBC WWJ TV (Channel 4).
Note: In this Game 5 feature only — Motor City Radio Flashbacks preempts the NBC Radio broadcast (with NBC Radio Jack Buck and Pee Wee Reese; poor audio) for the NBC Sports televised play-by-play for best audio quality.
NBC Sports (TV) Curt Gowdy and George Kell called the televised play-by-plays during the 3 game home-stand at Tiger Stadium, October 5, 6, 7.
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Motor City Radio Flashbacks features Game 5 of the 1968 World Series — today — the represented date the game actually aired 50 years ago, October 1968.
Game 6: Tuesday,October 9, 2018 Motor City Radio Flashbacks
The above featured news prints was clipped, saved, and imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
A MCRFB Viewing Tip: On your PC? For a larger detailed read CLICK ON ALL IMAGES 2x and open to second window. Click image to return to NORMAL image size.
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All seven games of the 1968 World Series was aired on Detroit radio NBC affiliate WWJ-AM 950 and also on Detroit CBS affiliate WJR-AM 760.
WJR was the flagship station for the Detroit Tigers baseball broadcasts with Ernie Harwell and Ray Lane calling the games.
The 1968 World Series games wastelecast on Detroit CBS WJBK TV (Channel 2) and also on Detroit NBC WWJ TV (Channel 4).
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Motor City Radio Flashbacks features Game 4 of the 1968 World Series — today — the represented date the game actually aired 50 years ago, October 1968.
Game 5:Sunday,October 7, 2018 Motor City Radio Flashbacks
The above featured news prints was clipped, saved, and imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
A MCRFB Viewing Tip: On your PC? For a larger detailed read CLICK ON ALL IMAGES 2x and open to second window. Click image to return to NORMAL image size.
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All seven games of the 1968 World Series aired on Detroit radio NBC affiliate WWJ-AM 950 and also on Detroit CBS affiliate WJR-AM 760.
WJR was the flagship station for the Detroit Tigers baseball broadcasts with Ernie Harwell and Ray Lane calling the games.
The 1968 World Series games was telecast on Detroit CBS WJBK TV (Channel 2) and also on Detroit NBC WWJ TV (Channel 4).
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Motor City Radio Flashbacks features Game 3 of the 1968 World Series — today — the represented date the game actually aired 50 years ago, October 1968.
Game 4: Saturday, October 6, 2018 Motor City Radio Flashbacks
The above featured news prints was clipped, saved, and imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
A MCRFB Viewing Tip: On your PC? For a larger detailed read CLICK ON ALL IMAGES 2x and open to second window. Click image to return to NORMAL image size.
Click your server’s back button to return to MCRFB home page.
On your mobile device? Tap on image. Open to second window. “Stretch” across the featured article to magnify largest print view.
All seven games of the 1968 World Series aired on Detroit radio NBC affiliate WWJ-AM 950 and also on Detroit CBS affiliate WJR-AM 760.
WJR was the flagship station forthe Detroit Tigers baseball broadcasts with Ernie Harwell and Ray Lane calling the games.
The 1968 World Series games was telecast on Detroit CBS WJBK TV (Channel 2) and also on Detroit NBC WWJ TV (Channel 4).
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Motor City Radio Flashbacks features Game 2 of the 1968 World Series — today — the represented date the game actually aired 50 years ago, October 1968.
Game 3: Friday, October 5, 2018 Motor City Radio Flashbacks
The above featured news prints was clipped, saved, and imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
A MCRFB Viewing Tip: On your PC? For a larger detailed read CLICK ON ALL IMAGES 2x and open to second window. Click image to return to NORMAL image size.
Click your server’s back button to return to MCRFB home page.
On your mobile device? Tap on image. Open to second window. “Stretch” across the featured article to magnify largest print view.
All seven games of the 1968 World Series aired on Detroit radio NBC affiliate WWJ-AM 950 and also on Detroit CBS affiliate WJR-AM 760.
WJR was the flagship station for the Detroit Tigers baseball broadcasts with Ernie Harwell and Ray Lane calling the games.
The 1968 World Series games was telecast on Detroit CBS WJBK TV (Channel 2) and also on Detroit NBC WWJ TV (Channel 4).
*****
Motor City Radio Flashbacks features Game 1 of the 1968 World Series — today — the represented date the game actually aired 50 years ago, October 1968.
Game 2: Tuesday,October 3, 2018 Motor City Radio Flashbacks
Detroit Free PressThursday, October 3, 1968 (Dick Mayer)
The above featured news prints was clipped, saved, and imaged from the credited source by Motor City Radio Flashbacks.
A MCRFB Viewing Tip: On your PC? For a larger detailed read CLICK ON ALL IMAGES 2x and open to second window. Click image to return to NORMAL image size.
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In 1999, Joe Falls commiserated the closing of Tiger Stadium by recording and interviewing many of those who played and called “Tiger Stadium their home.” At the time these interviews were conducted, Joe Falls had been a Detroit Sports writer for 53 years, while having covered the Detroit Tigers for 47 years, In the 1960s, Falls was the sports editor at the Detroit Free Press.
