Statboy started a future ballparks thread, but I am a sucker for old ballparks. If I had a time machine, I would make a lot of stock investments first, but next on my list would be to visit some of these parks, which were torn down before I was born. They just don't make parks like they used to.
In no particular order.
Shibe Park (Philadephia A's and later Phillies)
Shibe was notable for being the first concrete and steel stadium in baseball. I am not much of a fan of facades, but this park had a BEAUTIFUL one. Check this out:
It pretty much puts the future Blue Bell parking garage to shame.
The other notable for Shibe was the 50 foot wall in right field to prevent locals from being able to see games for free. Lifted from ballparks.com:
Here is a pic of the park's fence and an older one before the fence.
Griffith Stadium (Washington Senators)
Griffith Stadium was pretty much your generic old-school baseball stadium.
Most notable though were a group of five houses whose owners wouldn't sell when the stadium was constructed. This necessitated the centerfield wall jutting in. Also the large tree behind the wall apparently had branches that went over the wall into the field of play. It isn't apparent in this picture, but I have read that several places.
Well, after a lunch break shortened by two phone calls, I need to get back to work. Other favorite old parks that I never got to see ...
Polo Grounds - New York (check out these dimensions! 279-L, 475-C, 257-R)
Sportsman's Park - St. Louis
Crosley Field - Cincinnati
Ebbets Field - Brooklyn (would loved to have sat in the outfield and listened to the "symPHONEY band."
Forbes Field - Pittsburgh (another beautiful facade, and the park itself is, I think, the most attractive ever in baseball.
[This message has been edited by dabo man (edited 6/29/2011 9:01p).]
In no particular order.
Shibe Park (Philadephia A's and later Phillies)
Shibe was notable for being the first concrete and steel stadium in baseball. I am not much of a fan of facades, but this park had a BEAUTIFUL one. Check this out:
It pretty much puts the future Blue Bell parking garage to shame.
The other notable for Shibe was the 50 foot wall in right field to prevent locals from being able to see games for free. Lifted from ballparks.com:
quote:
Before 1935, 20th Street residents could see games for free over the 12-foot right-field fence & fans could see the laundry lines on the roofs of 20th Street houses. Connie Mack lost a lawsuit to prevent this, so he built the high right-field 'spite' fence.
Here is a pic of the park's fence and an older one before the fence.
Griffith Stadium (Washington Senators)
Griffith Stadium was pretty much your generic old-school baseball stadium.
Most notable though were a group of five houses whose owners wouldn't sell when the stadium was constructed. This necessitated the centerfield wall jutting in. Also the large tree behind the wall apparently had branches that went over the wall into the field of play. It isn't apparent in this picture, but I have read that several places.
Well, after a lunch break shortened by two phone calls, I need to get back to work. Other favorite old parks that I never got to see ...
Polo Grounds - New York (check out these dimensions! 279-L, 475-C, 257-R)
Sportsman's Park - St. Louis
Crosley Field - Cincinnati
Ebbets Field - Brooklyn (would loved to have sat in the outfield and listened to the "symPHONEY band."
Forbes Field - Pittsburgh (another beautiful facade, and the park itself is, I think, the most attractive ever in baseball.
[This message has been edited by dabo man (edited 6/29/2011 9:01p).]
c/o '06
c/o '13 
