Detroit (WWJ/AP) -- It's been closed for nearly ten years and Monday afternoon crews started the process of tearing down historic Tiger Stadium in Detroit.
Most of the demolition work being done Monday involved the removal of trash and other debris from the interior of the old ballpark.
WWJ's Pat Sweeting reports at least one hole was in the side of the stadium (photo, right), which closed following the 1999 season. Crews went home for the day around 3 p.m. and were to return Tuesday.
An August first deadline still stands for a group seeking to raise enough money to save part of the stadium. Hall of Fame broadcaster Ernie Harwell told WWJ's Greg Bowman the Tiger Stadium Conservancy hopes to preserve the field, dugouts, clubhouse and three thousand seats so high schoolers can play at the site of the ballpark at Michigan Ave and Trumbull. Listen to the complete interview.
The park opened in 1912 as Navin Field and hosted among other things thousands of Tigers games, Babe Ruth's 700th career home run in 1934 and a speech by South African president Nelson Mandela in 1990.
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