An Ode to Tiger Stadium

Well its baseball season again and the Tigers are about to open its
season in Detroit. I
head for The Corner that baseball has been played for the last 104
years. I see the grand
old ballpark rising in the distance. The white siding is bright as any
day that I have seen.
The light towers are rising high into the sky. My heart starts pumping
as I get excited about
seeing the bright green grass in the sunshine, the nice white uniforms
with the old English
"D" on the players, and seeing all the fans filling up the 50,000
seats in the beautiful old
stadium that has stood for hope and rebirth every spring.

As I approach the stadium, I notice there is not the traffic that
normally accompanies a
game. It must be a late arriving crowd this year. When I get up to the
stadium, I get this
eerie feeling. There are a few people around the stadium, some taking
pictures, some just
kind of hanging around waiting for something to happen. What is going
on here. I know
that Opening Day is today. I know that THIS is where baseball is
played in Detroit. What
has happened?!! I park my car on the street and get out to walk up to
the gates. But they
are locked tight. Then I asked someone "Isn't there a ballgame here
today?". He answers
me, "Nope. They have built a new building. Didn't you know. There will
be no more baseball
at The Corner". "WHAT??!!!!", I screamed. I can't believe that this
grand old lady will no
longer be the place where baseball is played in Detroit.

This grand old building has been a monument of greatness to the city.
Nine American
League championships, four World championships, Joe Louis defending
his championship,
and the Lion champioships were all played here. Since 1896, baseball
has been played at
the corner of Michigan and Trumbell. It has been played in this
stadium since 1912 (since
1938 in its current configuration). How can baseball be played
anywhere else. All those
heroes of our past have played here: Ty Cobb, Hank Greenberg, Charlie
Gehringer, Mickey
Cochrane, Hal Newhouser, Al Kaline, Norm Cash, Mickey Lolich, Kirk
Gibson, Alan Trammell,
and Lou Whitaker. We all grew up watching the games in this great
ballpark that has stood
for so long and so much. How could this be? Where else can baseball be
played in this fair
city?

The stadium has seen millions of fans cheer the home team no matter
how bad or good.
She must be sad knowing that all those smiling faces, cheering fans,
and wide-eyed kids will
not be entering into her hallowed grounds. The excitement, the buzz of
crowd, and the
general feeling of joy will be gone. What a sad day. A place where so
much has taken place
and so many memories were made has been silenced. I can only wonder
what will happen
to this grand old lady. Is the grass still as green? or is it
overgrowing and brown? I can only
stand here and cry. Baseball will not be played at The Corner again.
Farewell old friend you
will be missed.