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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Red Sox History: The Huntington Avenue Grounds, as seen By Nuf Ced
Huntington Avenue Grounds was no ordinary stadium by modern standards. It had the capacity to house 11,500 or so fans, but the thing that sets it apart most from a modern baseball stadium is the sheer size of the field. Since the field was built on the site of a former circus lot, it was very large - at the time the stadium was opened in 1901, center field extended 530 feet away from home plate, and this distance increased in 1908 to a whopping 635 feet. Considering that this stadium was active during the Dead Ball Era, that distance seems excessive for the time.
Entire article: https://www.overthemonster.com/2016/4/1/11344478/red-sox-history-huntington-avenue-grounds-tessie
Huntington Avenue Grounds
Tenant: Boston Red Sox (A.K.A. Americans, Pilgrims, Puritans, Plymouth Rocks, Somersets).
Opened: May 8, 1901
First night game: Never
Last game: October 7, 1911
Surface: Grass
Capacity: 11,500 (1901)
https://ballparks.com/baseball/american/huntin.htm
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Taosman
Your Cousin In New Mexxico
Yale Bowl. Crumbling artifice of an age long gone when even the New York(New Jersey) Giants football team played games there. 62.000 seat capacity. Built in 1914.
https://stadiumandarenavisits.com/2013/09/29/yale_bowl/
https://stadiumandarenavisits.com/2013/09/29/yale_bowl/
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Baseball Field
Dunsmuir City Ball Park is the home of the Dunsmuir High School Tigers baseball team.
The rustic grandstands will take you back to an older time when kids (and adults) played “for the love of the game.” Stop by and watch our high school teams or one of our adult amateur teams play with the same dedication.
On October 22, 1924, Babe Ruth played an exhibition game in Dunsmuir as part of his nationwide barnstorming tour. The Bambino was joined by Yankee teammate Bob Meusel and manager Christy Walsh. The game was sponsored by the Dunsmuir Lions Club and drew 900 people in the stands.
Babe enjoyed his stay and wrote the following letter after his appearance:
“To everybody (and that means everybody) in Dunsmuir, Calif.
“We don’t know yet how to tell you what a wonderful time we had in Dunsmuir. When it comes to beautiful girls, wonderfully fine fellows, and the real two-fisted spirit of California — little Dunsmuir gave us more laughs, more hospitality, more thrills, and more things to remember than any place between Broadway & Shasta.”
Entire article: https://www.dunsmuirparks.org/baseball-field
Also see: https://activenorcal.com/remembering-babe-ruths-1924-exhibition-game-in-dunsmuir-california/
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
SHIBE PARK
Located in North Philadelphia and opening in 1909 as the home of the Philadelphia Athletics, Shibe Park’s innovation influenced baseball and the next wave of ballparks, setting the standard for future ballparks built in the 20th century. The history of the Athletics began in 1901 when the team became a charter member of the American League as a second team was established in Philadelphia to compete with the Phillies. On April 26, 1901 the Athletics made their debut in Philadelphia at Columbia Park as they battled Washington. Located at 30th and Oxford Streets, this small wooden ballpark had a seating capacity of 9,500 with a single tier grandstand stretching around the bases. The capacity later increased to 13,500 with the addition of seating in the outfield.
The A’s were very popular and successful as they won the American League Championship in 1902 and 1905. Because of the team’s popularity a new ballpark was needed, leading owner Ben Shibe to construct a new ballpark. The most modern ballpark in baseball was already in Philadelphia, the Baker Bowl, home to the Phillies. In 1907 Shibe purchased a six acre site in North Philadelphia to build a ballpark. It was designed by Shibe and manger Connie Mack. Construction began in 1908 and was built of entirely of steel and concrete. The A’s played their last game at Columbia Park on October 3, 1908 and moved a mile northeast the following year. The new A’s ballpark was named after Shibe, thus getting the name Shibe Park. Completed at a cost of $300,000 the ballpark took only about a year to be constructed.
On April 12, 1909 the Athletics made their debut at Shibe Park, in a victory over the Boston Red Sox. Fans entering the ballpark through the homeplate entrance of Shibe Park, saw one of the most grandest facades at any ballpark ever built. An octagonal Beaux Arts tower was at the main entrance, housed a lobby and offices for team executives. The grandstand walls featured a very impressive French Renaissance facade consisting of brick and arches. Inside, the ballpark had a seating capacity of 23,000, consisting of a double decked grandstand from behind home plate down to the first and third bases. The lower grandstand extended down the lines and bleachers were in left field. The capacity could be increased by 10,000 by allowing fans to stand in an area in deep centerfield. In right field there was a wall 12 feet high. However, buildings across the street allowed fans to watch the game for free from rooftops. The original dimensions at Shibe Park were 378 ft. (left), 340 (right), and 515 ft. (center) because the ballpark was built where very few buildings existed.
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Like other clubs in baseball during the 1960s, the Phillies began seeking a new ballpark to replace the aging Connie Mack Stadium. By the 1960s Connie Mack Stadium was located in a bad neighborhood, lacked parking and was deteriorating. Voters approved a bond to build a new multipurpose stadium for the Phillies and Eagles in 1964. The last game at Connie Mack Stadium was on October 1, 1970 when the Phillies played the Montreal Expos. The team moved to Veterans Stadium the next year. The stadium stood for several years before fire destroyed most of the stadium in 1971 and was used as a junk yard in 1974. During the All-Star Game, that was held at Veterans Stadium in 1976, Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium was demolished. It is now the site of a church.
Entire article: https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ballparks/shibe-park/
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
BUSCH STADIUM
In the 1960s and early 1970s there were a half dozen cookie-cutter multipurpose stadiums built. All were nearly identical, but one stood apart from the others, Busch Stadium. When it closed in 2005 it was a stadium loved by many Cardinal fans and had many unique features. For years there was talk about a midtown sports stadium in downtown St. Louis. The Cardinals wanted a new ballpark after playing at Sportsman’s Park for more than four decades. In the early 1960s Anheuser-Busch pledged $5 million toward the $20 million stadium project. On May 24, 1964 ground was broken for a stadium on 30 acres in downtown St. Louis. The Cardinals played their first game on May 12, 1966 at Busch Stadium. Four tiers of 46,068 red seats circled the entire grass playing field and a $1.5 million scoreboard with an electronic cardinal that chirped was located behind the outfield fence. Busch Stadium was called one of the best stadiums in the country when it opened.
Astroturf replaced natural grass in 1970 in order for the stadium to be converted from football to baseball easier. For more than two decades there were few changes at Busch Stadium. New ownership retrofitted Busch Stadium in 1995 after football was no longer played at the stadium. Grass replaced the Astroturf, new seats were added, and new scoreboards were added. The bullpens were placed behind the outfield fence, and the area behind the outfield was spruced up.
During the last ten years of its existence as when the stadium opened, fans flocked to downtown St. Louis for Cardinals games, parking in the nearby parking garages and walking to the stadium. As fans entered the gates, they were at the main concourse level and could take ramps to the upper levels of the stadium. Once seated, fans saw a sea of red seats that enclosed the stadium. Busch Stadium consisted of four main seating sections. The lower level of seating that once moved to form the football section was between the foul poles and was closest to the field It also had several rows of padded green luxury seats in the first few rows that were added in 1995. Luxury suites, the pressbox and game day operations were located on the third tier of the stadium. Prior to renovations in the 1990s seats in the upper deck circled the field. During the past ten years of the stadium’s existence, it no longer looked as a dull cookie-cutter stadium. It had charm and character that included the huge manual scoreboard that was constructed over 5,000 upper deck seats in the outfield and the arches that supported the roof.
Many amenities were added to Busch Stadium including the Family Pavilion, that had many games and activities, Homer’s Landing, a picnic area overlooking the bullpen in left center field and a stadium club restaurant and bar. Statues of Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Enos Slaughter, Red Schoendienst and Jack Buck were located on the Plaza of Champions outside the stadium. Although many fans would have probably said that they liked and enjoyed Busch Stadium, the owners of the Cardinals committed to building a new ballpark adjacent to Busch Stadium in 2000. The Cardinals played their last game at Busch Stadium in a playoff loss to the Houston Astros on October 19, 2005. The stadium was demolished in November 2005 and the Cardinals moved into the new Busch Stadium in April 2006.
Entire article: https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ballparks/busch-stadium-2/
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
JARRY PARK
Jarry Park became home to the Montreal Expos in 1969 after MLB awarded Montreal a baseball team in 1968. At first a 25,000 seat stadium was chosen for the team to begin playing in but that idea was dropped after the city declined to spend $7 million on the stadium. A 3,000 seat stadium known as Jarry Park was selected as the location for the team to play at until a new stadium could be built. Montreal’s Mayor Jean Drapeau ensured that the ballpark seating could be increased to 30,000. Opening day came on April 14, 1969 when over 29,000 fans filled Jarry Park. One tier of seating extended from the right field foul pole to home plate and to the left field foul pole and bleacher seating in left field. A scoreboard was located behind the outfield fence that was made up of wire in right field. Originally, the Expos believed that they would have been in a new stadium by 1972, but that turned out to be untrue. By 1974, there was talk of possibly revoking the franchise because a new stadium had not been built. However, Montreal was awarded the 1976 Olympics Games and a new stadium was built. The Expos played their last game at Jarry Park on September 26, 1976 and moved into Olympic Stadium in 1977. Today, Jarry Park is still used as a major venue for concerts, exhibitions and professional tennis matches.
Entire article: https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ballparks/jarry-park/
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
THREE RIVERS STADIUM
For three decades along the banks of the Allegheny River sat Three Rivers Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was the second ballpark to be located across the river from downtown Pittsburgh as the Pirates had played at Exposition Park from 1890 to 1909. In June 1909 the Pirates moved to the neighborhood of Oakland and into Forbes Field. This steel and concrete ballpark was state of the art when built but began to show its age by the 1950s. It seats were cramped, their was a lack of parking and was in general disrepair. As early as 1948 there was a proposal for a new municipal stadium for the Pirates and Steelers (NFL). Not until the 1950s did plans begin to take shape for a new facility. An original plan had a multipurpose stadium to be constructed over the Monongahela River that would have had the outfield open to the skyline of Pittsburgh, but was scrapped due to projected costs. In 1958 a site in the Northside region of Pittsburgh, where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers join to form the Ohio River was chosen to build a new stadium. Originally scheduled to open in the 1960s construction was delayed multiple times due to construction and financial issues. Construction of Three Rivers Stadium began on April 25, 1968.
On July 17, 1970, in front of the largest crowd ever to see a baseball game in Pittsburgh, the Pirates played their first game at Three Rivers Stadium, a loss to the Cincinnati Reds. The $55 million cookie-cutter stadium had a seating capacity of 47,942 for baseball and 59,000 for football. Five levels of red and yellow seats enclosed the stadium. In order to convert the stadium for football, two banks of 4,000 ground level seats along the first and third base lines for baseball were moved and became 8,000 50 yard line seats for football. The main scoreboard was originally located over the outfield fence in centerfield. It was replaced with a new $5 million video/scoreboard in 1983. The new scoreboard was located below the rim on the stadium in centerfield and over 4,000 seats were added where the old scoreboard had been located. Also in 1983 the original Tartan playing surface was replaced with AstroTurf. Prior to hosting the 1994 All-Star game new blue seats were installed in the lower deck. One of the stadium’s most luxurious features was the Allegheny Club, a restaurant that accommodated 300 people for a view of the field and 400 people in the main dining area. Statues of greats Roberto Clemente and Honus Wagner sat outside the stadium. In the 1990s seats in the upper deck in the outfield were covered by huge championship tarps.
The Pirates and Steelers began to seek separate stadiums in order to generate additional revenue by the mid 1990s. Both succeeded and new stadiums were built on both sides of Three Rivers Stadium, Heinz Field for the Steelers and PNC Park for the Pirates. On October 1, 2000 the Pirates played their last game at Three Rivers Stadium. The stadium was imploded on February 11, 2001.
Entire article: https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ballparks/three-rivers-stadium/
P.S. Some of these old stadiums were also Rock and Roll venues too....
Grateful Dead Concert 1995
Three Rivers Stadium during its short 30 year existence from 1970 to 2000 hosted almost 50 major concerts and a dozen music festivals. The era of stadium rock began at Three Rivers in 1971 with a performance by Three Dog Night. Over a million fans watched Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, the Grateful Dead, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles and other superstars at Three Rivers.
Entire article: https://sites.google.com/site/pitts...burgh-music-story/venues/three-rivers-stadium
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Braves Field
Where did the oldest continuously playing team in professional sports originate? If you guessed Boston, you are correct! If you guessed the Boston Red Sox you are wrong! In 1871 the Boston Red Stockings were established as members of the National Association of Professional Baseball Ball Players League and began playing at South End Grounds. The nickname Red Stockings came from Cincinnati, where baseball’s first professional team was established in 1869 but disbanded after the 1870 season. For over four decades the Boston franchise, that was known as the Red Stockings, Beaneaters, Doves and Braves played at three different ballparks named South End Grounds.
In 1901 the Boston Red Sox became charter members of the American League, giving Boston two professional baseball franchises. The Red Sox played at Huntington Avenue Grounds before moving into Fenway Park in 1912. After the Red Sox opened their new ballpark, owner of the Braves, James Gaffney purchased Allston Golf Club on Commonwealth Avenue for $100,000 to construct a new steel and concrete ballpark in 1912. Located one mile west of Fenway Park, construction began March 20, 1915 and was completed five months later when the Braves played the St. Louis Cardinals on August 18, 1915. Named after the team, Braves Field was the first ballpark to seat more than 40,000 fans. A single deck of 18,000 covered seats extended around homeplate and down both foul lines. Two uncovered pavilions extended down the lines to the foul poles, each holding 10,000 fans. In right field was a section of bleachers that seated 2,000 fans and was nicknamed “The Jury Box” after a sportswriter noticed only 12 fans sitting here during a game in 1918. The scoreboard was located above these seats.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
AT BRAVES FIELD
Throughout the 1920s fans became more interested in seeing homeruns than a pitching matchup or inside the park homerun. This led the Braves to adding 6,000 seats in left and center field, shortening the dimensions of the ballpark to 353 ft. in left field and 387 ft. in centerfield. However this changed helped opposing teams more leading the team to push back the outfield fence. In 1936, the Braves were renamed the Bees and Braves Field was renamed National League Park. The Bees nickname last only several seasons before being changed back to the Braves in 1941. During the 1940s fir trees were planted behind the centerfield fence to hide the smoke from the nearby rail yard. Before the start of the 1946 season, $500,000 was spent upgrading Braves Field. Lights were installed and the dimensions of the field was moved in with the addition of an eight foot high outfield wall. On opening day 1946, fans went home with green clothes because the seats had been painted, but had not dried. A new 68 foot scoreboard was added in 1948.
In 1946 the Braves attracted one million fans for the first time in history and two years later the team won the National League pennant for the first time since moving into Braves Field. However by the early 1950s attendance decreased dramatically as the Braves struggled on the field. Unaware to fans in Boston, the Braves played their last game at Braves Field on September 21, 1952, losing to the Brooklyn Dodgers. Just weeks before the start of the 1953 season, owner of the Braves, Lou Perini, announced that the club was moving to Milwaukee and their new stadium, County Stadium. Braves Field never housed baseball again, but parts of the facility remain today.
In 1953 Boston University purchased the stadium and converted it into a football field. Most of the original stadium was demolished except for the right field stands and a long building that originally housed the ticket and executive offices. The stadium is known as Nickerson Field today and was home to the Boston University’s football team until 1997. It currently is home to the university’s lacrosse and soccer programs.
Entire article: https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ballparks/braves-field/
Where did the oldest continuously playing team in professional sports originate? If you guessed Boston, you are correct! If you guessed the Boston Red Sox you are wrong! In 1871 the Boston Red Stockings were established as members of the National Association of Professional Baseball Ball Players League and began playing at South End Grounds. The nickname Red Stockings came from Cincinnati, where baseball’s first professional team was established in 1869 but disbanded after the 1870 season. For over four decades the Boston franchise, that was known as the Red Stockings, Beaneaters, Doves and Braves played at three different ballparks named South End Grounds.
In 1901 the Boston Red Sox became charter members of the American League, giving Boston two professional baseball franchises. The Red Sox played at Huntington Avenue Grounds before moving into Fenway Park in 1912. After the Red Sox opened their new ballpark, owner of the Braves, James Gaffney purchased Allston Golf Club on Commonwealth Avenue for $100,000 to construct a new steel and concrete ballpark in 1912. Located one mile west of Fenway Park, construction began March 20, 1915 and was completed five months later when the Braves played the St. Louis Cardinals on August 18, 1915. Named after the team, Braves Field was the first ballpark to seat more than 40,000 fans. A single deck of 18,000 covered seats extended around homeplate and down both foul lines. Two uncovered pavilions extended down the lines to the foul poles, each holding 10,000 fans. In right field was a section of bleachers that seated 2,000 fans and was nicknamed “The Jury Box” after a sportswriter noticed only 12 fans sitting here during a game in 1918. The scoreboard was located above these seats.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
AT BRAVES FIELD
- World Series: 1915, ’16, ’48
- All Star Game: 1936
- Unassisted triple play by Ernest Padgett on October 6, 1923.
- 3,000th hit by Paul Waner on June 19, 1942.
- Four-time 20 game winner Johnny Sain.
- Tommy Holmes hits in 37 straight games in 1947.
Throughout the 1920s fans became more interested in seeing homeruns than a pitching matchup or inside the park homerun. This led the Braves to adding 6,000 seats in left and center field, shortening the dimensions of the ballpark to 353 ft. in left field and 387 ft. in centerfield. However this changed helped opposing teams more leading the team to push back the outfield fence. In 1936, the Braves were renamed the Bees and Braves Field was renamed National League Park. The Bees nickname last only several seasons before being changed back to the Braves in 1941. During the 1940s fir trees were planted behind the centerfield fence to hide the smoke from the nearby rail yard. Before the start of the 1946 season, $500,000 was spent upgrading Braves Field. Lights were installed and the dimensions of the field was moved in with the addition of an eight foot high outfield wall. On opening day 1946, fans went home with green clothes because the seats had been painted, but had not dried. A new 68 foot scoreboard was added in 1948.
In 1946 the Braves attracted one million fans for the first time in history and two years later the team won the National League pennant for the first time since moving into Braves Field. However by the early 1950s attendance decreased dramatically as the Braves struggled on the field. Unaware to fans in Boston, the Braves played their last game at Braves Field on September 21, 1952, losing to the Brooklyn Dodgers. Just weeks before the start of the 1953 season, owner of the Braves, Lou Perini, announced that the club was moving to Milwaukee and their new stadium, County Stadium. Braves Field never housed baseball again, but parts of the facility remain today.
In 1953 Boston University purchased the stadium and converted it into a football field. Most of the original stadium was demolished except for the right field stands and a long building that originally housed the ticket and executive offices. The stadium is known as Nickerson Field today and was home to the Boston University’s football team until 1997. It currently is home to the university’s lacrosse and soccer programs.
Entire article: https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ballparks/braves-field/
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
GRIFFITH STADIUM
It’s Opening Day in the nations capital as the Washington Senators are at home at Griffith Stadium. Here is where you will see one of the best Opening Day traditions in baseball from 1911 until 1961 as the President of the United States may be in attendance to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Professional baseball in Washington, DC dates back to the 1870s when baseball was played at ballparks known as Swampoodle Grounds, Athletic Park and Capitol Grounds. In 1891 a plot of land at the intersection of Georgia and Florida Avenues became the home of the Washington Senators baseball club, a member of the American Association and National League from 1892-1899. The 6,500 seat ballpark was known as Boundary Park and National Park. After the 1899 season the Washington baseball team was contracted, but two years later, the Western League’s Kansas City franchise moved to Washington, DC and became charter members of the American League. The American League Washington Senators made their debut in on April 29, 1901 at American League Park. Two seasons later they moved to National Park, which was renamed American League Baseball Park II.
For eight seasons the Senators played at American League Baseball Park II, a small wooden 10,000 seat ballpark. A ninth season here would have began in 1911, however, a fire ignited by a blowtorch on March 17, 1911 destroyed the ballpark. In its place a new ballpark, built of steel and concrete, was erected in just three weeks. On April 12, 1911, the new ballpark, named National Park, was partially completed as the Senators hosted the Boston Red Sox. For almost four months work continued on the ballpark when the team was out of town. It was completed on July 24, 1911 with a seating capacity of 27,410. A double decked grandstand extended from behind home plate to the first and third bases. The lower grandstand stretched to each foul pole and bleachers stretched from left field to centerfield.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
AT GRIFFITH STADIUM
- World Series: 1924, ’25, ’33
- All Star Game: 1937 & ’56
- Mickey Mantle’s 565 ft. homerun in 1953.
- 500th career win by Cy Young on July 19, 1910.
- Pitcher Walter Johnson compiles 243 strikeouts and 1.09 ERA in 1913.
Griffith Stadium changed little throughout the rest of its life. Not only was it one of the smallest ballparks in baseball, but one of the hardest ballparks to hit a homerun at. Original dimensions were 407′-L, 421′-C and 320′-R with a 30 foot high fence stretching from the right field foul pole to center field that included the scoreboard. The fence in centerfield jutted into the playing field because the team was unable to purchase five houses and a large tree when the ballpark was constructed. Dimensions at Griffith Stadium were shortened slightly in 1956 when a 6 foot high fence was added in front of the left field fence shortening the distance to 388 feet. The bullpens were located in right centerfield and the first night game at Griffith Stadium was on May 28, 1941. Griffith Stadium had one unique feature that no other stadium had, a Presidential box. A special luxury box was constructed next to the first base dugout for the President of the United States. Every President, starting with William Howard Taft in 1910 until John F. Kennedy in 1961 threw a ceremonial first pitch at Griffith Stadium.
The demise of Griffith Stadium began in the 1950s. When the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore in 1954 part of the Senators fan base instantly became Orioles fans and stopped attending games at Griffith Stadium. A year later Clark Griffith died and his nephew/adoptive son, Calvin Griffith, became majority owner of the team. By 1958 he began looking to relocate the team to cities including Dallas, Houston, Minneapolis and Toronto. In October 1960 Griffith announced that the Senators were moving to Minneapolis’s, Metropolitan Stadium and becoming the Twins, even though a new stadium was under construction in Washington, DC. Although the Senators left after the 1960 season, Major League Baseball awarded Washington, DC an expansion franchise that began playing in 1961. The new Washington Senators played at Griffith Stadium for one season in 1961 before moving again, this time to the new D.C. Stadium. The last baseball game played at Griffith Stadium was on September 21, 1961 as 1,500 fans watched the old Senators, the Minnesota Twins, defeat the new Senators. Not only was Griffith Stadium home to the Senators, but to the Washington Redskins (NFL), numerous college football games and boxing matches. Griffith Stadium sat idle for several years before being sold to Howard University Hospital for $1.5 million. It was demolished in 1965 and the hospital now occupies the location and a plaque marks the location of home plate.
Entire article: https://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ballparks/griffith-stadium/
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Palace of the Fans, Cincinnati, OH, 1902 – This majestic looking ballpark was home to the Reds for just nine years
This majestic looking ballpark with its 22 hand-carved Corinthian columns was home to the Reds for only ten years, mostly because as beautiful as she looked, she was not built to be sturdy and cracks racked the girders, decayed supports and unsafe floors and a fire that damaged most of it led to her demise. The Roman and Greek styled ballpark was also considered too small, even for its day. It’s capacity was just 6,000 when most ballparks at least doubled that.
By 1912 the Reds would build a new ballpark named Redland Field over the old site, and would eventually be renamed Crosley Field in 1934. This new ballpark held more than 20,000 rooters and would become a Cincinnati icon over almost the next 60 years.
Entire article: https://www.baseballhistorycomesali...ark-was-home-to-the-reds-for-just-nine-years/
Palace of the Fans
Hello, my name is John T. Brush and I am the owner of the Cincinnati Reds. Today is August 12, 1902 and it has just been announced that I will be taking over the inside affairs of business for the New York Giants baseball club. This means that I will be leaving Cincinnati and the Reds at the end of the season.
I understand that you would like some information about this new ballpark that I have built, known as the “Palace of the Fans”. Allow me to sit in one of these beautiful stadium seats and relax for a few minutes while we talk. You see, I have a condition known as locomotor ataxia which requires me to walk with 2 canes. I don’t move too fast, so it is nice to just sit back and relax and enjoy this ballpark, considered the finest in baseball.
We opened the stadium this year as a true luxury facility, a palace for those with the means. It has been a couple of years since a fire burned the main grandstand of League Park. We were able to keep the same location here at the corner of Findlay Street and Western Avenue. We built the new stadium on a concrete platform to help keep the fires away. It seats about 6,000 fans.
We wanted a facility that would make an impact here in Cincinnati. The ‘Palace of the Fans’ has carriage stalls at the bottom of the grandstand that are designed to give our fans direct access to these comfortable seats from their horse-drawn carriage. Nineteen “Fashion Boxes” keep our fans comfortable and close to the action.
Please take a moment to look at the stadium façade! It features 22 hand-carved Corinthian columns, with the look borrowed from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition (the so-called “White City” Court of Honor) in Chicago by our architect John G. Thurtle. In the center there is a large sign honoring the people of Cincinnati. It is truly a beautiful palace for baseball and I am going to miss it now that I will be moving to New York. Thanks for stopping by. It looks like my motor car is ready, so I am going to head that direction. Have a nice day!
Interesting facts about ‘Palace of the Fans’: The architect Thurtle was obviously not a baseball fan: he included 19 “fashion boxes,” a precursor to today’s luxury suites, but failed to include dugouts or clubhouses.The ‘Rooters’ were placed underneath the grandstand, behind chicken wire, left to consume whiskey and beer while expressing their pleasure or displeasure with the game. The name ‘Palace of the Fans’ never really stuck, since the ballpark was built on the original League Park grounds, it was considered League Park II to many. The Reds only finished as high as 3rd place, while playing here. After a decade, many structural problems emerged, as well as a fire, leading team ownership to tear down the facility. Redland Field (aka Crosley Field) a true steel and concrete stadium, opened in 1912 at the same location.
Entire article: https://ballparkmuseum.com/palace-of-the-fans/
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