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Tiger Stadium documentary is a home run

It is the loneliest day of the sports calendar.
The day after the Major League Baseball All-Star break.

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No baseball and the NBA/NHL playoffs are over.

Too early for football.
It makes one almost yearn for a World Cup game.
And this year it is worse than ever with the Detroit Tigers playing well. When was the last time Tiger fans were looking forward to the second half of the baseball season?
So what to do with a lonely Wednesday without sports?
Pop in a movie.
But not just any movie from your corner Blockbuster.
A Tiger movie about The Corner.
"Stranded at The Corner - The Battle To Save Historic Tiger Stadium," is a documentary by Kalamazoo's Gary Glaser which will be featured at the inaugural Battle Creek Film Festival this weekend in conjuction with the Taste of Battle Creek.
I got my hands on a copy ahead of the festival earlier this week and enjoyed every aspect of it.
It was the first time my post All-Star Game hangover didn't give me a headache.
The documentary is a mix of Detroit Tiger nostalgia and a hard look at the end of an era at the corner of Michigan & Trumbull as Tiger Stadium stands empty waiting a doomed fate.
Like many of us, Glaser was taken to his first Tiger game at Tiger Stadium by his father when The Corner was still buzzing. And like many of us, he doesn't like to see the stadium slowly deteriorate.
Which is why Glaser doesn't apologize for a semi-slanted view of all the negatives of watching the Queen of Diamonds fade away instead of seeing some positives in the new Comerica Park.
"I'm not CBS News in that I have to be objective, and I would argue that even CBS is not objective sometimes. And there's a lot of talk about objectivity in documentaries... but this represents my point of view and the point of view of others that worked on it," Glaser said. "And I would like this documentary to convince others of my point of view. But mostly it has to be entertaining."
And if I can take a break from objectivitiy for a minute also, this documentary is a home run. It is entertaining and worth a visit downtown this weekend to see it.
Stranded at The Corner headlines the Battle Creek Film Festival and will be shown as part of Sunday's awards ceremony at Gary Fields Comedy Club Theatre, starting at 3 p.m.
The festival begins Saturday at 12:20 p.m. at B.C. Sound Venue.
For those who grew up going to Tiger Stadium and regret that it isn't being used anymore, this documentary could serve as a call to action.
There is a frustration apparent on the film that comes through based on the efforts of those who have ideas for the future of Tiger Stadium, only to see those efforts shot down.
The ironic thing about the documentary is that it premiered on April 24 in Detroit, which was just months before news came out that the city had finally decided to demolish the stadium.
The other irony is that the movie was being made during a time when the Tigers were still struggling with the blame for the team and demise of the stadium being placed on owner Mike Ilitch. And now the team is on the rise.
But the Tigers winning now, and the fate of Tiger Stadium seemingly determined, doesn't affect Glaser.
"First of all, I'm a Tiger fan so I'm glad the team is doing well. But we all now the recent history of the team," Glaser said. "And I don't know if any documentary that said anything could have saved the building no matter when it came out and you'll see why when you watch it."
To me the timing of the documentary is just fine.
There is a renewed Tiger Fever in the state for the team with the best record in baseball.
It's a time to appreciate the Tigers and in doing so, we should always appreciate Tiger Stadium for what it meant and what it s till could mean.
Glaser says the corner of Michigan & Trumbull still could have a future that reminds us of Tiger Stadium. The documentary talks about a resurgent community in that district, or a minor league baseball team being put there as well as other options.
The documentary also makes one hope that the talk to demolish the old girl is still undediced.
"I'm happy to be at the Battle Creek Film Festival for another screening opportunity," Glaser said. "I just want it to be seen, first to be entertaining and second to help others learn about the history of the stadium and the attempts to save it.
"And who knows, if this movie is seen enough, and there is a loud enough voice across the state of Michigan, I think something could still be done. I don't believe it's a done deal."

Bill Broderick is sports editor. He can be reached at [email-masked].

Originally published July 14, 2006
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