Overhang hangover

With last night's premiere of a new Tiger Stadium documentary, Stranded at the Corner, at Detroit's Gem Theatre, I'm reminded of something that struck me over the weekend. I was looking at images of the New York Mets' new ballpark, and noticed that plans call for an upper deck overhang in right field, resembling one of Tiger Stadium's most distinguishing characteristics. This will join the Texas Rangers' Ameriquest Field, which also has a "home run porch" in right field (and is actually much more reminiscent of Tiger Stadium's architecture).

I'm not someone who laments the loss of Tiger Stadium. (I certainly hate that the old ballpark is being left to rot, and wish Detroit would do something with that land, but that's probably a post for another day.) I happen to like Comerica Park, despite assorted foibles such as an upper deck too far from the field, the ill-situated left-field scoreboard, and outfield fences that are probably a bit too deep (though the Tigers have taken steps to fix those).

I guess I just find it curious that two other modern ballparks thought so much of a feature that was distinct to Tiger Stadium that they've incorporated it into their respective designs. It feels like another city took something that was "ours." And that bugs me.