Miami Marlins Stadium Tour Series: Comerica Park

2 of 3

Okay, so this is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Ground was broken on this park the same year the Marlins and Tigers played their first series, way back during that first championship run in 1997. Which, by the way, was about as soon as they possibly could have played; the first Marlins-Tigers game came just four days after the first Interleague game in MLB history, as 1997 was the first season featuring crossover play. The Tigers were the second AL team the Fish ever faced, and old Tiger Stadium was the first AL park they would play in. The Marlins enjoy an 8-6 edge all-time against the Tigers, but are just 1-2 at Comerica Park (they did go 2-1 at Tiger Stadium).

Notable Marlins-Tigers History:

Of those six losses against Detroit in franchise history, three of them came at the hands of a pitcher who either previously had or would go on to pitch for the Marlins. Booo Gary Knotts, Nate Robertson, and Anibal Sanchez.
As you might remember, following the 2007 season, the Marlins shipped off Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis for a package of prospects that would spend the next five seasons putting up careers that ranged from mediocre to terrible. At that point, five of those players continued to be either mediocre or terrible, and Andrew Miller began reinventing himself to the point he’s become one of the games premiere relievers. No one could have thought of that in 2008?
As you all certainly should remember, the last time the Marlins beat the Tigers was a rather special day, seeing as how Henderson Alvarez saw fit to pick up the fifth no-hitter in franchise history on the last day of the 2013 season. Strangest of all was that not a single earned run was allowed that day by either side, with the winning run coming home on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth.

Even before the Cabrera trade, it’s the face of Luis Castillo standing in the on-deck circle that comes to my mind when I think Marlins-Tigers. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Lastly, there’s Luis Castillo. For 35 glorious games in the summer of 2002, the Marlins had purpose. Castillo’s 35-game hit streak was some of the most fun I’ve had watching Marlins baseball. Easily one of the best moments in franchise history. And the Tigers ruined it on June 22nd, 2002. Even worse, he was in the on-deck circle waiting for his fifth at-bat when the game ended. Granted, it ended with a Marlins win, but I’d struggle to come up with a win that felt more like a loss than that one.

Next: The Comerica Experience

Home/Marlins History