Talking Old Tiger Stadium, The Corner Ballpark, and the Future Hamtramck

At the corner of Michigan and Trumbull avenues in Detroit (MI), a ballpark was built there in 1895 and was the site of professional baseball for more than 100 years.  The Detroit Tigers made it their home in 1912, and it stayed that way until Sept. 27, 1999, when the last game was played at Tiger Stadium.  Barely five miles away in the near north suburb of Hamtramck, the former home of the Negro League Detroit Stars has sat neglected and forgotten for at least two decades.  Read more and view photos here.

Ballpark on Site of Old Tiger Stadium to Open Saturday

When the Corner Ballpark opens this week on the old Tiger Stadium site, it will be a field of dreams not only for the city’s children but also young Detroiters looking to break into the sports and entertainment world.  Read more and view photo here.

Comerica Extends Ballpark Naming Rights Deal

Dallas (TX)-based Comerica Bank said Friday it will exercise an option to extend its Comerica Park naming rights deal an additional five years, taking it through 2034.  Read more here.

Old Tiger Stadium Site to Serve as Home of Detroit PAL, $13 Million Project Planned

The site of old Tiger Stadium will be known as Willie Horton Field, named after left fielder and designated hitter William Wattison Horton who spent 15 seasons with the Detroit Tigers.  A new 2,500-seat baseball facility that will be built on site will serve as the home of the Detroit PAL (Police Athletic League).  Read more here.

Artificial Turf for Old Tiger Stadium Site

Amid celebration of Detroit Police Athletic League’s successful campaign to raise money for its youth sports facility at the former Tiger Stadium site, some grumbling was heard among sports purists over plans to use synthetic turf.  Read more and view rendering here.

Turf Battle Brewing at Old Tiger Stadium Site?

There is a plan to put in artificial turf on the field at the former location of Tiger Stadium, when the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL) takes control of the site.  However, Dave Mesrey of the Navin Field Grounds Crew – a group of volunteers who worked to bring the field back to life — has started a petition drive to try to convince PAL to keep the natural grass.  Read more and watch news report here.

Whitecaps, Tigers Extend PDC

PRESS RELEASE – The Detroit Tigers and West Michigan Whitecaps announce today that they have agreed to a two-year extension of their player development contract. The agreement will keep Tigers prospects playing at Fifth Third Ballpark through the 2020 season.

Plan to Save Tiger Stadium Field Moves Forward

The Detroit Economic Development Corporation approved a plan on Monday that would preserve the baseball field at the former Tiger Stadium site in Corktown while turning a large piece of the property over to Detroit PAL, a youth sports organization formerly known as the Police Athletic League.  Read more here.

Saving Old Tiger Stadium Field Close at Hand

The first steps toward city approval for plans to preserve the former baseball diamond at the old Tiger Stadium while building development along Michigan and Trumbull could begin next week.  Read more and view photo here.  Read more and view site use map here.

Ballpark Quirks: Comerica Park’s Centerfield Fountain

In a series called “Ballpark Quirks,” Sports Illustrated takes a look at the distinctive features and oddities that make up each of MLB’s 30 parks. Up now: Comerica Park’s centerfield fountain.  Read more and view photos here.

Vintage Baseball at Old Tiger Stadium Site

It was vintage jerseys, no gloves and no spitting Sunday as “gentlemen” took the field at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull in Detroit (MI), as the Rochester Grangers and Kent Base Ball Club faced each other in an 1860s-style baseball game as part of the Corktown Historical Society‘s annual home and garden tour.  Read more and view photo here.

Connecticut Tigers Unveil ‘Re-Imagined’ Mascot Logos

PRESS RELEASE – The Connecticut Tigers, Class-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, proudly unveil new alternate marks for the upcoming 2014 season. The logos depict mascot C.T. the Tiger and pay homage to the proud affiliation to the Detroit Tigers, the City of Norwich, as well as the State of Connecticut.

Detroit Releases Plan for Youth Baseball Field, Mixed-Use Development for Former Tiger Stadium Site

Baseball could return to the site of former Tiger Stadium in a plan released Tuesday by Detroit’s economic development agency.  Under the site development plan, land would be set aside for a youth baseball field that would cover the same footprint where the Detroit Tigers played.  Read more here and here.  View RFP here.

Slight Hope for Preserving Tiger Stadium Field

A new request for proposals will reportedly be issued soon that will call for development of the former site of Tiger Stadium at Michigan and Trumbull.  The RFP will seek private developers to build mixed-use housing and commercial space at the historic site but keep a baseball field with smaller dimensions than the original playing field.  Read more here and here.

Connecticut Tigers, Detroit Tigers Extend PDC

PRESS RELEASE – The Connecticut Tigers and the Detroit Tigers have agreed to a four-year extension to their Player Development Contract (PDC), guaranteeing the agreement through the 2018 season.

50/50 Burger Battle

Just days after concessionaire Delaware North introduced the new 50/50 Burger (1/2 ground beef, 1/2 ground bacon) at Comerica Park just in time for the Detroit Tigers’ playoff run, Slater’s, a California restaurant mini-chain, cried foul.  Slater’s says the company has trademarked “50/50 Burger.”  Delaware North says they plan to change the name but will keep selling the burger.  Read more and view photos here.

Tigers Introduce New Eats for Playoffs

The Detroit Tigers have introduced four new items for the ALDS playoffs, including the 50/50 Burger (50 percent ground beef, 50 percent ground bacon), Prime Time (smoked prime rib sandwich), Triple Smoke Sampler (smoked turkey, brisket, and pulled pork BQ), and Shortcake Slider (ice cream between waffles).  If the Tigers advance to the ALCS, more food items will be unveiled.  Read more and view photo here.

Ketchup-Hating Hot Dog Vendor Fired

Long-time singing hot dog vendor Charlies Marcuse was fired by the Detroit Tigers’ concession vendor after some fans apparently filed complaints over his combative response when asked to put ketchup on a frank.  Read more here.  While we agree ketchup has no business on an adult hot dog, Marcuse should have kept his crusade in check.  That said, we had to chuckle when panelist Kevin

Economic Development Chief Blames Tiger Stadium Nostalgia for Lack of Site Development

George Jackson, CEO of the Detroit Economic Growth Corp., accused U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, a Democrat from Detroit, and a nonprofit group Tuesday of blocking a redevelopment proposal for the Tiger Stadium site by insisting — for nostalgia’s sake — that plans include a baseball park with the same dimensions as those of the demolished field.  Read more here.

Joker Marchant Stadium to Get $50M Facelift

The Detroit Tigers and city of Lakeland (FL) have announced that Joker Marchant Stadium, the spring-training home of the Tigers, will undergo a $50 million makeover over the next few years.  Read more here.

City Spoils World Series Viewing Party at Old Tiger Stadium Site

A plan to hold a Major League Baseball-approved World Series viewing party Saturday night on the site of the old Tigers Stadium was halted when the city put the kabosh on it claiming organizers did not follow proper procedure to hold such an event on public property.  Read more here.

Neon Tiger Stadium Sign Gets New Home

The historic neon “Tiger Stadium” sign that went up in 1961 outside the Detroit Tigers’ old ballpark is now on display and lit up at the Detroit Historical Museum.  Read more here.

Preserving Tiger Stadium Playing Surface, Memories

Tiger Stadium was demolished in 2009, but that hasn’t stopped an unofficial corps of volunteers from working to preserve memories of the old park by keeping the remaining field mowed, the base paths smoothed, and the trash picked up.  Flags still fly on the original flag pole out in centerfield.  Read more here.

Authority to Refinance Debt on Tigers’ Stadium

The Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority is refinancing $61.2 million in public debt still owed on Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers.  The authority borrowed about $80 million in 30-year tax exempt bonds back in 1997 at a rate 5.75 percent.  The new rate should be around 3 percent.  The Tigers still owe their portion of the debt on the stadium.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Happy 100th, Tiger Stadium!

There certainly would’ve been a lot more hoopla today in Detroit if city leaders hadn’t decided to demolish Tiger Stadium in 2009.  Like Fenway Park, Tiger Stadium (formally known as Navin Stadium and Briggs Stadium) turned 100 today.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

SeaWolves, Tigers Extend PDC

PRESS RELEASE – The Erie SeaWolves, along with their parent club the Detroit Tigers, are pleased to announce an extension of the club’s Player Development Contract. The extension means the SeaWolves will remain the Double-A Affiliate of the Tigers through the 2014 season.

New Video Scoreboard Under Construction at Comerica Park

A new $10.5 million high-definition video scoreboard is currently under construction at Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers, which will be 6,000 square feet of high-tech massiveness, compared to its 1,008 square feet predecessor.  It will be the 4th largest in MLB.  Read more and view rendering here.

Detroit Tigers, NYPL Tigers Extend PDC

The Detroit Tigers and the Single-A Connecticut Tigers (New York-Penn League) have extended their player development contract for another two years.  Read more here.  Thanks to John Cerone for the link.

Tigers, Mud Hens Renew PDC

PRESS RELEASE – The Toledo Mud Hens and Detroit Tigers today announced a four-year working relationship through the 2016 season. This extends the affiliation between these two historic franchises that began in 1987.

Whitecaps Host Playoff Watch Parties

PRESS RELEASE – It’s been an exciting season for Whitecaps fans, who have watched no less than 14 former Whitecaps contribute to the Detroit Tigers’ playoff run. Now it’s “go” time for the American League Central Division Champions, and the Whitecaps are opening the Pepsi Stadium Club doors for all fans to come together and cheer on

Detroit Rejects Offer By Chevrolet to Rehab Old Tiger Stadium Site

The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation has rejected an offer by Chevrolet to provide financing and labor to bring the baseball field at the old Tiger Stadium back to playable condition.  In a written response to the offer, the DEGC made it clear that it wants to keep the land free of any entanglements that could make the property less attractive to developers.  Read more here.

Volunteers Revive Old Tiger Stadium with Clean-Up

Metro Detroit volunteers converged on the site of old Tiger Stadium on Sunday to spruce up what’s left of the abandoned ballpark and make the storied ground “play ball” ready once again.  Nice work, folks!  Read more and view news clip here.

SeaWolves Ink Deals with Stadium, Tigers

PRESS RELEASE – The Erie SeaWolves announced the extension of both their Player Development Contract with the Detroit Tigers and lease agreement with the Erie County Convention Center Authority through 2012 on Tuesday.

Rap Stars Team Up for Shows at MLB Parks

Rap stars Jay-Z and Eminem are teaming up to do shows at Yankee Stadium and Comerica Park, the MLB ballparks from their respective home towns.  The performances are expected to take place in September.  Read more here.

Detroit Tigers’ Hall of Fame Announcer Passes Away at 92

Broadcaster Ernie Harwell, who called the games for the Detroit Tigers for more than four decades, died of cancer on Tuesday at his home in Novi, Michigan.  He was 92.  ESPN does a nice tribute here.

‘TigerFest’ a Success

Fans turned out at Comerica Park on Saturday morning for the Detroit Tigers’ annual TigerFest.  Read more here.