Willie Horton in 2010
Willie Horton in 2010
The historic field at the old Tiger Stadium at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull in Detroit's Corktown will be named after Tigers legend Willie Horton, Motor City Muckraker reports.
Steve Neavling of Motor City Muckraker writes that the Police Athletic League (PAL), which will host youth sports at the field, coined the new name. The announcement comes before Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony for PAL’s new headquarters at the field.
PAL plans to cover the field with artificial turf despite objections from groups who have cited health and safety concerns.
Horton, 73, who hailed from Arno, Va., attended Northwestern High School in Detroit.
He played for the Tigers from 1963 until he was traded in 1977 to the Texas Rangers. He finished his career in 1980 while playing for the Seattle Mariners.
He enjoyed his best season in the majors in 1968 when the Tigers won the World Series. He finished second in the AL with 36 homers.
During the 1967, he tried, to no avail, to help restore peace by standing in a Tiger uniform on a car, pleading for calm.
