Old Ball Parks

[tonypug]

I know we can't have a forum for every single subject, but I would love to have one where we can discuss the old ball parks. Crosley, Forbes, Ebbets and the others. It's hard to discuss in the team forums it just gets lost. I appreciate the consideration. It can be in the area with the old teams.

[Paulmcall]

Hiya Tony.
I did my part this year with my book on Ebbets Field. There are books on all the other parks but Ebbets seemed to get lost in the shuffle. Not any more!
I'd like to see more on the Polo Grounds as well.

[DODGER DEB]

Sounds like an idea that has merit, guys!

c.

[Chisox73]

I agree Deb.There are plenty of old ballparks around that we could talk about here,from such historic and beloved places like Ebbets and the Polo Grounds,to the obscure like Sick's Stadium(Seattle Pilots) and LA's Wrigley Field(1961 Angels).

[tonypug]

It would be great for those of us who saw those parks as well as younger fans to get a feel for the great classic parks.

[Chisox73]

I really like this idea a lot. Maybe we could throw in Yankee Stadium,pre-1973.Only because the current Yankee Stadium bears very little resemblence to the original one.

If we get enogh people on board here,I think this could take off.

[tonypug]

Thats exactly what I mean. The old stadium was vastly different, then what we see now. I rememner my dad taking me to many games in 1961 and watching Maris and Mantle chasing Ruth . Yeah I think it would be great.

[POLO GROUNDS 1957]

HELLO TO ALL. i think that this is a great idea to have a section here for the old stadiums. I created 2 groups for the old COMISKEY PARK AND THE POLO GROUNDS FOR people to talk about and look at photos of the old parks and i think i will also do one for TIGER STADIUM in the near future. I hope that this happens here for the old ball parks so we can keep the memory alive for future generations of baseball fans who never got to see them. AND for the fans that were lucky enought to have gone to see games at these classic old ball parks. THANKS and take care everyone. DONALD DETROIT MI. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pologrounds1962 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/comiskeypark1910

[Paulmcall]

I remember how low the fence was in the outfield at Yankee Stadium. Can you imagine having that now? No way.
Fans would be pulling on an outfield's belt buckle while he tried to catch a ball
near the fence.

[tonypug]

Originally Posted by Paulmcall

I remember how low the fence was in the outfield at Yankee Stadium. Can you imagine having that now? No way.
Fans would be pulling on an outfield's belt buckle while he tried to catch a ball
near the fence.

There were many great catches made by outfielders going into the stands. A couple made by Carl Furillo in the World Series stand out in my mind.

[Chisox73]

Don't forget that one catch in 1955 made by one Sandy Amoros.

[Chisox73]

For some of you that are unfamiliar with what Yankee Stadium looked like back in the day,here's a pic here from the late 1960s.

[DODGER DEB]

Originally Posted by Chisox73

Don't forget that one catch in 1955 made by one Sandy Amoros.

I was sitting there watching as THAT BALL was hit, and my heart sank. Then I saw, what I swear was some kind of "divine intervention", as Sandy legs carried him so fast across from left-center to left, and he stuck out his glove and THAT BALL was in it! For a second I was afraid to look....but, to this day, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me.

After THAT play, my Grandfather turned to me and said "WE GOT IT"! I thought HE meant the ball....BUT, HE meant the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!

.....and my Grandfather ALWAYS told me the TRUTH!!!

Thanks for the real Stadium pic, Chisox73!

c.

[tonypug]

Originally Posted by Chisox73

For some of you that are unfamiliar with what Yankee Stadium looked like back in the day,here's a pic here from the late 1960s.

Now thats what I am talking about, thanks for the great picture.

[DODGER DEB]

My point in mentioning the Sandy story was to emphasize how HUGE that Stadium outfield was, and how fast Sandy had to run from left center to left, at the rail, to catch THAT BALL.....take a look at the photo and imagine it.

IMO, they took away much of the "charm" of the Stadium when they totally changed it on the second make-over.

c.

[Paulmcall]

I always liked the monuments in the field of play. It was so much fun seeing an outfielder scramble around them when a ball got out that far.

[DODGER DEB]

At the rate WE'RE going WE won't need a new Forum....this one is taking on a life of it's own...and the discussion does not belong here.

Let me take this up with Sean and see what he thinks.....

c.

[The Real McCoy]

My first game was at Yankee Stadium and I sat so far back and so high up in the right field stands that it became my first practical lesson in the difference between the speed of light and sound. At that time the "pitch" of the stands was much steeper than it is now and stenciled into each upper deck seat was the extremely sage advice "Sit tight". (Amoros' catch, of course, was off Berra, wasn't Furillo's best one off Johnny Mize).

I believe the Polo Grounds was the only major league ballpark to have the bullpens in fair territory on the playing field.

Memorial Stadiium on 33rd St in Baltimore was a great old park in a neighborhood setting. I saw the first Monday Night football game there in 1964 between the Colts and the Cardinals (both of those franchises have moved on) which was switched from St Louis because the Cardinals were playing in the World Series.

Shibe Park in Philadelphia was an easy commute.....from New York: Penn Station(speaking of wonderful old edifices) to the North Philly station and a short walk to the park. On a September Monday night in 1964 I saw a little used player by the name of Chico Ruiz steal home in the first inning for the Redlegs against the Phils, the run stood up and started the home nine on a losing streak that cost them the pennant.

Sportmans Park in St Louis was practically falling down in 1966, but construction on the downtown Busch Stadium was behind schedule and the
season opened in the old Park. Busch opened in time for the All Star game, which was one of the dullest on record....a dull game in a dull park.

I sat in the left field stands in Briggs Stadium for the Saturday World Series game between the Tigers and the Cardinals. After the game, I went to the airport, flew to La Guardia and got to see most of the night game between the Jets (who would win the Super Bowl that year) and the San Diego Chargers. Busiest sports day I ever had, certainly in terms of miles travelled.


All great old ballyards, but I'd trade every game in every one if just once more I could come out of the subway, walk across the park and see the arc lights shining in the distance over Ebbets Field.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Originally Posted by Chisox73

Don't forget that one catch in 1955 made by one Sandy Amoros.

Being a Yankee fan that one was hard to forget, great catch by Sandy. If you recall that very inning, the sixth inning Sandy replace Gilliam who moved to second base. You can see Sandy stretching his arm full to pull that ball in.

Can't say for sure but the fact that Sandy had his right hand as his glove hand may have made a catch that the RH Gilliam might not have reached.

What puzzles me is McDougald getting doubled off first base. When the ball was hit Martin was on Second and McDougald was on first. I suppose Martin did not have to stray to far off of second and could play it safe but McDougald would have to ( off of first) in order to score.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Originally Posted by tonypug

There were many great catches made by outfielders going into the stands. A couple made by Carl Furillo in the World Series stand out in my mind.

All took place in the 1952 WS, same game..... game 5, 2nd inning. Pafko makes leaping catch in RF to rob Woodling of a home run.

5th inning, Pafko and Furillo switch, Andy to LF and Carl to RF.

11th inning, Furillo makes leaping catch in RF to rob Mize of a home run, Dodgers win 6- 5.


I can also recall Snider making a leaping catch in right center on Berra, not sure what year it was. Would not have cleared that higher fence but it was at least an EBH and I believe there were runners on base..

Originally Posted by SHOELESSJOE3

All took place in the 1952 WS, same game..... game 5, 2nd inning. Pafko makes leaping catch in RF to rob Woodling of a home run.

5th inning, Pafko and Furillo switch, Andy to LF and Carl to RF.

11th inning, Furillo makes leaping catch in RF to rob Mize of a home run, Dodgers win 6- 5.


I can also recall Snider making a leaping catch in right center on Berra, not sure what year it was. Would not have cleared that higher fence but it was at least an EBH and I believe there were runners on base..

One of my all-time favorite Dodger games...those catches...a gutsy complete-game performance by Erskine, despite giving up five runs in the 5th...a Snider home run and, I believe, a game-winning double by Duke in the 11th.

Thrilling. And memorable.

[Yankees7]

I remember Snider robbing DiMaggio twice in 1949 as a little kid. We listened to Red Barber and Mel Allen call what I think was the 5th Game of the Series. The Clipper did connect later in the game for a HR to left, but Snider's catches were exciting to listen to.

Originally Posted by SHOELESSJOE3

Being a Yankee fan that one was hard to forget, great catch by Sandy. If you recall that very inning, the sixth inning Sandy replace Gilliam who moved to second base. You can see Sandy stretching his arm full to pull that ball in.

Can't say for sure but the fact that Sandy had his right hand as his glove hand may have made a catch that the RH Gilliam might not have reached.

What puzzles me is McDougald getting doubled off first base. When the ball was hit Martin was on Second and McDougald was on first. I suppose Martin did not have to stray to far off of second and could play it safe but McDougald would have to ( off of first) in order to score.

GIlliam was as fast as Amoros and might have reached the ball, , but with the glove on his LEFT hand, the RH Gilliam would have had to reach across his body to catch it -- a more difficult move. Having Sandy in left, with the glove on his RIGHT hand, made all the difference on that play.

Gilliam had started in Left because Alston had started Zimmer at second. But in the 5th, after Hodges' sac fly drove in the second run and Hoak was intentionally walked to re-load the bases, Alston, hoping for some run insurance, sent up Shuba to hit for Zimmer. But Shotgun grounded out, ending the inning.

Now Alston made the decisive move. He pulled Gilliam in to play second, and since Shuba was never accused of being a great fielder, Alston went with Amoros in left.

As for MacDougald's blunder: I saw a clip of that play recently, and I was amazed at how FAR Amoros had to come to make the catch. Standing on first, MacDougald had a clear view of the play, and I can see where he probably thought Berra's ball was a sure double and that he could make it all the way home.

On all counts, luck (or design) was with us that day.

[SHOELESSJOE3]

Originally Posted by shlevine42

One of my all-time favorite Dodger games...those catches...a gutsy complete-game performance by Erskine, despite giving up five runs in the 5th...a Snider home run and, I believe, a game-winning double by Duke in the 11th.

Thrilling. And memorable.

Snider did double in the 11th scoring Cox. How the game has changed. If you can believe it, the first batter in a 5-5 game in the 11th inning was the pitcher, Carl Erskine and he was not pinch it for, he struck out.

[catcher24]

I remember attending games at Forbes Field as a teen. Plunked down right in a residential neighborhood. The homeowners charging 25 or 50 cents to park on their lawn. The field was HUGE. Batting cage stored in center field, and in play. The tall flag pole in leftcenter, near the cage - 457 feet away. The brick outfield wall - I remember thinking how far away it was, and then so HIGH, too. The big clock/scoreboard in left field. It was a great park.