On this day in 1912: The Detroit Tigers moved into their new home at Navin Field, later known as Tiger Stadium. The Tigers had previously played at Bennett Park since 1896. On April 20th, 1912, Ty Cobb scored the first run at Navin Field in front of over 24,000 fans. Cobb's performance helped the Tigers secure a 6-5 win over Cleveland in 11 innings.
TRANSCRIPT
It may be long gone now, but the Detroit Tigers moved into their new home at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull on this date in 1912. Navin Field, renamed Briggs Stadium in 1938 and Tiger Stadium in 1961. Before that, starting in 1896, the Tigers played in Bennett Park, aka The Corner Ballpark.
The Detroit Free Press released “The Corner.” In 1999, a book about those early days and had this to say about April 20th, 1912. “It was a sunny but chilly Saturday in Detroit. More than 24,000 filled a park designed to accommodate 23,000 in its yellow slat seats.“Those not already standing in the roped-off outfield got on their feet in the bottom of the first inning when Ty Cobb, timing the Cleveland pitcher’s delivery perfectly, took off from third base and hook-slid around the lunging catcher to register the first run at Navin Field. “Cobb later added another stolen base and a couple of nifty catches as the Tigers won, 6-5, in 11 innings.”