| A lot of baseball fans forget before the big power | | | | but the thing about it is that Ernie is just such a |
| explosion in the late nineties there weren't players | | | | people person. He'll walk up to anybody and talk |
| hitting 50 home runs every year. In fact, there | | | | to them. |
| was a 13 year period after 1977 that no player | | | | The folks that I was here with - the Sparky |
| reached the significant mark. | | | | Andersons, Ernie Harwells, Alan Trammels, Kirk |
| It was Tigers' slugger Cecil Fielder who broke that | | | | Gibsons - they were all great people-persons. |
| drought with his 51 home runs in 1990. The | | | | They've kind of helped me. |
| former first baseman and designated hitter hit | | | | As my career went on, and I became more |
| more than 30 home runs in four consecutive | | | | successful and people started to recognize me |
| seasons for Detroit and is one of the team's | | | | more they showed me it's good to just be |
| most memorable sluggers to this day. | | | | yourself. You don't have to put on a persona, you |
| His home run over Tiger Stadium's roof is one of | | | | just have to be yourself. |
| the more unforgettable moments in the venue's | | | | IP: All those players and personalities you |
| history. | | | | mentioned are fondly remembered here in Detroit. |
| The Ilitch Charities' Celebrity Golf Classic provided | | | | Do you think how they acted off the field, |
| a great chance to catch up with Fielder, who | | | | interacting with fans, has contributed to their |
| talked with In-Play! one on one about golfing in the | | | | legacies with the Tigers? |
| inaugural event, catching up with Ernie Harwell and | | | | CF: No question. Anybody can walk up to Ernie |
| hitting that bomb out of Tiger Stadium. | | | | Harwell, I mean anybody. Ernie might break down |
| IP: How'd you get involved with the inaugural | | | | and tell you a story. I just love him to death, I |
| Celebrity Golf Classic? | | | | just saw Willie (Horton) and he's the same. All the |
| CF: Mr. Ilitch man! I mean that's really it, he's a big | | | | folks are. |
| influence on me. Playing here and working for him, | | | | Detroit has always been that kind of blue collar |
| he's just been a big part of my life. | | | | town and the players play the same way the city |
| He asked me to come in and even though it was | | | | is. Even in the hockey arena, baseball, basketball - |
| a little difficult to get in here because I do have a | | | | we all play the same and we are all the same |
| season going on, I'm managing in New Jersey, but | | | | type of people. That says something for Detroit - |
| my owner was ok with it and we made it happen. | | | | that we have good down home people. |
| IP: You excited to play 'The Monster'? | | | | IP: Another big part of Tigers' history, Tigers' |
| CF: No doubt. | | | | Stadium in particular, is your famous roof shot. |
| IP: Have you ever played before? | | | | What was it like hitting it out of the park? |
| CF: Yeah. Me, Tram and Gibby played at Oakland | | | | CF: Well I looked over there, out of my hotel |
| Hills when I was playing here. | | | | bedroom today and my roof shot is now gone. |
| IP: Who won? | | | | IP: It's a bit sad isn't it... |
| CF: I think Tram....no, no Gibby won. Tram started | | | | CF: Yeah it is. That stadium means so much to |
| drinking to many Coors (laughs). | | | | me, I mean that was my home. It's very |
| IP: How tough was the course on you? | | | | unfortunate what's going on. |
| CF: It was a tough course, you saw how the | | | | IP: As beautiful as Comerica Park is, do you feel |
| PGA (Championship) went. It's tough, if you don't | | | | weird going there and watching Tigers' baseball? |
| hit balls down the middle you're in trouble. You | | | | CF: I've been there a couple of times, the all-star |
| just got to go at it, you can't hold back. | | | | game, but you know it ain't Tiger Stadium. I really |
| IP: I talked with Ernie Harwell earlier and he said | | | | have no history there; Tiger Stadium has all my |
| how great it was getting a chance to catch up | | | | history. |
| with you. Talk a little bit about your friendship with | | | | IP: Thanks for taking the time and good luck |
| Ernie... | | | | tomorrow... |
| CF: Oh man! Ernie Harwell, that's my home boy. | | | | CF: No problem man. |
| He made great calls in the time I was in Detroit, | | | | |