DETROIT, MI — Detroit Tigers fans said their final goodbye to Tiger Stadium on Monday September 27, 1999. It was an end of an era, as the next season the MLB franchise team would move to their new home stadium Comerica Park in the heart of downtown Detroit.
Many fans were emotional over the last game. “Yesterday I was crying like a baby,” said longtime Tigers fan Angel Cauchon dressed in a full Tigers suit before the 1999 game. “Its sad it won’t be here as a stadium anymore.” For the last game the Tigers wore the numbers of past greats. Outfielder Gabe Kapler wore no number in honor of Ty Cobb who also wore no number in his day as a tiger. According to former Flint Journal staff photographer Steve Jessmore, “That’s why there’s no retired number on the right field facade for Cobb.”