Hello again, Greg (et al.)!
One last addendum to this afternoon's e-mails about the ballpark site at
Grand & Sullivan in St. Louis: the old
map I mentioned is on p. 22 of the book Diamonds by Michael Gershman; it is
dated 1873, in fact, although the
accompanying text declares that the site was used as a ball field as early as
1866. Gershman states that the
Grand Ave. Grounds were located here in the 1870s, fell into disuse and were
torn down; the first Sportsman's
Park was then built for the start ot the (American Association) 1881 season.
This burned down in 1891, and
was reconstituted for one season before the Browns (now in the NL, and several
years yet from being called
the Cardinals) moved to "New Sportsman's Park" a few blocks N and W at
Vandevetter & Natural Bridge. The
AL Browns then moved to the site for the 1902 season, but I don't know whether
they had to build a new park,
or just refresh the one built in 1892. In any event, there were at least four
parks on this site from the 1870s to
1966. (Ironically, the newly-christened Cardinals stayed at Vandevetter &
Natural Bridge, rebuilding the park
after an 1898 fire; they didn't move back to Grand & Sullivan till 1920.) I'm
sorry to go on so much about old St.
L parks, esp. to a Reds fan, but just last week, I found myself in St. Louis,
and got to visit both these old sites! So
they are still much on my mind . . .
None of this, of course, diminishes the historical significance of Findlay &
Western in Cincinnati! By the way,
did the site at Michigan & Trumball in Detroit hold as many different baseball
structures as these?
Ray Miller

----- Original Message -----
From: Greg Rhodes <GRhodes@...>
Date: Wednesday, August 2, 2006 10:16 am
Subject: [SABRballparks] ballparks on one site

> Beginning in 1884, at the corner of Findlay St. and Western Ave. in
> Cincinnati, the Reds built 4 different ballparks on this site. This
> included a completely new facility in 1884 and 1912, while the 1894
> and 1902 parks are probably best referred to as renovations instead
> of "new" parks, since in both cases the new facility included a new
> main grandstand and adjacent bleachers, but also included much of
> the old stands.
>
> 1884-1893, Cincinnati Ball Park or League Park;
>
> 1893-1900, Cincinnati Park or Cincinnati Ball Park (or League Park
> 2 as it is often called today);
>
> 1900-1901, temporary quarters on the same grounds after League Park
> 2 burned; I am not including this as a "new" park
>
> 1902-1911, Palace of the Fans;
>
> 1912-1970, Redland/Crosley Field.
>
> Is there any other major league ballpark site that has been home to
> four different ballparks?
>
> Greg Rhodes
> Executive Director Hall of Fame and Museum
> Cincinnati Reds
> Great American Ball Park
> 100 Main Street
> Cincinnati, OH 45202-4109
> grhodes@...
> Voice 513-765-7920
> Fax 513-765-7928
> http://www.cincinnatireds.com/
>
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