Ballparks # 24 - Comerica Park, Detroit

7/27/2023

Comerica Park, Detroit (From Google images)

This is how one’s ballpark life list can exceed the number of teams in the majors. Over time, teams change ballparks. New ones come. Old ones go. The first ballpark in this series was posted in 2016 and it was the Detroit Tigers’ former home. This summer’s return drive from Wisconsin got us close enough to Detroit...on a game day...and I was able to add Comerica Park to the list.

Here, Kitty

Entrance to Comerica Park, Detroit (27 July 2023)

Before the turn of the last century, there was but one pro baseball major league. From 1885 to 1900, the Western League brought professional baseball to Midwest cities that did not have National League teams. As the Western League grew more popular, they challenged the formal agreement that made them a ‘minor’ league. In 1900, the Western League declared it was now the American League, the second ‘major’ league. The Tigers are the only Western League team still in its original city. Of the eight original American League teams, all have moved or changed their names. The Detroit Tigers have been nothing but the Detroit Tigers since 1894. The Tigers have won the league pennant eleven times and the World Series four times, the last one in 1984.

Comerica Park (27 July 2023)

If anything is evident about the décor and

symbolism at Comerica Park, it is the tiger.

There are thirty-three of these large

tiger heads ringing the stadium.

The baseballs light up at night. Sorry I missed that.

Tiger Carrousel

Comerica Park, Detroit (27 July 2023)

Comerica Park has been the team home since 2000. The layout exemplifies that modern urge to have something for sale everywhere. There are attractions and vendors in every direction.

The team’s name allows for abundant tiger imagery everywhere. I guess they’re fortunate in that regard. I certainly can’t imagine a theme park atmosphere built around white socks for instance. Go with it.

Motor City Stadium Scene

Comerica Park, Detroit (27 July 2023)

The ballpark is across the street from the stadium where

the Lions play football. I like that this ballpark has also moved

closer into the metro center. The views are more interesting.

The downtown location of the ballpark was formerly occupied by the Detroit College of Law. It is literally across the street from the historic Fox Theater and other downtown landmarks. Comerica Bank agreed to pay $66 million to have stadium naming rights for thirty years. That agreement has already been extended.

Beyond the Outfield

Comerica Park (27 July 2023)

Like all new ballparks, Comerica allows one to walk around the entire perimeter of the field. Between the giant score board in left field and the green backdrop wall in center field are six action sculptures of Tiger greats. The wall below displays the names of Tiger immortals whose uniform number have been retired. No, some Detroit vandal hasn’t stolen Ty Cobb’s number. Cobb played in a time before numbered uniforms were worn.

Hank Greenberg is another Hall of Famer that deserves recognition. The first Jewish super star in American team sport, he had to put up with a lot of antisemitic crap...which explains why he was one of the few players to welcome Jackie Robinson when he entered the majors. Greenberg was also the first major leaguer to join the armed forces when World War II started and he served longer (almost four years) than any other player.

Finally, on the left are the real-time, career home run and hit totals for Tiger future Hall-of-Famer Miguel Cabrera, playing his last season in the game.

The Great Ohtani

Comerica Park (27 July 2023)

As a hitter, the man led the league in home runs, total

bases, and slugging percentage. On this day,

he pitched a masterful, complete game, one-hit shutout.

(The date/link at the top will take you to the box score)

In the second game of the double-header, he hit two home runs.

New ballparks haven’t had the time to collect memorable moments. Jim Thome hit his 600th home run here in 2011. The park has hosted two World Series...both lost to the National League. On the other hand, the two no-hitters thrown here were won by the home team.

It was a good day.

One final appreciation. While the inter-locked ‘N’ and ‘Y’ on the Yankee cap is an iconic baseball symbol, I still think the old English ‘D’ on the Tiger cap is the coolest.