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Comerica Park Experience
Detroit, MI - 5/28/2003
by: Anthony Lorenzo

September 28, 2003, the final day of the 2003 Major League Baseball regular season.  ESPN cut away from regularly schedule programming to bring its’ audience the final inning of the Detroit Tigers vs. Minnesota Twins game. Now the Twins already clichéd the American League Central Title and were assured of playing the New York Yankees in the Division Series.  The story in Motown was the hometown Tigers who were 3 outs away from avoiding infamy, a 42-120 record, which would tie the 1962 New York Mets for the worst record in modern day baseball history.  As the Tigers recorded the final out of the 9-4 win the home crowd erupted and the Tigers ran out on the field as if they had won the World Series. It prompted Tiger announcers Mario Impemba and Rod Allen to toss away their 1962 New York Mets footage and celebrate the end to an auspicious season.  Since that “historic” September afternoon the Detroit Tigers organization has stepped up its’ efforts to upgrade the team by signing catcher Ivan Rodriguez, outfielder Magglio Ordonez, and relief pitcher Troy Percival.  These players have brought a winning attitude to a city rich in baseball history, one that will host the 2005 All-Star Game in the latest ballpark in the American League, Comerica Park.

Comerica Park opened its’ doors for the 2000 season.  It was a sad day for old-time Tigers fans because it marked the end to the Tiger Stadium era, which began in 1912. Although Comerica Park has a Ferris wheel and merry go round, the Tigers organization was able to uphold the traditional baseball experience Tigers Stadium offered. In Left Field there are 6 statues that pay homage to the greatest Tigers of all time, Ty Cobb, Hank Greenberg, Willie Horton, Al Kaline, Charlie Gehringer and Hal Newhouser.  The Tigers also have dedicated a statue to their Hall of Fame announcer Ernie Harwell, who spent 42 years with the franchise.   The most magnificent feature of Comerica Park has to be the Tiger Statues in and around the ballpark.  These Tigers adorn the gates of Comerica as if they are protecting the ballpark from intruders and Tigers’ opposition.

The 23,298 in attendance were treated to an exciting game between the Tigers and Baltimore Orioles.  We saw Tiger Chris Shelton hit his first Major League Home Run and Carlos Guillen go 4-5, but it wasn’t enough to beat the Orioles who behind a Luis Matos 2 run home run won, the 3 hour and 41 minute contest, 7-5. Zach joined Mike and I for the weekend and was a great travel buddy.  We spent our time in Detroit’s casinos and museums. I won $77 on a $1 slot machine; besides visiting Comerica Park it was the highlight of my trip.  Detroit was a city built on the automotive industry. The Henry Ford Museum chronicles the history of transportation in the United States and the world.  The museum was home to numerous Presidential limousines and historic automobiles, but what I will never forget was sitting on the same Montgomery Alabama Bus that Rosa Parks did 49 years earlier.  History was made in 1955, when Rosa Parks, an African American woman, refused to give up her seat.  Her simple act of protest galvanized America's civil rights revolution.

Comerica Park has galvanized the revitalization of downtown Detroit.  Detroit’s economy was destroyed when American car manufacturers sent their labor to countries where expenses were far less. Tigers’ owner Mike Illitch led the development of Comerica Park and other downtown projects, like the restoration of The Fox Theatre. These actions encouraged the Detroit Lions to build their new home, Ford Field, adjacent to Comerica Park.  Ford Field and the city of Detroit will host the 2005 Super Bowl.  Having the Major League Baseball All-Star game and the NFL Super Bowl in Detroit, within a 7-month period, will improve the economic standing of the Detroit community.  I look forward to seeing these events take place.  I expect the All-Star Game and Super Bowl to put Detroit back on the map and show the country what a community of hard working and dedicated citizens can achieve.

"Baseball is a lot like life. It's a day-to-day existence, full of ups and downs. You make the most of your opportunities in baseball as you do in life."

– Ernie Harwell

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