The Ballparks

April 9th is an appropriate date to start talking about the ballparks that were used by Major League teams in 1951. I use the term “ballpark” as opposed to “Stadium” because, with few exceptions, the fields of 1951 were much more like ballparks than stadiums (or should that be stadia? OK, stadiums).

The reason that April 9th is so appropriate is that it is an important anniversary for two of the ballparks in use in 1951. On April 9, 1912, Fenway Park hosted it’s first ever baseball game, in a snowstorm, an exhibition between the Red Sox and Harvard University. The Red Sox won the game.

On April 9, 1913, the first National League game was played at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn between the Dodgers and the Phillies. The Phillies won 1-0. It was a big day for the Borough of Brooklyn, opening a new ballpark, considered by all to be a grand place for the great National Pastime. Can you guess the attendance for the grand opening? A grand total 12,000 Brooklyn faithful showed up in cold weather to see the christening of this fabled ballpark. How the game has changed!

The Consider this: the Brooklyn Dodgers played in Ebbets Field from 1913 through the 1957 season, a total of 44 years. The Los Angeles Dodgers moved into Dodger Stadium for the 1962 season and have played for 49 years in Dodger Stadium.

Here is the list of Major League the 1951 Major League ballparks:
Yankee Stadium – New York Yankees
Ebbets Field – Brooklyn Dodgers
The Polo Grounds – New York Giants
Fenway Park – Boston Red Sox
Braves Field – Boston Braves
Shibe Park – Philadelphia Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies
Forbes Field – Pittsburgh Pirates
Griffith Stadium – Washington Senators
Crosley Field – Cincinnati Reds
Cleveland Municipal Stadium – Cleveland Indians
Wrigley Field – Chicago Cubs
Comiskey Park – Chicago White Sox
Briggs Stadium – Detroit Tigers
Sportsman Park – St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Browns

Notice how there are lots of “Parks” and “Fields” but not too many Stadiums. These are the ballparks that I heard about when I was a boy listening to Dodger games on my transistor radio every night. I will be talking more about these ballparks as the teams play there during the 1951 season.

Since we will be following the New York Major League teams and the Los Angeles teams of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), now is a good time to mention the ballparks that hosted the Los Angeles teams. The Los Angeles Angels (of Los Angeles and the PCL) were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs and played at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles. The other LA team was the Hollywood Stars. The Stars played at Gilmore Field. More about those ballparks as we get into the season.

We are now ONE WEEK to Opening Day 1951. The Reds will open the season at Crosley Field in Cincinnati against Pittsburgh. Can’t wait.