1999 Detroit Tigers
LeagueAmerican League
DivisionCentral
BallparkTiger Stadium
CityDetroit, Michigan
Record69–92 (.429)
Divisional place3rd
OwnersMike Ilitch
General managersRandy Smith
ManagersLarry Parrish
TelevisionWKBD
(Frank Beckmann, Al Kaline)
FSN Detroit
(Kirk Gibson, Josh Lewin)
RadioWJR
(Ernie Harwell, Jim Price)
Seasons

The 1999 Detroit Tigers season was the team's 121st season and—after nearly a century of baseball at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull Avenues—its 88th and final season at Tiger Stadium. The team had a record of 69–92 and finished in third place of the American League Central, 27+1⁄2 games behind the Cleveland Indians. On September 27, 1999, Robert Fick had the final hit of the final game at Tiger Stadium, a rooftop grand slam, which was the stadium's 11,111th home run.[1] In the 2000 season, the Tigers moved to Comerica Park.

Offseason

  • October 6, 1998: Doug Bochtler was selected off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers from the Detroit Tigers.[2]
  • December 14, 1998: Bill Haselman was signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers.[3]
  • December 18, 1998: Luis Polonia was signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers.[4]

Regular season

Highlights

Gabe Kapler
  • April 12: The Final Opening Day in Tiger Stadium history. Willie Blair and Eric Milton of the Minnesota Twins engaged in a scoreless battle through several innings. The Twins finally won the game in the twelfth inning by a score of 1–0.[5]
  • April 22: Tood Jones gets career save number 100.[6]
  • May 6: Gabe Kapler hits his first home run in Tiger Stadium.[7]
  • May 7–9: The Tigers played the Baltimore Orioles. Shortstop Cal Ripken, Jr. does not appear in one game for the Orioles.[8]
  • May 15: Alice Cooper tosses out the ceremonial first pitch.[9]
  • May 16: Tony Clark hits career home run number 100.[10]
  • May 28: Karim García becomes the 34th player in the history of Major League Baseball to hit a home run over the Tiger Stadium roof in right field.[11]
  • June 4–6: The Tigers played the St. Louis Cardinals. First baseman Mark McGwire does not hit a home run in the series.[8]

Season standings

AL Central W L Pct. GB Home Road
Cleveland Indians 9765 0.599 — 47–34 50–31
Chicago White Sox 7586 0.466 21½ 38–42 37–44
Detroit Tigers 6992 0.429 27½ 38–43 31–49
Kansas City Royals 6497 0.398 32½ 33–47 31–50
Minnesota Twins 6397 0.394 33 31–50 32–47

Record vs. opponents

1999 American League record

Sources:
Team ANA BAL BOS CWS CLE DET KC MIN NYY OAK SEA TB TEX TOR NL 
Anaheim —3–91–95–51–95–57–56–46–48–46–67–56–63–96–12
Baltimore 9–3—5–77–31–95–56–48–14–95–75–55–76–61–1111–7
Boston 9–17–5—7–58–47–58–26–48–44–67–34–94–59–36–12
Chicago 5–53–75–7—3–97–56–68–3–15–73–74–86–45–56–49–9
Cleveland 9–19–14–89–3—8–57–59–33–710–27–35–43–75–79–9
Detroit 5–55–55–75–75–8—7–46–65–74–63–74–55–52–108–10
Kansas City 5–74–62–86–65–74–7—5–85–46–67–52–84–63–76–12
Minnesota 4–61–84–63–8–13–96–68–5—4–67–54–85–50–124–610–7
New York 4–69–44–87–57–37–54–56–4—6–49–18–48–410–29–9
Oakland 4–87–56–47–32–106–46–65–74–6—6–69–15–78–212–6
Seattle 6–65–53–78–43–77–35–78–41–96–6—8–45–87–27–11
Tampa Bay 5–77–59–44–64–55–48–25–54–81–94–8—4–85–84–14
Texas 6–66–65–45–57–35–56–412–04–87–58–58–4—6–410–8
Toronto 9–311–13–94–67–510–27–36–42–102–82–78–54–6—9–9

Transactions

  • April 16, 1999: Mel Rojas was traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers with Dave Mlicki to the Detroit Tigers for Robinson Checo, Aposto Garcia (minors), and Richard Roberts (minors).[12]
  • May 12, 1999: Mel Rojas was released by the Detroit Tigers.[12]

Roster

1999 Detroit Tigers
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

 Outfielders Manager

Coaches

Final game at Tiger Stadium

The final game at Tiger Stadium was played on September 27, 1999, between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals. The Tigers were victorious 8–2. The winning pitcher was Detroit starter Brian Moehler. The losing pitcher was Jeff Suppan.

The pregame ceremony

Prior to the final game at Tiger Stadium, a ceremony was held. It was emceed by then current Tiger broadcaster and Ford C. Frick Award recipient Ernie Harwell. The National Anthem was performed by The Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit Singers. At the ceremony, owner Mike Ilitch spoke along with then Michigan governor John Engler, then Detroit mayor Dennis Archer and Commissioner of Baseball Bud Selig. Also featured at the ceremony was longtime Tiger right fielder and Hall of Famer Al Kaline.

Instead of both managers exchanging lineups before the game, both clubs appointed honorary captains. Representing the Tigers was Kaline and representing the Royals was former MVP and Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett.

Well, here's Robert Fick. Another man who's counted on in the future, wearing Norm Cash's number 25..remember, Al told him he'd hit a home run today. AND HE DID! There she goes! And it is...on the roof! Robert Fick, a grand slam that hits the roof and comes back! Kaline called it! How do you like that? Look at these flashbulbs! What a moment! – Frank Beckmann on WKBD television, calling Fick's eighth inning grand slam off Jeff Montgomery, the final home run hit at Tiger Stadium.

Tigers lead it 8–2. Two down in the ninth inning. Jones is ready. He delivers. Here's a swing and a miss. The game is over, and Tiger Stadium is no more. – Ernie Harwell, calling Carlos Beltrán's strikeout to end the game on WJR radio.

The postgame ceremony

The game ended at 7:07 pm. The grounds crew then surrounded home plate. Groundskeeper Charlie McGee, using a pick axe, dug up home plate at 7:13. It would then be transported by Tiger pitchers Matt Anderson, Jeff Weaver, and Francisco Cordero, with police escort, to Comerica Park.

Ernie Harwell then read a history of Tiger Stadium accompanied by music from the movie Field of Dreams. He introduced a film containing images of such Tiger legends as Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, Hughie Jennings and Harry Heilmann. In addition, the Tigers Hall of Famers were honored: Heinie Manush, Mickey Cochrane, Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg, Hal Newhouser, George Kell, and Harwell.

Following remarks from Willie Horton and former manager Sparky Anderson, there emerged from the center field gate players from times past, including Mark Fidrych, Bill Freehan, Dick McAuliffe, Dave Bergman, Mickey Stanley, Willie Horton, Kirk Gibson, Cecil Fielder, Al Kaline, the combination of Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker, and Elden Auker. A line was formed from the center field flagpole to home plate, along which was passed the flag that had flown from the pole in dead center over the finale.

After Auker passed the flag to catcher Brad Ausmus, players threw souvenirs into the stands as some reached over and put dirt from the warning track into plastic bags. It was at this time that Harwell gave his final goodbye: "Tonight, we say good-bye. ... Farewell, old friend Tiger Stadium. We will remember."

At 8:19, the scoreboard was shut off. At quarter to nine, a final team picture was taken, and by 9 the stands were empty. As the last of the fans left, a sign was hung on the famous right-center field overhang which read: "Today, there is crying in baseball. So long, old friend."

Ernie Harwell's farewell

"Ladies and gentlemen, less than six months ago, we began a warm season of farewells, and with each passing day we came a little bit closer to this historic occasion.

"The Lions, Joe Louis and Nelson Mandela. 6,873 regular-season games, 35 postseason contests and a trio of spectacular All-Star Games, Tiger Stadium has been home to this great game of baseball. But more than anything, it has been a cherished home to our memories.

"Will you remember that last base hit? The last out? How about that last pitch? Or maybe it's the first time as a child when you saw that green, green grass that will forever be etched into your mind and soul.

"Tonight, we say good-bye. But we will not forget. Open your eyes, look around and take a mental picture. Moments like this shall live on forever.

"It's been 88 moving years at Michigan and Trumbull. The tradition built here shall endure along with the permanence of the Olde English D. But tonight we must say good-bye.

"Farewell, old friend Tiger Stadium. We will remember."

Player stats

Batting

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI
Dean Palmer150560147.26338100
Damion Easley151549146.2662065
Tony Clark143536150.2803199
Deivi Cruz155518147.2841358
Juan Encarnación132509130.2551974
Brad Ausmus127458126.275954
Gabe Kapler130416102.2451849
Bobby Higginson10737790.2391246
Luis Polonia87333108.3241032
Karim García9628869.2401435
Frank Catalanotto10028679.2761118
Gregg Jefferies7020541.200614
Bill Haselman4814339.27343
Kimera Bartee417715.19500
Brian Hunter185513.23604
Gabe Alvarez225311.20828
Jason Wood27447.15911
Robert Fick15419.22033
Luis García891.11100
José Macías541.25011
Pitcher Totals161202.10001
Team Totals16154811433.261212704

Note: Individual pitchers' batting statistics not included

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L ERA SO
Brian Moehler32196.110165.04106
Dave Mlicki31191.214124.60119
Jeff Weaver30163.29125.55114
Justin Thompson24142.29115.1183

Relief and other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Player G IP W L SV ERA SO
Willie Blair39134.031106.8582
Doug Brocail7082.04422.5278
C. J. Nitkowski6881.24504.3066
Dave Borkowski1776.22606.1050
Nelson Cruz2966.22505.6746
Todd Jones6566.144303.80106
Masao Kida4964.21016.2650
Bryce Florie2751.12104.5640
Matt Anderson3738.02105.6832
Francisco Cordero2019.02203.3219
Will Brunson1712.01006.009
Sean Runyan1210.20103.386
Erik Hiljus68.20004.151
Mel Rojas56.100022.746
Beiker Graterol14.001015.752
Felipe Lira23.100010.803
Willis Roberts11.100013.500
Team Pitching Totals1611421.06992335.17976

Farm system

Level Team League Manager
AAA Toledo Mud Hens International League Gene Roof
AA Jacksonville Suns Southern League Dave Anderson
A Lakeland Tigers Florida State League Mark Meleski
A West Michigan Whitecaps Midwest League Bruce Fields
A-Short Season Oneonta Tigers New York–Penn League Kevin Bradshaw
Rookie GCL Tigers Gulf Coast League Gary Green

[13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Reference.com". Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Doug Bochtler Stats".
  3. ↑ "Bill Haselman Stats".
  4. ↑ Luis Polonia Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
  5. ↑ The Final Season, p. 12, Tom Stanton, Thomas Dunne Books, New York, 2001, ISBN 0-312-29156-6
  6. ↑ The Final Season, p. 22, Tom Stanton, Thomas Dunne Books, New York, 2001, ISBN 0-312-29156-6
  7. ↑ The Final Season, p. 49, Tom Stanton, Thomas Dunne Books, New York, 2001, ISBN 0-312-29156-6
  8. 1 2 The Final Season, p. 57, Tom Stanton, Thomas Dunne Books, New York, 2001, ISBN 0-312-29156-6
  9. ↑ The Final Season, p. 70, Tom Stanton, Thomas Dunne Books, New York, 2001, ISBN 0-312-29156-6
  10. ↑ The Final Season, p. 74, Tom Stanton, Thomas Dunne Books, New York, 2001, ISBN 0-312-29156-6
  11. ↑ The Final Season, p. 85, Tom Stanton, Thomas Dunne Books, New York, 2001, ISBN 0-312-29156-6
  12. 1 2 Mel Rojas Statistics Baseball-Reference.com
  13. ↑ Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007
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