Tigers Bid Stadium Farewell

Al Kaline told Robert Fick to go out and make some history. Once he caught his breath, Fick did just that.

Fick’s first career grand slam helped the Detroit Tigers close Tiger Stadium with an 8-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Monday.

“It’s the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me,” Fick said.

Luis Polonia and Karim Garcia also homered for Detroit. Mark Quinn homered for Kansas City.

Tiger players wore numbers of former stars who played through the years. The starters wore the numbers of Detroit’s all-time team. Center fielder Gabe Kapler wore a uniform without a number, honoring Ty Cobb, who played before numbers were introduced.

Fick, wearing the No. 25 of the late Norm Cash, a Detroit favorite, hit his grand slam against Jeff Montgomery in the eighth with Damion Easley, Garcia and Kapler on base.

In moving postgame ceremony emceed by longtime broadcaster Ernie Harwell, 65 former Tigers--from Eldon Auker, who played in 1933, to Brad Ausmus of the 1999 squad--formed a chronological line from home plate to the flag pole in center field. The stadium opened in 1912.

A flag featuring a Tiger Stadium logo was lowered and passed from player to player, from Auker at one end to Ausmus at the other. It will be raised next season at Comerica Park, the Tigers’ new home.

Monday’s game with the Royals was the 6,873rd regular-season game at the stadium, which also has played host to 35 postseason games and three All-Star games. Special baseballs were used, and the bases were changed after each inning.

Kaline, a Hall of Famer, exchanged lineup cards with Royal Hall of Famer George Brett. Both wore their familiar uniforms, Kaline with his No. 6, Brett with No. 5.