Griffith Stadium Pics

[andycummings65]

Griffith Stadium was home of the Washington Senators from 1911-1960, and home of the expansion Washington Senators in 1961.
The number of visiting players on the All-Time Griffith Home Run list is an...um, "tribute" to the lack of power hitters the Senators developed.

Original Dimensions
LF-407 ft.
CF-421 ft.
RF-320 ft.

Final Dimensions
LF-388 ft.
CF-421 ft.
RF-320 ft.







[b:ce7a743b6b]Griffith Stadium in 1925. With the sidearm delivery, do you think that might be Walter Johnson on the mound?[/b:ce7a743b6b]
[img:ce7a743b6b]http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab13/andycummings/Stadiums/Griffith1925couldbejohnson.jpg[/img:ce7a743b6b]

[b:ce7a743b6b]Iconic Joe DiMaggio picture, shot in Griffith Stadium[/b:ce7a743b6b]
[img:ce7a743b6b]http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab13/andycummings/Stadiums/GriffithJoeD.jpg[/img:ce7a743b6b]

[b:ce7a743b6b]Griffith in the early 50s[/b:ce7a743b6b]
[img:ce7a743b6b]http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab13/andycummings/Stadiums/griffith3.jpg[/img:ce7a743b6b]

[b:ce7a743b6b]Aerial Photo of Griffith. Notice the odd shape of left-field stands. The Left Field Line distance was deeper than the Left Field Power Alley. The LF line distance was 407 feet when Griffith opened.[/b:ce7a743b6b]
[img:ce7a743b6b]http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab13/andycummings/Stadiums/griffith2.jpg[/img:ce7a743b6b]

[b:ce7a743b6b]Griffith in the 1950s[/b:ce7a743b6b]
[img:ce7a743b6b]http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab13/andycummings/Stadiums/griffith1950s.jpg[/img:ce7a743b6b]

[bontomn]

One short story about Griffith Stadium: The District of Columbia had a version of the "Blue Laws" in effect (I believe) until the early '60s. Among other things, those laws banned consuming alcohol on the Sabbath (meaning all bars had to close at midnight Saturday) and consuming alcohol while standing (since it was difficult to get into a fist fight while sitting)! This meant not only could you not stand at a bar, but also that beer could not be sold at Griffith Stadium (since fans hardly could be expected to stay sitting all game). This cost the Senators (and the Redskins) a lot in concessions.

Calvin Griffith finally solved the problem by erecting a five- or six-row special section in front of the left-field bleachers, with each row equipped with a foot-wide plank of wood about waist high. Those rows were the only spot in the stadium where beer could be sold or consumed. You could only access them at the left-field foul corner from the main grandstand. You couldn't get to them from the bleachers, which had a separate entrance behind. This meant you had to pay for an unreserved grandstand ticket ($1.50) instead of the 50-cent bleacher charge.