Briggs Stadium in 44' and 61'

[deadcenter~440]

I've recently been told that Briggs/Tiger Stadium had a fence between the first and second deck in Right field during the 44' and 61' season. Balls hit towards right field would have to clear this wall and land in the upper deck grandstand for a home run. Does anyone have pics of this? or any more info related to this feature? Also, the 2nd deck facade in RF had the measurement 315 painted on, possibly during these years?

Would like to put some of my own pics of Tiger Stadium up, but at the moment am too ignorant to figure out the posting of pics onto a thread. It would be nice to start a thread like that of the Yankee Stadium 20s thru 50s thread to share pictures of "The Corner"............

[2Chance]

Welcome to the Fever, DC440!

You aren't the first to have a question about uploading photos. Here's a recent thread about the particulars.
http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=55431

Two things to remember that aren't covered:
1. The image needs to be less than 100K to be uploaded
2. Hit the "Post Reply" button rather than the "Quick Reply."
(If you do use the Quick Reply, click on "Go Advanced.")

Tiger Stadium is still my favorite place on this planet. Looking forward to seeing the pictures.

[deadcenter~440]

Thanks, I think I can post the attachments, but I'd like to have the images shown in the thread instead of links............how does that work?

[deadcenter~440]

As soon as I find out how to blow them up I'll have some more to share...........

Here's one from the 41' All-Star Game.

[deadcenter~440]

Kaline taking BP.

[deadcenter~440]

Kaline running out a shot to the 440 mark.............

[deadcenter~440]

And for all those that ever had the pleasure of visiting the bathrooms at the corner.....

[deadcenter~440]

I have more photos, however they're over 100 KB. Anyway of sizing them down for the forum?

[2Chance]

The bathroom is a lot less green than I remember.....

[B.White]

I seem to recall reading a quote from Rick Ferrell when he was the GM of the Tigers saying that he intended to move the right field fence prior to the 1962 season. He was discussing the 1961 seasons of Maris and Cash, opining that Cash had just as much power as Maris.

I also read that the Indians pulled down a wire fence above the right field bleacher wall IN THE MIDDLE of either 1929 or 1930 in order to increase Earl Averill's home run production. That made me wonder about adjusting a park factor in the middle of a season.

[deadcenter~440]

I seem to recall reading a quote from Rick Ferrell when he was the GM of the Tigers saying that he intended to move the right field fence prior to the 1962 season. He was discussing the 1961 seasons of Maris and Cash, opining that Cash had just as much power as Maris.

I also read that the Indians pulled down a wire fence above the right field bleacher wall IN THE MIDDLE of either 1929 or 1930 in order to increase Earl Averill's home run production. That made me wonder about adjusting a park factor in the middle of a season.
Hmm.....interesting.

I have a book called "The Corner" and in it is a picture of Maris in 61'. (from the batters box, looking towards the outfield). I can see the whole Right field, but nothing in the way of a fence, unless it was a mesh design. Still puzzles me as to why they would only do it for those two seasons and what was the reasoning behind it?

[vtbub]

When did the clock go up on the left field wall? I always thought that was cool.

[deadcenter~440]

When did the clock go up on the left field wall? I always thought that was cool.
Are u talking about the clock above the manual scoreboard prior to 1938 or the electric scoreboard and clock on the Left field wall in later years????

Pre 38':

[WJackman]

Hmm.....interesting.

I have a book called "The Corner" and in it is a picture of Maris in 61'. (from the batters box, looking towards the outfield). I can see the whole Right field, but nothing in the way of a fence, unless it was a mesh design. Still puzzles me as to why they would only do it for those two seasons and what was the reasoning behind it?

This is from the McFarland book on Wes and Rick Ferrell.

http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?isbn=0-7864-2006-5

The reference is cited as TSN issue of 10/25/1961.

"Ferrell made several alterations in the outfield fences between the 1960 and 1961 seasons. 'The rightfield fence was taken down for the football season,' said Rick. 'We may leave it down. We got to thinking how easy it is to hit home runs in Yankee Stadium. Roger Maris has no more power than Norm Cash. The difference is that Cash has a little farther distance to swing at in his home park. We'd like to even things up a bit."

[vtbub]

Are u talking about the clock above the manual scoreboard prior to 1938 or the electric scoreboard and clock on the Left field wall in later years????

Pre 38':


The electric one they put up years later.

IIRC, only Detroit and Cleveland had clocks on the short wall.

[deadcenter~440]

This is from the McFarland book on Wes and Rick Ferrell.

http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/book-2.php?isbn=0-7864-2006-5

The reference is cited as TSN issue of 10/25/1961.

"Ferrell made several alterations in the outfield fences between the 1960 and 1961 seasons. 'The rightfield fence was taken down for the football season,' said Rick. 'We may leave it down. We got to thinking how easy it is to hit home runs in Yankee Stadium. Roger Maris has no more power than Norm Cash. The difference is that Cash has a little farther distance to swing at in his home park. We'd like to even things up a bit."
That's interesting. The pic I had, showed the normal fences at Briggs.


In the 44' and 61' season, two sources (one being ballparktour.com) have identified a 30' fence in RF. This fence, presumably covered the top of the permanent concrete and wire fence to the facade of the second deck. The pic I have of Maris in 61' at Briggs shows the RF and it's permanent 6-8' concrete and wire fence, but no 30' fence as mentioned in the above source.


Unless this fence was fine mesh and not visible from home plate, I see a regular outfield wall for the 61' season, just like all the other photos I've seen of the fence. And I've seen alot of photos of that stadium, none of this fence. Hoping someone has pics to verify this.

Which brings us to, why was there a 30' fence for those two seasons, if there ever was one to begin with? Was it there all year or only parts of the year? I've already sent an email to ballparktour mentioned above.........

Maybe, as was suggested in the ferrell brothers book it was tinkered with many times?

[Elvis]

That's interesting. The pic I had, showed the normal fences at Briggs.


In the 44' and 61' season, two sources (one being ballparktour.com) have identified a 30' fence in RF. This fence, presumably covered the top of the permanent concrete and wire fence to the facade of the second deck. The pic I have of Maris in 61' at Briggs shows the RF and it's permanent 6-8' concrete and wire fence, but no 30' fence as mentioned in the above source.


Unless this fence was fine mesh and not visible from home plate, I see a regular outfield wall for the 61' season, just like all the other photos I've seen of the fence. And I've seen alot of photos of that stadium, none of this fence. Hoping someone has pics to verify this.

Which brings us to, why was there a 30' fence for those two seasons, if there ever was one to begin with? Was it there all year or only parts of the year? I've already sent an email to ballparktour mentioned above.........

Maybe, as was suggested in the ferrell brothers book it was tinkered with many times?

Hey Mike :waving

I just got your email. I'm afraid I only know what I've read. All the info I have on BallparkTour was cross-referenced to make sure it's as accurate as possible. Here are the sources I used for that measurement. We all jibe on the 30 ft screen, however, I too would like further proof. :hp

http://www.savetigerstadium.com/history.php

http://www.baseball-statistics.com/Ballparks/Det/Tiger.htm

http://ballparks.com/baseball/american/tigers.htm

This from ballparks.com: "Screen in right in 1944 and in 1961 required balls to be hit into the second deck to be home runs."

[hartman74]

The clock in the left field wall has been around for a long time.
Maybe it was put in their in 1950's.
If you watch the American League 1971 all star game at Tiger Stadium. The clock is featured throughout the game.

The 1971 Allstar game featured 6 home runs by 6 Hall of Famers.
9 Hall of Famers played for AL and 9 Hall of Famers played for the NL

[riverfrontier]

I've been to Tiger Stadium many times, and lived in Michigan (tepidly, proudly, nostalgically, in that order) for extended periods of time, and I've never heard of a wall extending from the lower deck RF seats to the upper deck seats. Not to say it couldn't have happened, but I was privy to every Tiger season from the late 70s to the late 80s , Ernie Harwell, Paul Carey, George, Al, and every piece of local lore, and I never once heard it mentioned. There would be no reason for a fence, as most any home run ball to right field would be hit into the upper deck, but I do remember a few line drive shots that went below. I believe searching for the right field 'screen fence', or whatever it was, is like looking for Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster. Nobody will ever find them, but Detroit's a better place to be looking for them than California or Scotland. It hasn't nearly as many gangs as California, and Malt Liquor can't be found in Scotland.

[deadcenter~440]

Hey Mike :waving

I just got your email. I'm afraid I only know what I've read. All the info I have on BallparkTour was cross-referenced to make sure it's as accurate as possible. Here are the sources I used for that measurement. We all jibe on the 30 ft screen, however, I too would like further proof. :hp

http://www.savetigerstadium.com/history.php

http://www.baseball-statistics.com/Ballparks/Det/Tiger.htm

http://ballparks.com/baseball/american/tigers.htm

This from ballparks.com: "Screen in right in 1944 and in 1961 required balls to be hit into the second deck to be home runs."
Thanks Elvis!

I'll update if I come up with something.

[Lpeters199]

I remember the screen during 1961--seemed like a waste of time, since most home runs to right field landed in the overhanging upper deck. I haven't seen any pictures of the screen in baseball season, but it's visible in these two photos taken during Lions games.

http://dlxs.lib.wayne.edu/cgi/i/image/image-idx?rgn1=vmc_ti;op2=And;rgn2=vmc_ti;q1=detroit%20l ions;size=20;c=vmc;back=back1210449830;subview=det ail;resnum=335;view=entry;lastview=thumbnail;cc=vm c;entryid=x-77568-und-4;viewid=77568_4


http://dlxs.lib.wayne.edu/cgi/i/image/image-idx?rgn1=vmc_ti;op2=And;rgn2=vmc_ti;q1=detroit%20l ions;size=20;c=vmc;back=back1210450325;subview=det ail;resnum=219;view=entry;lastview=thumbnail;cc=vm c;entryid=x-77568;viewid=77568

[cgcoyne2]

Welcome to the Fever, DC440!

You aren't the first to have a question about uploading photos. Here's a recent thread about the particulars.
http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=55431

Two things to remember that aren't covered:
1. The image needs to be less than 100K to be uploaded
2. Hit the "Post Reply" button rather than the "Quick Reply."
(If you do use the Quick Reply, click on "Go Advanced.")

Tiger Stadium is still my favorite place on this planet. Looking forward to seeing the pictures.

I believe the picture files can be up to 1.05 MB.

You can use MS Paint to turn a bitmap (BMP) into a JPeg (JPG) file.

[Lpeters199]

I've recently been told that Briggs/Tiger Stadium had a fence between the first and second deck in Right field during the 44' and 61' season. Balls hit towards right field would have to clear this wall and land in the upper deck grandstand for a home run. Does anyone have pics of this? or any more info related to this feature? Also, the 2nd deck facade in RF had the measurement 315 painted on, possibly during these years?

Would like to put some of my own pics of Tiger Stadium up, but at the moment am too ignorant to figure out the posting of pics onto a thread. It would be nice to start a thread like that of the Yankee Stadium 20s thru 50s thread to share pictures of "The Corner"............
More of the screen in right field.

http://dlxs.lib.wayne.edu/cgi/i/image/image-idx?rgn1=vmc_ti;op2=And;rgn2=vmc_ti;g=photojournal ism;med=1;c=vmc;back=back1210492492;q1=briggs%20st adium;chaperone=S-VMC-X-38559-UND-2%2038559_2;evl=full-image;chaperone=S-VMC-X-38559-UND-2%2038559_2;quality=1;view=entry;subview=detail;cc =vmc;entryid=x-38559-und-2;viewid=38559_2;start=1;resnum=58

http://dlxs.lib.wayne.edu/cgi/i/image/image-idx?rgn1=vmc_ti;op2=And;rgn2=vmc_ti;g=photojournal ism;med=1;c=vmc;back=back1210493082;q1=lions;chape rone=S-VMC-X-77568-UND-5%2077568_5;evl=full-image;chaperone=S-VMC-X-77568-UND-5%2077568_5;quality=1;view=entry;subview=detail;cc =vmc;entryid=x-77568-und-5;viewid=77568_5;start=1;resnum=239

[LetsGoMets687]

http://dlxs.lib.wayne.edu/cgi/i/image/getimage-idx?viewid=77565;cc=vmc;entryid=x-77565;quality=1;view=image

[deadcenter~440]

THANKS lpeters and letsgomets!!! That's what I was looking for.

The Detroit News collection through Wayne State is a great site for finding pics of the Old Stadium. Good work!