Comments on: Memories of a Great Childhood Friend

By: The Hammer

The Hammer — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:57:08 +0000

Nice tribute Pig-Meister to a ballpark that I still miss. I remember my first game there in 1971 watching the Billy Martin-led Tigers lose to the Royals 6-2 (Joe Niekro started that game). Shit, I didn’t know you were at the last game in ‘99- I was there too. I drive by the old ballpark everyday as I work near there and it sucks to have to watch it be torn down bit by bit but it probably needs to go. How long do you think the land will remain vacant before the city is able to develope it for something useful?

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 12:54:08 +0000

Piggy, that was a nice trip back to the “days”.
I started with the Joe Suck, er Buck spew (I can’t take him either) and remembering how important going to the ball diamond to play OUR games was. Then to go back to our first Tiger Game and relive the thrill of seeing the Big Boys kind of chokes you up a little. I also love the modern day ball yard we call Comerica Park, but nothing will ever replace the fond memories of Tiger Stadium. Gone but never forgotten. Nice Job!! MOFO

By: flyingpig

flyingpig — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:57:43 +0000

I have nothing but great memories of “The Corner” but it was way past time for it to go. The ballclub spent millions of dollars on a yearly basis to reinforce rafters and support. Watching a game there was fantastic because the fans were so close to the field but it was also very annoying because of the support beams that blocked your view of the field unless you had box seats. The concourses were narrow and always crowded and the concessions were small and limited in space. Great atmosphere in the seats but it was time to put the old girl to bed.

Comerica Park is a beautiful stadium and very modern. Large concourses, lots of rest rooms, concessions everywhere, memorabilia, etc… I wouldn’t want to go back to the old stadium but I will always have my memories.

By: mackey

mackey — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:43:33 +0000

Great story, FP. I grew up in Va Beach. No major league sports until the ABA Squires with Dr J came along in the early 70s. I was a little kid in the summer of 1969 too, when my Dad took me to see an NFL preseason game in Norfolk. Redskins vs St Louis Cardinals at Foreman Field. My first NFL game. It was almost 20 years before I went to another one.

Demon…good old Williams Brice. When you see the landfill from I-77, you’re almost there.

By: thedan

thedan — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:10:51 +0000

THEY TORE IT DOWN!? CRAP! Now I’ll get lost when I drive around the city. I always knew that Tiger Stadium was “as far as I’ll go” when crossing the border. Once you drive past it, look out…

That’s disappointing. I was there a couple weeks before the strike in 1994. They played the Athletics and one of the guys who was really playing well for them was Junior Felix, former Blue Jay. It was an old ballpark that was ready to move on. Sorry to hear that the stadium is gone Piggy.

By: morisato

morisato — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:31:56 +0000

I remember Dudley Field, where the DIablos once played for over 40 years. I got to see Gary Sheffield in that park, during his brief stay here. I felt horrible when the Diablos moved to Cohen Stadium in the Northeast. Nice park, but it wasn’t the same.

Knock on the Red Sox all you want, at the very least, they preserved their park. I wish Tiger Stadium could have been preserved as well.

Good job Pigman. You captured the heart of the matter perfectly.

By: shooterb

shooterb — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:08:20 +0000

The summer of ‘69? Did you help Bryan Adams write that shitty fucking song?

Very solid tribute to a truly historic ball park.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:45:57 +0000

Williams Brice Stadium - or Billy Brice as I call it. I don’t remember my first baseball game or first basketball game (Orlando Magic O-Rena). but i remember my first college football game. I was a senior in high school and i was visiting Carolina for a scholarship. they took us to a game against the Volunteers. I remember Peyton. I remember watching 2001 on the supertron. the band was 450 strong (it was a music scholarship). I’ve been to nearly 40 different college football stadiums and I’ve never felt that sorta energy. For the first 10 minutes of a game, Billy Brice is the livest stadium in america. its better then Michigan, FSU and texas. billiy brice stayed 120% capacity when we were 1-21. i weeped when they built shitty college town condo’s for the rich frat boys. when they tear down Billy B, I’ll prolly quit watching college football.

By: miracle

miracle — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:04:45 +0000

Nice tribute Piggy.

I grew up in a town with only a minor league park, but in the 70’s it was a minor league team for the Pirates. So I got to see Willie Stargell and Dave Parker from time to time.

That field was torn down a couple of years ago, and they built another park in the middle of the bum infested section of town. Nice ball park, shitty location.