TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO, ON THIS DAY: THE FINAL GAME. A GRAND TIGER STADIUM FAREWELL, SEPTEMBER 27, 1999

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DETROIT FREE PRESS Tuesday, September 28, 1999 — 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.

[Note: See Detroit Free Press article below for more. Click over images with mouse, or tap on and stretch article (and all photos and box scores) across your mobile device screen for larger detailed view].

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Jim Price, a former catcher for the Detroit Tigers and a key member of their 1968 championship team, passed away at the age of 81. The Tigers announced his death on Tuesday, August 8, 2023, but no cause was provided.

Price played with the Tigers from 1967 to 1971, primarily as a backup to All-Star catcher Bill Freehan. Over the course of 261 games, he recorded a batting average of .214, with 18 home runs and 71 RBIs, contributing to the team’s 1968 World Series victory.

In 1998, Price began his broadcasting career as a radio analyst for the Tigers, later expanding to their television coverage. Originally from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, he excelled in three sports at Hershey High School before signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960, opting out of college football scholarship offers.

Alongside his wife, Lisa, Price co-founded a nonprofit organization called Jack’s Place, named after their son, who has autism, aimed at providing support for individuals and families affected by the disorder.

Jim Price partnered with Ernie Harwell in the Tigers broadcasting booth from 1999 to 2002.

Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

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Before the final game at Tiger Stadium, a ceremony took place, hosted by Ernie Harwell, the current Tiger broadcaster and recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award. Owner Mike Ilitch addressed the crowd, joined by Michigan Governor John Engler, Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, and Commissioner of Baseball Bud Selig. The event also featured Hall of Famer and longtime Tigers right fielder Al Kaline.

Instead of the usual lineup exchange between managers, both teams designated honorary captains. Al Kaline represented the Tigers, while former MVP and Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett stood for the Royals.

The game concluded at 7:07 PM, after which the grounds crew gathered around home plate. At 7:13 PM, groundskeeper Charlie McGee used a pickaxe to remove home plate, which was then escorted by police and carried to Comerica Park by Tiger pitchers Matt Anderson, Jeff Weaver, and Francisco Cordero.

Ernie Harwell took the stage to recount the history of Tiger Stadium, accompanied by music from *Field of Dreams*. He presented a film featuring legendary Tigers like Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, Hughie Jennings, and Harry Heilmann, and recognized the Hall of Famers: Heinie Manush, Mickey Cochrane, Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg, Hal Newhouser, and George Kell.

Following speeches from Willie Horton and former manager Sparky Anderson, a group of former players emerged from the center field gate. This included Mark Fidrych, Bill Freehan, Dick McAuliffe, Dave Bergman, Mickey Stanley, Kirk Gibson, Cecil Fielder, Al Kaline, and the duo of Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker, along with Elden Auker. They formed a line from the center field flagpole to home plate, passing the flag that had flown over the stadium during its finale.

After Auker handed the flag to catcher Brad Ausmus, players tossed souvenirs into the stands, while some fans collected dirt from the warning track in plastic bags. At that moment, Harwell delivered his final farewell: “Tonight, we say good-bye… Farewell, old friend Tiger Stadium. We will remember.”

At 8:19 PM, the scoreboard was turned off. A final team photo was taken at 8:45 PM, and by 9 PM, the stands were empty. As the last fans departed, a sign was hung from the iconic right-center field overhang that read: “Today, there is crying in baseball. So long, old friend.”

Audio digitally remastered by Motor City Radio Flashbacks

THE VOICE OF SUMMER REMEMBERED: ERNIE HARWELL and PAUL CAREY on WJR, MAY 24, 1977

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DETROIT FREE PRESS Wednesday, May 25, 1977 — Believe it or not, one of the reasons Ralph Houk temporarily turned John Hiller into a starting pitcher was to try to build the veteran’s confidence back up.

If nothing else, the Tiger’s accomplished that much Tuesday night at Tiger Stadium.

Although Hiller was no match for California’s record-setting Nolan Ryan, he certainly had nothing to be ashamed of as the Angels stopped the Tiger’s three-game winning streak, 2-1.

**Angels 2-Tigers 1** *(Click on box score for largest detailed view)*.

Ryan was his customary over-powering self, permitting three singles and striking out 12 to set an American League record for such feats. It marked the 75th time since joining the Angels in 1972, that Ryan had struck out 10 or more batters in a ball game.

THE ANGELS’ fireballing right-hander has enjoyed 89 such games in his major-league career, dating back to his days with the New York Mets, which leaves him just 8 shy of the major league record, held by Sandy Koufax.

But let the record show, John Hiller struck out five himself while only allowing five hits in his most impressing nine-inning effort against the Angels.

[See Detroit Free Press article below for more. Click on, tap or stretch article for larger detailed read].

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WJR served as the flagship station for the Detroit Tigers Radio Network, with Paul Carey producing broadcasts for the network from 1964 to 1971.

When Ray Lane transitioned to television, Carey teamed up with Ernie Harwell as a play-by-play announcer for the 1973 season, a role he held for 19 seasons. Except for his last three seasons, he also took on engineering duties for the broadcasts.

In early 1991, Carey announced his retirement at the end of the season, with his final Tigers broadcast taking place on the last day of the 1991 season—marking the final baseball game at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. In 2012, Carey was honored as the third recipient of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association’s Harwell Lifetime Contribution Award, following Harwell and John Fountain.

Carey passed away on April 12, 2016, in Rochester, Michigan, due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at the age of 88.

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BASEBALL REFERENCE: For the complete California Angels vs Detroit Tigers May 24, 1977 game-day box score and stats — click HERE

**THE VOICE OF THE DETROIT TIGERS** Ernie Harwell with Paul Carey.

THE VOICE OF SUMMER RECALLED: TIGER BASEBALL IS ON THE AIR! MAY 1977

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DETROIT FREE PRESS | Wednesday, June 1, 1977 — If John Hiller isn’t careful, manager Ralph Houk isn’t going to let him back in the bullpen.

The Tigers’ lefthanded relief ace certainly didn’t make it any easier for Houk to remove him from the starting rotation Tuesday night at Tiger Stadium as he put a stop to their six-game losing streak with an impressive 5-2 triumph over the Oakland A’s.

Mickey Stanley and Milt May helped him out with home runs, of course, as the Tigers’ dormant offense finally made it’s presence felt again, and Steve Foulcault stepped in when Hiller faltered in the ninth.

**Tigers 5. A’s 2.** *(Click on box score for largest detailed view)*

But there was no minimizing Hiller’s contributions to the cause as the 34-year old pitcher struck out nine while holding the A’s to nine hits in his second outstanding effort in a row as a starter — this time outpitching Oakland ace lefty Vida Blue.

Hiller now returns to the bullpen, where he and Foucault continue to compliment one another until Houk needs a fifth starting pitcher again.

However, after the way Hiller has pitched in the last two starts, Houk definitely won’t hesitate to call on him again. (See article below for more; click on, tap or stretch article for larger detailed read).

BASEBALL REFERENCE: For the complete Oakland Athletics vs Detroit Tigers May 31, 1977 game-day box score and stats — click HERE

THE VOICE OF SUMMER RECALLED: BALTIMORE ORIOLES vs THE DETROIT TIGERS, SEPTEMBER 29, 1991

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DETROIT FREE PRESS | Monday, September 30, 1991 —THE TIGERS WERE ELIMINATED in the American League East race Sunday — but because of Cal Ripkin, Jr., it happened gracefully.

The Orioles shortstop hit two homers, good for four runs, to beat Scott Aldred, 7-4, in front of 17,925.

Ripkin has made these last three days at Tiger Stadium the most productive series of his brilliant career. He has driven 11 runs — his most RBIs ever in one series. This virtuoso completes his current Detroit engagement in the Tigers’ home finally tonight.

**Orioles 7. Tigers 4.** *(Click on box score for largest detailed view)*

The Tigers, who trailed from the time Ripkin hit a three-run homer in the third inning, fell 7 and a half games behind the Toronto Blue Jays with one week left. Even if the Tigers win their remaining seven games and the Jays lose their remaining six, the Tigers can’t tie them — something they did for three days that marked the peak of their season.

On August 24-26, the Tigers were completing the seven-game winning streak and the 18-7 burst that allowed them to catch, but not pass, the Jays. Then the Tigers immediately slumped and never got hot again. (See article below for more; click on, tap or stretch article for larger detailed read).

BASEBALL REFERENCE: For the complete Baltimore Orioles vs. Detroit Tigers September 29, 1991 game-day box score and stats — click HERE

**Detroit Free Press** September 29, 1991 [A]

**Detroit Free Press** September 29, 1991 [B]

**Ernie and Paul**. Last game broadcasting together, Monday, September 30, 1991 *(Photo: Detroit Free Press)*

THE VOICE OF SUMMER RECALLED: TIGER BASEBALL IS ON THE AIR! JUNE 1978

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DETROIT FREE PRESS | (Bloomington, Minn.) Sunday, May 18, 1978 — The Tigers dismal decline continued Saturday as the Minnesota Twins dealt them their sixth consecutive defeat, 3-1.

In keeping with their current trend, the Tigers played well enough to win. They collected seven hits, compared to the Twins’ eight, and Milt Wilcox was certainly every bit as effective as his Minnesota counterpart, Geoff Zahn.

But Zahn got the win while Wilcox was stuck with his fifth loss as the Tigers exhibited almost an uncanny inability to hit with men on base.

As a result, they now need only one setback to match their longest losing streak of the season. Furthermore, 17 of the Tigers’ last 24 games have ended in failures, which is why they’re now fifth in the American East, a distant 12 and a half games behind the Boston Red Sox.

**Twins 3. Tigers 1**. *(Click on box score for largest detailed view)*

But the only solution manager Ralph Houk could offer Saturday was continued patience.

“All we can try to to do is relax ’em and wait,” Houk explained in the otherwise silent, somber clubhouse.

“They”re all trying too hard when they come up with men on base,” Houk continued. “That’s obvious.

“We just can’t seem to get going. We can’t get the runs in. We can’t bunch our hits. We scatter them all of the time.

We’ll come out of this sooner or later,” Houk predicted. “We’ve got to break loose. And when we start winning we won’t be able to understand why we didn’t do it before because it’ll look so easy.

“But right now, it seems the little things keep happening to us. We get runners picked off base and we leave men on second or third when we’ve got a chance for a big inning. We’re not hitting that bad. We’re just not hitting with men on base. And when you don’t score, you’re not going to win. But all we can do is sit back and wait.”

One has to wonder, though, how much longer Houk will continue to be patient. Butch Wynegar put the Twins on top, 1-0, with his third homer of the season at the bottom of the second inning Saturday. (See article below for more; click on, tap or stretch article for larger detailed read).

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BASEBALL REFERENCE: For the complete Minnesota Twins vs. Detroit Tigers June 17, 1978 game-day box score and stats — click HERE

**Detroit Free Press** Sunday, June 18, 1978 (a.)

**Detroit Free Press** Sunday, June 18, 1978 (b.)

**The voice for the Detroit Tigers** Ernie Harwell with Paul Carey.

THE VOICE OF SUMMER RECALLED: TIGER BASEBALL IS ON THE AIR! MAY 1977

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DETROIT FREE PRESS | Thursday, May 12, 1977 — For a team that is supposedly tailor-made for Tiger Stadium, it certainly took the Tigers a long time to show it.

But they finally looked right at home Wednesday evening as Ben Oglivie, Phil Mankowski, Mark Wagner and Milt May all smashed home runs to help maul the Minnesota Twins, 8-3.

With all that support, it was easy for Dave Roberts to go all the way, limiting the Twins to five hits to claim his third victory of the season.

Watching the Tigers whack the ball into the seats with such authority, one could only wonder what took them so long.

**Tigers 8. Twins 3**. (Click on box score for largest detailed view)

Going into the game the Tigers had hammered the grand total of seven home runs in their first 11 games at Michigan and Trumbull. Wednesday they hit four in eight innings, including three off Jeff Zahn, previously undefeated and the American League’s lead-leading winner at 5-0.

It was awesome, to say the least, and long overdue.

In their first 11 games at home, in spite of a lineup loaded nightly loaded with left-handed hitters, the Tigers were out-homered by the opposition, 23 to 7 . . . hardly the sort of situation Ralph Houk envisioned when he put together this team together in the spring.

Wednesday’s performance was what the manager had in mind.

Roberts, who had won two in a row after watching his record fall to 1-4, struck out four Twins and walked only one in his best showing since he beat Toronto a month ago.

In addition, the veteran left hander gained some measure of revenge for the pounding he took in Minnesota 11 days earlier when Rod Carew attacked him on the mound at the Twins knocked him out of the game in the second inning.

Roberts never trailed as the Tigers came to his defense with a dozen hits, including 10 in the first four innings off Zahn.

Zahn found himself three runs behind by the time the Tigers finished batting in the bottom of the first, even though they only hit one ball beyond the infield. (See article below for more; click on, tap or stretch article for larger detailed read).

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BASEBALL REFERENCE: For the complete Minnesota Twins vs. Detroit Tigers May 11, 1977 game-day box score and stats — click HERE

**Detroit Free Press** Thursday, May 12, 1977

THE VOICE OF SUMMER’S PAST REMEMBERED: DENNY McLAIN WINS 30! SEPTEMBER 14, 1968

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BY GEORGE CANTOR

DETROIT FREE PRESS — Sunday, September 15, 1968 — The Tigers won Denny McLain his 30th game Saturday and sent goose pimples down the back of the entire country.

Roaring from behind in the ninth inning, just like they’ve done all year, Detroit pulled it out for McLain in a win-it-or-bust rally, 5-4.

The victory made McLain the first man to win 30 games in 34 years, as the whole country and 44,087 fans at Tiger Stadium watched the drama unfold in spellbound fascination.

Willie Horton capped the two-run surge by belting a drive just out of the reach of pulled-in left-fielder, Goose Gosger, to knock in Mickey Stanley, and touch off the wildest scene at Tiger Stadium in 30 years.

Detroit had to pull it off because McLain was removed for a pinch hitter in the inning. If the team had merely tied the game, the decision would have been in the hands of another pitcher and Denny would have had to wait until next Wednesday.

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But as Stanley danced across the plate, the Tiger dugout exploded, led by McLain. First they mobbed Stanley at the plate, then the entire team rushed to grab Horton. Stanley finally picked up McLain bodily and hauled him off the field.

But the fans wouldn’t go home. They stood at their seats yelling for McLain until the pitcher came back on the field to take a bow.

Even then, several hundred fans stayed outside the Tiger clubhouse chanting “We Want Denny” long after the players had gone.

Going for the 30 victories was supposed to be drama enough. But the way it all ended made the affair vaguely unreal–as if McLain would suddenly strip-off his false face, reveal that he was really Paul Newman and the whole thing was a gigantic Hollywood put-on.

Reggie Jackson, the young Oakland rightfielder, looked as though he was going to steal the spotlight from Denny. He belted two homers, cut down one runner at the plate and made a leaping catch in right personally to account for the 4-3 score as the Tigers came up in the ninth.

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Diego Segui, who had entered the game in the fifth, had choked off Detroit on three singles. The only runs scored on a three-run Norm Cash homer in the fourth that had given Detroit a brief lead.

But Al Kaline came up to bat for McLain to start the ninth inning and worked Segui for a 3-2 walk.

Dick McAuliffe fouled off two sacrifice bunts and finally fouled out to third baseman Sal Bando in front of a silent Detroit dugout.

But Stanley ripped a solid single right over second base as Kaline, showing no trace of his leg injury, darting around to third.

The next hitter was Jim Northrup. He tapped a slow roller down the first base line, and in the game’s biggest play, Kaline broke for the plate.

Danny Cater raced in for the ball and made an off balanced throw that sailed over the head of catcher Dave Duncan, Kaline and Duncan collided with Kaline scrambling for the plate on his hands and knees to score as Stanley galloped to third.

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**Denny McLain** and Willie Horton in the Tigers dressing room after the game. September 14, 1968

HORTON came up and Segui took him to a 2-2 count. All the Oakland players were drawn in close for a play at the plate to cut off the potential winning run.

Willie hit one that Gosger would have caught if he had been playing in normal depth–but Stanley would have scored anyhow after the catch.

Horton was given a single on the hit–which was the most ignored scoring decision of the year. No one would have cared less among the worked up Tigers.

The A’s took an early 2-0 lead in the fourth on Jackson’s first homer following a Cater single.

But Cash connected in the Detroit half of the inning off Chuck Dobson behind a walk and Horton’s single.

The lead lasted only until Oakland came to bat in the fifth. McLain walked Duncan to lead off. He was bunted to second and Bert Campaneris tied the score with a single to left.

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THEN JACKSON unloaded in the sixth to give Oakland the lead. It was his 28th of the year and the 30th off McLain. For a while, it looked as that were to be the only 30 Denny would reach Saturday.

Segui, who was beaten by a Bill Freeman homer in the 10th on Detroit’s visit to Oakland two weeks ago, was a tough customer. When he got Gates Brown with two on in the eighth, it seemed as he would make it all the way.

But the ninth inning turned him into a loser.

McLain wound up giving up six hits, walking just one and striking out 10. That brought his strikeout total to 265, just 10 short of Hal Newhauser’s club record.

**THE MAESTRO**, 1968 *(Photo: Detroit Free Press archives)*

That will be his next mark when he starts again, probably Wednesday night against the Yankees.

And almost forgotten in the general hilarity following the game–the victory reduced the magic number to four, Detroit wins or Baltimore loses, for the Tigers winning the pennant.

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DETROIT FREE PRESS: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1968

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BASEBALL REFERENCE: For the complete Oakland A’s vs. Detroit Tigers September 14, 1968 game-day box score and stats — click HERE

ERNIE HARWELL / RAY LANE | COMPLETE GAME | SEPT. 14, 1968

HARWELL. THE VOICE OF SUMMER’S PAST REMEMBERED

ERNIE HARWELL | Harwell’s Last Interview | OCTOBER 2009

Ernie Harwell with Bob Costas

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In October 2009, Ernie Harwell was guest star on MLB Network’s Studio 42 with Bob Costas. This featured interview was taped during the 2009 World Series, New York Yankees vs Philadelphia Phillies.

The broadcast was later televised on the MLB Network in November 2009. The program, ultimately, would be Harwell’s last known appearance on national television before he succumbed to cancer on May 4, 2010.

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HARWELL. THE VOICE OF SUMMER’S PAST REMEMBERED

ERNIE HARWELL (w/ George Kell) * Al Kaline Interview (Spring Training) * MARCH 1962

**Ernie Harwell** and George Kell interviews Al Kaline. Spring training, March 1962

April 6, 2020

In Remembrance

— ONE YEAR AGO TODAY —

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Remembering Al Kaline

The above Al Kaline interview was aired on WKMH, the Detroit Tigers flagship stations (Knorr Broadcasting) during the Tiger’s spring training season, March 1962.

December 19, 1934 – April 6, 2020

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HARWELL. THE VOICE OF SUMMER’S PAST REMEMBERED

DETROIT TIGERS V. BALTIMORE ORIOLES

—Sunday, September 29, 1963—

THE FINAL DETROIT TIGERS GAME of 1963

George Kell and Ernie Harwell

WKMH 1310 COMPLETE GAME BROADCAST

57 YEARS AGO TODAY

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**Detroit Tigers** vs Baltimore Orioles Box Score September 29, 1963 (*courtesy baseballreference.com*)

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GEORGE KELL ERNIE HARWELL

George Kell was hired by the Detroit Tigers in 1959, pairing the new play-by-play announcer with WKMH’s sports veteran Van Patrick. Van Patrick was replaced by Ernie Harwell in 1960, having teamed up with George Kell in the Detroit Tigers broadcasting booth from 1960 through 1963.

This 9/29/1963 game was George Kell’s last broadcast for the Detroit Tigers, after having announced earlier in the year of his impending retirement immediately after the 1963 baseball season.