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Normally, the Philadelphia Baseball Review focuses simply on baseball news related to the Phillies and the Philadelphia area, but sometimes stories from elsewhere across the country deserve our attention and this is one of those occurrences.
Everyone knows the city of Detroit has fallen on hard times, but there's a group of devoted baseball fans dedicated to maintaining the vacant grounds where Tiger Stadium once stood. Long story short (bad cliché, I know), city and police officials consider anyone manicuring the lot to be trespassing.
Thankfully, the story is finally beginning to gain some attention.
Thankfully, the story is finally beginning to gain some attention.
A film chronicling the story of the Navin Field Grounds Crew - the group fixated on memorializing the grounds of Tiger Stadium - was produced by University of Detroit professor Jason Roche and released in October.
I've seen the film - "Stealing Home" - and the story is inspiring. This group of volunteers spend their own money and countless hours beautifying an area of Detroit that the city has limited interest (or money) in cleaning up.
"There's a saying that I heard ... 'Integrity is doing the right thing when nobody is watching," Roche said following the release of the film. "The Navin Field Grounds Crew don't do volunteer work for a photo opp, they maintain the field when nobody is watching; they do it because they love the site.
"That, to me, is integrity, and that's love."
Tiger Stadium was torn down over the course of 15 months from June 2008 to September 2009, but the Tigers left the facility following the 1999 season, meaning the stadium stood vacant for nearly a decade. The city owns the 9-acre property, so that's why officials view the work of the Navin Field Grounds Crew as illegal.
You can view a trailer of the "Stealing Home" here. Roche hopes to have a DVD available for purchase in early 2014. In the meantime, support the cause and follow the Navin Field Grounds Crew on Facebook and Twitter.
I applaud the willingness of those involved with this project to preserve the history of baseball in Detroit. Tiger Stadium opened in 1912 and was one of baseball's iconic parks. It deserves a proper place in history and I'm glad to see the Navin Field Grounds Crew fighting to do just that.
Thanks to their efforts, the grounds are now used for pickup games, picnics, and the chance for fans of yesteryear to relive their favorite Tiger moments.
Anything to help promote baseball's rich history is a fantastic idea, and these guys are doing just that.
- Patrick Gordon is the Managing Editor of the Philadelphia Baseball Review. Follow him on Twitter @Philabaseball.
"That, to me, is integrity, and that's love."
Tiger Stadium was torn down over the course of 15 months from June 2008 to September 2009, but the Tigers left the facility following the 1999 season, meaning the stadium stood vacant for nearly a decade. The city owns the 9-acre property, so that's why officials view the work of the Navin Field Grounds Crew as illegal.
You can view a trailer of the "Stealing Home" here. Roche hopes to have a DVD available for purchase in early 2014. In the meantime, support the cause and follow the Navin Field Grounds Crew on Facebook and Twitter.
I applaud the willingness of those involved with this project to preserve the history of baseball in Detroit. Tiger Stadium opened in 1912 and was one of baseball's iconic parks. It deserves a proper place in history and I'm glad to see the Navin Field Grounds Crew fighting to do just that.
Thanks to their efforts, the grounds are now used for pickup games, picnics, and the chance for fans of yesteryear to relive their favorite Tiger moments.
Anything to help promote baseball's rich history is a fantastic idea, and these guys are doing just that.
- Patrick Gordon is the Managing Editor of the Philadelphia Baseball Review. Follow him on Twitter @Philabaseball.
