The Murph

[stlfan]

I haven't come across any threads on Jack Murphy Stadium. I found some pics online. I think before they started expanding/enclosing it, it looked like a nice ballpark, especially for being a multipurpose stadium.

The first photo is a cool one of the construction. The second is during it's last expansion, almost completely enclosing it. One thing I find interesting in that photo is that they had the structure built but hadn't taken off the lights that extended out from the top of the scoreboard. Man that would have obstruced views in the upper deck.

[Jim Vaz]

Was never there myself, but from what I have heard from a few people is that is was not too bad of place to see a baseball game.

I've been to Petco though and I must say it is spectaculiar and in the perfect location.

Does anyone know if the Chargers have any plans to move into a new facility or will they stay put at Qualcom?

[Astros]

Are there any photos that show the field conversion from baseball to football?

[curb my enthusiasm]

Jack Murphy Stadium was one of the nicer cookie cutters, compared to other places like the Vet and Three Rivers Stadium.

[Gooseamania]

Are there any photos that show the field conversion from baseball to football?

maybe not what you were asking for, but just a little something i whipped up:

[OBomb]

Does anyone know if the Chargers have any plans to move into a new facility or will they stay put at Qualcom?

They are currently looking to build a new stadium in Chula Vista, a city about 10 minutes south of San Diego. Back in 2002, the team had released plans to build a new stadium next to the Q and build subsequent housing and retail development that would pay for the stadium. Unfortunately, getting anything big done in this city is next to impossible...just ask the Padres when it came to building Petco Park. Truth is, the Chargers need a new stadium badly as the city has defaulted on maintenance to the Q and has let the place fall apart. That aspect is magnified when you have a beautiful ballpark in downtown that feels like an oasis and makes the Q feel like a prison.

Read this blog which has updates on the Chargers quest to build a new stadium:

San Diego Stadium Watch (http://sdstadiumwatch.blogspot.com)

Also, here's a picture of the stadium back before the first expansion of 1983-1984. Granted, it was taken during a Chargers game but gives you a good idea of what it used to look like back in the 1970s.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2398/2366031028_705b2e8ee8_m.jpg

[six4three]

Not looking too promising for the Chargers in San Diego, I'm afraid.

[Chevy114]

One of the better multipurpose stadiums for both sports, not just football. It looks like you had a great view for baseball games untilt they enclosed it.

I have seen this on stadiums of the nfl for like 2 years:

http://www.stadiumsofnfl.com/future/ChargersStadium.htm

They have as good a chance of getting a new stadium as the raiders or 49s if you ask me. Espically since the padres already got a new park!

[Chevy114]

maybe not what you were asking for, but just a little something i whipped up:

You can definately see where the renovations happened, I guess they weren't really big on making it look seemeless huh?

[soberdennis]

Was never there myself, but from what I have heard from a few people is that is was not too bad of place to see a baseball game.

I've been to Petco though and I must say it is spectaculiar and in the perfect location.

Does anyone know if the Chargers have any plans to move into a new facility or will they stay put at Qualcom?
I have been to quite a few games at Jack Murphy Stadium. It was a beautiful place to see a baseball game. Problem came when the city started catering to the wishes of the NFL to get the Super Bowl. Then it became less baseball friendly and made Petco necessary.
That being said, Petco is better than the Murph ever was for baseball.
The Chargers have been fighting for a new stadium of their own ever since the voters approved Petco in 98. The problem is the money the city spent on the Murph already just for the Chargers. The city is not so willing to spend money on a new stadium now. Of course the NFL has already ruled out ever having another Super Bowl at the Murph. Eventually that may sway the city.

[Chevy114]

I have been to quite a few games at Jack Murphy Stadium. It was a beautiful place to see a baseball game. Problem came when the city started catering to the wishes of the NFL to get the Super Bowl. Then it became less baseball friendly and made Petco necessary.
That being said, Petco is better than the Murph ever was for baseball.
The Chargers have been fighting for a new stadium of their own ever since the voters approved Petco in 98. The problem is the money the city spent on the Murph already just for the Chargers. The city is not so willing to spend money on a new stadium now. Of course the NFL has already ruled out ever having another Super Bowl at the Murph. Eventually that may sway the city.

Why wont the nfl go back to the murph for a superbowl?

[Chevy114]

Anyone ever been to this site? The guy has some good pics, espically of the murph!

http://www.chrisputro.com/ballparks/

[six4three]

Why wont the nfl go back to the murph for a superbowl?

Leverage.

The NFL wants the Chargers in a new facility as much as the team does. San Diego won't ever see another Super Bowl unless they pony up.

[Chevy114]

Leverage.

The NFL wants the Chargers in a new facility as much as the team does. San Diego won't ever see another Super Bowl unless they pony up.

Thats cool that the league is starting to stick up for teams now, but wont this just make the team just want to move if they don't get a stadium fast enough?

[six4three]

Yes, it will.

And if another city is willing to pay for a new stadium before San Diego is willing to pay for a new stadium, then they'll move and the NFL will be happy to see them move.

If I were a San Deigo city father, I'd be just a little worried. Eventually, one of these plans is actually going to go forward (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3351752).

[Chevy114]

I wouldn't put it past a team to move to la because of their market, but thats about the only city I can see a team for sure moving to. Even if they do improvements on the almo dome like they say they will, I don't see a team going there.

[six4three]

Neither do I. Not a big enough market.

But as long as LA is without a team, it's a very tempting option for any team without a stadium. Especially a team that could make a public case that they're expanding their market, not abandoning it.

[xtimx]

wow the seats behind home plate look like they are a few feet up from the field, anyone have close up pics of that area?

[EdTarbusz]

They are currently looking to build a new stadium in Chula Vista, a city about 10 minutes south of San Diego. Back in 2002, the team had released plans to build a new stadium next to the Q and build subsequent housing and retail development that would pay for the stadium. Unfortunately, getting anything big done in this city is next to impossible...just ask the Padres when it came to building Petco Park. Truth is, the Chargers need a new stadium badly as the city has defaulted on maintenance to the Q and has let the place fall apart. That aspect is magnified when you have a beautiful ballpark in downtown that feels like an oasis and makes the Q feel like a prison.

Read this blog which has updates on the Chargers quest to build a new stadium:

San Diego Stadium Watch (http://sdstadiumwatch.blogspot.com)

Also, here's a picture of the stadium back before the first expansion of 1983-1984. Granted, it was taken during a Chargers game but gives you a good idea of what it used to look like back in the 1970s.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2398/2366031028_705b2e8ee8_m.jpg

When I was in the Navy I went to a lot of Padre games at Jack Murphy Stadium. I thougt it was a good but not great facility. I remember more then once, having seats in the center field region and not being able to see third base. The biggest problem with Jack Murphy, I thought, was that if you didn't have a car, it seemed impossible to get to.

Is Chula Vista still on the San Diego trolley line? If so, it would probably be much more accessible than Jack Murphy is.

[six4three]

Is Chula Vista still on the San Diego trolley line? If so, it would probably be much more accessible than Jack Murphy is.

Looks like the trolley runs through Chula Vista, but I don't know exactly where the possible site is, though.

[EdTarbusz]

Looks like the trolley runs through Chula Vista, but I don't know exactly where the possible site is, though.


If I recall correctly. Palomar was the main stop in Chula Vista. When I was stationed out there, only the blue line was in existence, but I think it only ran as far as the Santa Fe stop. Construction on the Orange line was just starting when I left San Diego in 1986.

[OBomb]

^ A lot has changed since then. Obviously you have the Orange Line, but you also have the Green Line which runs through Mission Valley en route to Santee, but not before stopping at SDSU. The stop closest to proposed bayfront site of a new stadium in Chula Vista is around Palomar Street or Palm Avenue. The team is also interested in a site in East Chula Vista near the Olympic Training Center which, unfortunately, is not near any mass transit - especially the trolley.

The one thing I've seen in some replies that I want to clarify would be who would pay for a new Chargers stadium. The team will pay 100% of the costs associated with building a new facility and would get that money from revenue generated from development they'd build either next to or near the new stadium. Again, the blog I posted the link to has all the information related to that.

Going back somewhat on topic, here are two more pictures of Jack Murphy/Qualcomm Stadium. The first is from 1994 - the first season in which Tom Warner's ownership group tarpped off the uppder deck and. The second is from 2002 - the second to last season the Padres played at the Q before moving to Petco Park.

http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/nl/qual709.jpg

http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/nl/qual738.jpg

[Dougman59]

San Diego/Jack Murphy stadium was always my favorite stadium. I alway wished to see a game but didn't. My question is two fold: does any have pictures from the Murph in 1968 while was a PCL park? (This might be difficult to discriminate from the early MLB Padres years) and does any have picutures of the PCL Padres Westgate Park. All I have of that park is one typical areial view so commond of all minor league parks at the time.

Doug

[Chevy114]

^ A lot has changed since then. Obviously you have the Orange Line, but you also have the Green Line which runs through Mission Valley en route to Santee, but not before stopping at SDSU. The stop closest to proposed bayfront site of a new stadium in Chula Vista is around Palomar Street or Palm Avenue. The team is also interested in a site in East Chula Vista near the Olympic Training Center which, unfortunately, is not near any mass transit - especially the trolley.

The one thing I've seen in some replies that I want to clarify would be who would pay for a new Chargers stadium. The team will pay 100% of the costs associated with building a new facility and would get that money from revenue generated from development they'd build either next to or near the new stadium. Again, the blog I posted the link to has all the information related to that.

Going back somewhat on topic, here are two more pictures of Jack Murphy/Qualcomm Stadium. The first is from 1994 - the first season in which Tom Warner's ownership group tarpped off the uppder deck and. The second is from 2002 - the second to last season the Padres played at the Q before moving to Petco Park.

http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/nl/qual709.jpg

http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/nl/qual738.jpg


That second picture seems so gross to me, a baseball stadium should never have that many seats!

[efin98]

San Diego/Jack Murphy stadium was always my favorite stadium. I alway wished to see a game but didn't. My question is two fold: does any have pictures from the Murph in 1968 while was a PCL park? (This might be difficult to discriminate from the early MLB Padres years) and does any have picutures of the PCL Padres Westgate Park. All I have of that park is one typical areial view so commond of all minor league parks at the time.

Doug

Lane Field: http://history.sandiego.edu/GEN/local/images3/1936Lane.jpg
Westgate Park: http://history.sandiego.edu/GEN/local/images3/1958Westgate.jpg

[OBomb]

Granted it's small, but here's another picture of what was then called San Diego Stadium taken in the very early 1970s, if not the Padres inaugural season of 1969. Notice the plaza level had yellow seats and also take note of how much larger the park was in the fact that the fences were much further back. I believe it was about 420 feet to straightaway center before the fences were moved in.

http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/nl/qual700.jpg

[Dougman59]

Thank you. I've seen many of the Lane Field photos via the SD historical society web site. In some photos of the outside of the park show a resturant as part of the outer perimeter. An idea that is certainly prevalent in today's parks. Once again a very cool picture and park.

The Westgate Park photo is pretty common around the internet however it is the best one I've ever seen from a resolution standpoint. From what I can see it shows slanted light poles which I believe were advanced for the time.
Westgate's media exposure is poor due to relatively short span of about 10 years. The only other depictions I've seen is a drawing of the park on Padres programs of the time and comemorative pin that seems to be available. From what I have read Westgate was the prototype of many future spring training facilities and other more modern AAA parks.

That is a cool Murph picture. One of the first games I ever sat down to watch as a kid was a 69 game between the Giant (I think it was them) and SD. What struck me at time was the blind spots in the corners. A well placed foul could be caught and yet not be seen by the home umpire. My next question is about the outfield walls. Was there even a short fence in the first few years? Or did HRs have to land about 15-20 feet above the playing field to be out? If so it is testimony to the power Colbert, Brown, Gaston, to clear the fence in those early years.

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

1995
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1344/1246798540_9e70237181.jpg


1997 expansion
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/2378770101_fd11cd4339_o.jpg

[OBomb]

There was no short wall in the first few years that San Diego Stadium was open. I don't think that the short wall was installed until at least the 1980 season, though I could be wrong. If my memory serves me correct, the bigger dimensions gave the wall the moniker of the Nate Colbert Wall because he was one of the few players who could knock one out into the seats.

The great thing about the photo from 1995 is that it shows the palm trees lined along the outfield wall - a feature I wish would have been used at Petco Park. 1995 was the first season after John Moores and Larry Lucchino bought the club and it was dubbed as the first season of the "New" Padres. After making a monster trade in which the club acquired Andujar Cendeno, Steve Finley, and Ken Caminiti from the Astros, the Padres were in the hunt for an NL West title until the last month of the season. Of course, that was followed by the magical 1996 season that brought the club its first NL West title since 1984. I get nostalgic seeing these pictures and remembering the Padres playing in my favorite uniforms - the blue pinstripes - especially when the team has the worst record in baseball right now.

[Chevy114]

Granted it's small, but here's another picture of what was then called San Diego Stadium taken in the very early 1970s, if not the Padres inaugural season of 1969. Notice the plaza level had yellow seats and also take note of how much larger the park was in the fact that the fences were much further back. I believe it was about 420 feet to straightaway center before the fences were moved in.

http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/nl/qual700.jpg

That pic does a great job of showing how far beneath the street level the playing field really is!

[banko]

Thank you. I've seen many of the Lane Field photos via the SD historical society web site. In some photos of the outside of the park show a resturant as part of the outer perimeter. An idea that is certainly prevalent in today's parks. Once again a very cool picture and park.

The Westgate Park photo is pretty common around the internet however it is the best one I've ever seen from a resolution standpoint. From what I can see it shows slanted light poles which I believe were advanced for the time.
Westgate's media exposure is poor due to relatively short span of about 10 years. The only other depictions I've seen is a drawing of the park on Padres programs of the time and comemorative pin that seems to be available. From what I have read Westgate was the prototype of many future spring training facilities and other more modern AAA parks.

That is a cool Murph picture. One of the first games I ever sat down to watch as a kid was a 69 game between the Giant (I think it was them) and SD. What struck me at time was the blind spots in the corners. A well placed foul could be caught and yet not be seen by the home umpire. My next question is about the outfield walls. Was there even a short fence in the first few years? Or did HRs have to land about 15-20 feet above the playing field to be out? If so it is testimony to the power Colbert, Brown, Gaston, to clear the fence in those early years.

Westgate park was designed for expansion to a major league facility. It was an absolutely 'top-notch' ballpark.

When it was built, perhaps the finest in minor league ball.

I, like you, are frustrated that so few pictures of it exist.

[Dougman59]

Westgate park was designed for expansion to a major league facility. It was an absolutely 'top-notch' ballpark.

When it was built, perhaps the finest in minor league ball.

I, like you, are frustrated that so few pictures of it exist.

Yes I keep looking at sites like ebay for any postcards shots that may exist.
Old PCL programs may have pics inside but I find the prices are very high for them.

Sometimes a local library or historical society has pictures or has books on obscures baseball league that existed. This may be the case with San Diego. When I have searched summaries PCL history books I find much of the information end at 1957. I think a big problem is that in 58 when the park started the PCL the league was no longer got them media exposure it once did having lost LA and SF.

[Dougman59]

Yes I keep looking at sites like ebay for any postcards shots that may exist.
Old PCL programs may have pics inside but I find the prices are very high for them.

Sometimes a local library or historical society has pictures or has books on obscures baseball league that existed. This may be the case with San Diego. When I have searched summaries PCL history books I find much of the information end at 1957. I think a big problem is that in 58 when the park started the PCL the league was no longer got them media exposure it once did having lost LA and SF.


One more thought, I used to have a similar problem with getting pictures of the first Phoenix Municipal Stadium that was home to the first PCL Giants. Gradually I've been able to get some because it was the SF giants spring training grounds for several years. Pics with stadium in the background are common for publicity shots of Mays, McCovey