Griffith Stadium

From SoSH

Griffith Stadium

Location:	Washington, D.C.
Opened:	July 24, 1911
Owner:	Washington Senators
Surface:	Grass
Architect:	Osborn Engineering
Current Capacity:	32,000
Build Cost:
Tenants:	Washington Senators (MLB) (1911-1960) Washington Senators (MLB) (1961) Washington Redskins (NFL) (1937-1960) Georgetown Hoyas (NCAA) (1925-1950)

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

[edit]

Stadium History

Griffith Stadium was built on the former site of Boundary Field, also known as "Nationals Park" (as the Senators were primarily known as the Nationals), which was destroyed by a fire in 1911. The park was named after Senators owner Clark Griffith in 1920. The park was situated awkwardly within its block, with the center-field wall wrapped around some trees and houses that would have been in the field of play had the wall cut through them, and the right-field fence was relatively close to the infield, making it difficult to hit home runs in the park.

The original Washington Senators played at Griffith Stadium until they moved to Minnesota after the 1960 season, and were replaced with the expansion Washington Senators, who continued to call the park "Griffith Stadium." After just one season in Griffith Stadium, the expansion Senators and the Washington Redskins of the NFL moved to RFK Stadium (then known as DC Stadium), leaving Griffith Stadium empty until it was demolished in 1965.

[edit]

Trivia

Site of the 1937 and 1956 MLB All-Star Games.
Served as the home of the Negro League Homestead Grays in the 1930s and 1940s when the Senators were on the road.
Despite the difficulty the park offered to home run hitters, some players were adept at hitting enormous home runs in the park, including Josh Gibson, Mickey Mantle, and Harmon Killebrew. Mantle hit a shot that reportedly traveled 565 feet, originating the name "tape measure shot" for a long home run after someone made an effort to measure the ball's flight precisely.
Legend has it that the Senators groundskeepers kept the field running slightly downhill from home plate to first base in order to give Senators baserunners some help with their speed.

[edit]