Crosley Field

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Crosley Field

Location:	Cincinnati, OH
Opened:	April 11, 1912
Owner:	Cincinnati Reds
Surface:	Grass
Architect:	Harry Hake
Current Capacity:	29,488
Build Cost:	$225,000
Tenants:	Cincinnati Reds, 1912-1970

Crosley Field was a Major League Baseball park located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the home field of the National League's Cincinnati Reds franchise from 1912 to 1970. Located downtown, it was easily accessible.

Built during the winter of 1911 and 1912, the park, whose original name was Redland Field, was used by the Reds until June 26, 1970. It was succeeded by the now-demolished Riverfront Stadium.

1 Stadium History
2 Trivia
3 Field Dimensions
4 Wall Height
5 External Links

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Stadium History

Dating back to 1884, the Cincinnati Reds played their home games in several parks located at the intersection of Findlay Street and Western Avenue in Cincinnati's west end after moving there from the Bank Street Grounds, located less than a mile to the northeast.

National League Park was the first facility built on the Findlay and Western site and was so named because then-owner August "Garry" Herrmann refused to have his name attached to the name of the new facility.

Over the course of several years, the position of the diamond and the grandstand were shifted several times. Initially they were at the southwest corner, tucked into the angling intersection. In the 1890s, a new grandstand was built in the southwest corner, and the diamond was shifted, but the old grandstand was retained as bleachers. This was a good thing, because when the new stands burned, the diamond was relocated and the old stands again became the grandstand, albeit temporarily. A concrete, fireproof structure was then built in the southwest corner, in a style reminiscent of Chicago's World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, although the old 1884 structure was again retained as bleachers. In 1893, the park was columned, expanded, and renamed Palace of the Fans. The Palace was heavily influenced by Roman architecture and featured an extravagant facade and opera-style private boxes. In 1911, fire again destroyed the park. The striking (but totally inadequate) Palace was destroyed. Reds ownership decided to make the next park more utilitarian. Redland Field, whose name was a reference to the Reds' name and color, was quickly built for $225,000 by Harry Hake architects. It was one of many classic steel and concrete ballparks constructed during the first ballpark boom era of 1909-1923. Chicago's Wrigley Field and Boston's Fenway Park were also built during this era and remain in use today.

Throughout its history, Redland/Crosley Field was usually among the smallest parks in either the National or American leagues. It accommodated 25,000 fans in 1912; even at its peak, it never exceeded 30,000 seats, excluding temporary seating areas created for opening day and World Series games. Contributing to this was the fact that there were no bleachers in left or center fields; all outfield seating (about 4,500 seats), were in the semi-trapezoid-shaped right field stands that became known as the "Sun Deck" (or, in the case of night games, the "Moon Deck").

Groundskeeper Mathias "Matty" Schwab, who was hired in 1894 had the sod laid just in time for the Reds' first game at the new park, April 11, 1912. In the game, the Reds rallied from a 5-0 deficit to defeat the Chicago Cubs 10-6. Schwab would be the Reds' groundkeeper until he retired at age 83 in 1963,

When local businessman Powel Crosley Jr. bought the struggling Reds in 1934, team president Larry MacPhail insisted that the ballpark be renamed in honor of the man many thought had rescued the franchise. Thus, the park was renamed "Crosley Field", and Crosley himself took the opportunity to advertise his Crosley cars. Under Crosley's ownership, the park would undergo notable structural renovations.

With the effects of the Great Depression in Cincinnati, the Reds convinced baseball owners to allow night baseball at Crosley Field. Without lights, Larry MacPhail insisted, the team would fold because of low attendance. Baseball owners acquiesced. Thus, 632 individual lamps in eight metal stanchions were erected and on May 24, 1935, the Reds hosted the Philadelphia Phillies and won 2-1 behind right-hander Paul Derringer. In attendance at the game was Ford Frick, president of the National League. In the White House, president Franklin D. Roosevelt pressed a button that lit up Crosley Field, where a crowd of 20,422 fans, sizable for a last-place team in the middle of the Great Depression, came out to watch the game. Lou Chiozza was the leadoff man for the Phillies and thus has the distinction of being the first player to bat under the lights in a night game in the majors.

The sixth night game at Crosley Field was particularly notable for its wildness. The visiting St. Louis Cardinals, the Reds' rival and the defending World Series champions, were in town, and the fans showed up in droves. As the game progressed, the throng of Reds fans forced people onto the field of play which caused mass confusion for the police and umpires. Reds manager Chuck Dressen could only follow the game via the scoreboard. At one point, he was heard to say: "I see the Cardinals got a run — but I don't know how they got it".

After the 1937 seasons, home plate was moved out by twenty feet, decreasing the park's dimensions. In the middle of their pennant winning season of 1939, the Reds added roofed upper decks to the left and right field pavilions. This gave Crosley Field some 5,000 additional seats and the appearance it would retain for the rest of its existence.

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Trivia

During an eighth inning officials' time out, a local burlesque performer named Kitty Burke came out of the crowd, picked up the Reds outfielder Floyd "Babe" Herman's bat, stepped into the batter's box, and dared the Cardinals' starter, Paul "Daffy" Dean, to throw her a pitch. He accommodated Burke with a soft toss; Burke grounded weakly to first base. The "pinch hit" appearance was never recorded as an official one, but nonetheless, Burke began promoting herself as the first woman in major league history. Allegedly, the Reds gave her a uniform.

Hosted the All-Star Game in 1938 and 1953.

Crosley Field was the site of the major leagues' first save, after the save became an official statistic in 1969. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Bill Singer earned the save on April 7, 1969, in the season-opener, working three scoreless innings after taking over for Dodgers starting and winning pitcher Don Drysdale. Singer did not allow a hit, walking one batter and striking out one, as the Dodgers beat the Reds, 3-2.