A Stadium Reunion

by Kelly Huffman and Chris Hansen

In the spirit of the current trend of recycling old ballpark designs, why not revisit those palaces of yesteryear — the fields of Forbes, Crosley and Ebbets.

While these stadiums don't exactly open floodgates of childhood memories for today's young fans, Pirates, Reds and Dodgers rooters of old will often recall with vividness their first entrances into these idyllic ballyards. And, undoubtedly, a desire remains to return to those good ol' days.

Crosley Field Tenants: Cincinnati Reds Origianl Demensions: LF-360 ft., CF-420 ft., RF-360 ft. First Game: April 11, 1912 Last Game: June 24, 1970 World Series: 1919, 1939, 1940, 1961. Ebbets Field Tenants: Brooklyn Dodgers Original Demensions: LF-419 ft., CF-477 ft., RF-301 ft. First Game: April 9, 1913 Last Game: September 24, 1957 World Series: 1916, 1920, 1941, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956. Forbes Field Tenants: Pittsburgh Pirates Original Demensions: LF-360 ft., CF-442 ft., RF-376 ft. First Game: June 30, 1909 Last Game: June 28, 1970 World Series: 1909, 1925, 1927, 1960.

Well, rest assured, in one case, the good ol' days are here again. In the other two, the past will soon return.

Forbes Field, known affectionately as Lady Forbes, opened June 30, 1909, as the Pirates lost to the Cubs 3-2. Named after General John Forbes, the park remained home to the Bucs until the 1971 season. Some notable occurrences at Forbes include a 21-inning game in which both pitchers went the distance, the last triple-header (1920) and the first use of an elevator.

Although parts of Lady Forbes still stand at the south end of the University of Pittsburgh's campus, the main structure met the wrecking ball on July 28, 1971. Now with the attempt to replace Three Rivers Stadium with PNC Park, parts of Forbes Field will soon return.

As part of the new stadium's design, planners have included a distinctive brick front and masonry archways that should put a smile on the face of any long-time Pirates fan. According to Pirates owner Kevin McClatchy, "This facility will offer all of the intamacy of beloved Forbes Field with all of the modern amenities that today's baseball fans expect."

For Dodgers fans who refuse to wear "LA" on their caps, you might want prepare for a trip to Hartford, Connecticut, in the near future. That's because Ebbets Field Ventures has spearheaded a movement to bring your beloved temple back to life.

Da Bums from Flatbush opened their doors on April 9, 1913, at a cost of $750,000. History will note that Ebbets Field, named after owner/manager/president Charles Hercules Ebbets, housed the first televised game (in 1939) and that on April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson shattered the color barrier within Ebbets' confines.

Ebbets Field met its demise on February 23, 1960. Although an apartment building now stands on the grounds, parts of Ebbets have been hauled off elsewhere.

On July 13 of this year, the Hartford (Conn.) City Council passed a resolution supporting efforts to re-build Ebbets Field, based on its original blueprint. Designers are still in the planning stages but hope to be the home to a minor league team in the near future.

Then there's Crosley Field, home to the Cincinnati Reds from its opening in 1912 (as Redland Field) until its final game in 1970. Perhaps known primarily for its steep incline leading up to the outfield fences, Crosley, named for owner Powel Crosley, also played host to baseball's first night game in 1935.

With Pete Rose, Jr., assisting, a wrecking ball took out Crosley Field in 1972. Other businesses have now moved into the spot along I-75 where the Field once stood. Chuck Foertmeyer provides an excellent site for those interested in uncovering Crosley's roots.

In 1970, a ham salesman (not to be confused with a farmer from Iowa) bought the outfield walls, scoreboard and some seats at an auction and set them up in his backyard. He later tracked down other parts of the field and built "Crosley II." In 1985, the town of Blue Ash, Ohio, bought up the collection and added to it, creating a "new" Crosley Field which opened up in 1988 and still stands today.

Though the original Forbes, Ebbets and Crosley fields have vanished into memory, their spirits obviously still haunt those yearning for a return to the past.