.....er....uhh.....did ya mean Dunn.....as in Dunn Field cica 1920........here's somethin yall may be interested in.....
"FIRST IMPRESSION
It was an oddly-shaped, funny-looking little relic, squeezed tightly into a working-class neighborhood near downtown Cleveland. Dunn Field was a delightful sports playground that tried hard to be cozy and quaint. But it also was a house of insanity, a place where baseball was contorted to fit into the most illogical dimensions ever conceived.
"Wall Ball" is what they called it in Cleveland. And, indeed, most of Dunn Field's mystique emanated from a 40-foot combination concrete-and-wire right-field barrier that stood an inviting 290 feet from home plate, a distance mandated by the natural boundary of Lexington Avenue. With the left-field line measuring 375 feet and straightaway center a whopping 460 (later 420), the playing field had a peculiar rectangular shape unmatched by any other park.
Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and other lefthanded American League sluggers were delighted to see their fly balls turn into 300-foot home runs, but line drives were another matter. The 20-foot concrete right field wall was topped by a 20-foot screen from the corner to the center field scoreboard. The chicken-wire screen was supported by a series of vertical steel beams that created their own special problems.
Line drives hitting the lower wall bounded like a shot past outfielders. Balls hitting the screen could do one of three things: drop straight down; get stuck in the wiring, a ground-rule double; or hit a beam and shoot in any direction, depending on the angle. You never knew what to expect. Balls could deflect all the way to left field -- or back to the infield. The fence, much like the Green Monster at Boston's Fenway Park, also turned potential extra-base hits into outs at second -- or long singles, it began as League Park in the late 1891, changed its name to Dunn in 1916, then in 1927 was re-named League Park"
SIGNATURE FEATURES
Everything at League Park revolved around the wall. Lefties drooled, righthanders changed their batting stroke, every fielder kept a wary eye on balls hit to right and fans screamed with delight at the strange occurrences they would witness. But the biggest beneficiaries were the kids -- packs who, unable to afford a ticket, would position themselves on Lexington Avenue, hoping to pick off a batting-practice ball or home run they could turn in for a free pass.
It was that way from 1910, when the original League Park, which had stood at East 66th Street and Lexington since 1891, was remodeled from a wood-based field into a steel-and-concrete ballpark. Eventually, the field would feature a roofed, double-decked grandstand from the right-field foul pole to just short of the left-field pole, where a section of single-deck stands wrapped into left and met a narrow section of bleachers fronted by a 10-foot barrier -- three feet of concrete, seven feet of screen. The big green scoreboard, which was updated by kids hanging numbers on nails, was not flush with the ground, allowing balls to occasionally disappear underneath.
One of League Park's stranger quirks was the positioning of bullpens, which were crammed into the corners and hidden from view to many spectators by special stands that angled in an arc from the pavilions just behind third base until they almost touched the foul lines. When fair balls rolled into the left-field bullpen, outfielders would have to throw over the stands to get the ball to the infield.
League Park played host to Indians baseball for 36 wonderful years, the final 14 as co-host with new, larger Cleveland Municipal Stadium -- Sunday, holiday and night games (League never had lights) at Municipal, the rest of the schedule at League Park, which never had a permanent seating capacity over 22,000. Owner Bill Veeck moved the team permanently to Municipal Stadium in 1947
Well Dunn League
by GARYGARCIA » Thu Jun 01, 2006 8:41 pm
The first version of League Park was built in 1891, and was used by the Cleveland Spiders of the National League and then the Cleveland Indians of the American League. The field was terrible, the park was unattractive, and the Indians eventually built a new ballpark in 1910 for their franchise. Converted to baseball's fourth concrete-and-steel park in 1910, Cleveland's League Park never had lights, and never had a night game. This was the scene of Bill Wamgass' unassisted triple play in the 1920 World Series, and of Joltin' Joe DiMaggio's 56th consecutive game in which he recorded a hit on July 16. Only 15,000 fans showed up at League Park to see Dago extend his record, with a first-inning single off Cleveland starter Al Milnar. The following day, Indians' Al Smith, Jim Bagby and All-Star third baseman Ken Keltner's sparkling defense held "Joltin' Joe" hitless for the first time in two months.
The ballpark was located at the eastern end of the city at the corner of East 66th Street and Lexington Avenue. The site had been selected by Cleveland owner F.D. Robinson - the Payne and Wade streetcars passed close by the building, and Robinson - who also owned the streetcar company - delighted in seeing patrons dropped off by one of his enterprises saunter into another of his businesses.
The park was built in one of the poshest neighborhoods in the city of Cleveland - indeed, many millionaires, including John D. Rockefeller, put their homes on nearby Euclid Avenue, the main road heading east from Cleveland. Before interstate highways cam along, that was the road you would have taken to get from Cleveland to places like Buffalo and Boston. For over one hundred years, the area east of Cleveland that Euclid Avenue passed through was one of the most prosperous neighborhoods in America. Through most of the 20th century, the finest office buildings, department stores and playhouses lined the street.
The practice of color-coding tickets began here in 1914 - box seats were $1.25, reserve seats sold for a dollar, and general admission was seventy five cents. For fifty cents, fans could gain access to the pavilion, the double-decked grandstand extensions that had been added to the original grandstand and the foul poles. A season ticket for an eight-seat box cost $100.
Analysis
The park had an odd shape, almost as if right field didn't exist - that was the result of a saloon and two homes refusing to sell their property. The left field was gargantuan - it was 375 to the left field foul pole, almost 415 to the power alley in left center, and as deep as 505 feet to the left edge of center field. The right field was tiny - just 290 feet to the foul pole and a very manageable poke to right-center. In sellouts, overflow crowds could stand in right field as close as 240 feet from home plate.
In 1920, a 45-foot wall was placed in right to contain home runs, and the distances to left and center were shortened considerably. For the most part, the prevailing winds carried the ball well to left, though even with strong gusts of wind it was hard to knock the ball clean out. As it turned out, a home run to right was no picnic either because of the wall - the park cut down home runs for both left-handed and right-handed hitters. Balls hitting 25-foot-high screen above the 45-foot-high right field wall were still in play, so plenty of lazy fly balls turned into singles and extra base hits.
Dimensions
Left field: 376
Deepest corner, just left of center field: 450
Center field: 420 ft
Right field: 290, 240 (when roped off for overflow crowds)
Fences -
Left field: 5 ft (concrete)
Left-center: 10 ft (7 screen above 3 concrete)
Center field scoreboard: 35 ft
Right-center clock: 20 ft (left and right sides), 22 (center of clock)
Right-center field, parts not covered by chicken wire screen: 45 ft (20 concrete topped by 25 steel chicken wire screen supports, 1920)
Right field, parts covered by chicken wire screen: 45 (20 concrete topped by 25 chicken wire screen, 1920).
Fun Facts
Cy Young won the first game played in League Park on May 1, 1891 - a 12-3 win over the Reds, before 9,500 fans.
From 1932 to 1946, the Indians played their day games here and their night games and important weekday at Municipal Stadium, which had a higher capacity.
Renovated for the 1910 season. The wooden grandstand was replaced with steel and concrete and double decked.
Seats were added for the 1920 World Series which cut the center field distance from 460 feet to 420 feet.
Called Dunn Field from 1916 to 1927 after then owner Sunny Jim Dunn.
Indians second baseman Bill Wambsganss made the only unassisted triple play in World Series history here on October 10, 1920 in game 5 against the Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers). In the same game Elmer Smith hit the first grand-slam and Kim Bagby became the first pitcher to hit a home run in World Series history.
Joe DiMaggio set a record by hitting safely in his 56th consecutive game here on July 16, 1941.
Used only for the Indians weekday and Saturday day games from 1934 to 1946.
Owner Bill Veeck moved all of the Indians home games to Cleveland (Municipal) Stadium in 1947.
A park now occupies the site and a portion of the outfield stands still exists.
The two-story ticket booth built during the 1909-10 renovation is still standing and serves as a recreation center.
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Copyright ©2001 QATD Internet Ventures.
.
The ballpark was located at the eastern end of the city at the corner of East 66th Street and Lexington Avenue. The site had been selected by Cleveland owner F.D. Robinson - the Payne and Wade streetcars passed close by the building, and Robinson - who also owned the streetcar company - delighted in seeing patrons dropped off by one of his enterprises saunter into another of his businesses.
The park was built in one of the poshest neighborhoods in the city of Cleveland - indeed, many millionaires, including John D. Rockefeller, put their homes on nearby Euclid Avenue, the main road heading east from Cleveland. Before interstate highways cam along, that was the road you would have taken to get from Cleveland to places like Buffalo and Boston. For over one hundred years, the area east of Cleveland that Euclid Avenue passed through was one of the most prosperous neighborhoods in America. Through most of the 20th century, the finest office buildings, department stores and playhouses lined the street.
The practice of color-coding tickets began here in 1914 - box seats were $1.25, reserve seats sold for a dollar, and general admission was seventy five cents. For fifty cents, fans could gain access to the pavilion, the double-decked grandstand extensions that had been added to the original grandstand and the foul poles. A season ticket for an eight-seat box cost $100.
Analysis
The park had an odd shape, almost as if right field didn't exist - that was the result of a saloon and two homes refusing to sell their property. The left field was gargantuan - it was 375 to the left field foul pole, almost 415 to the power alley in left center, and as deep as 505 feet to the left edge of center field. The right field was tiny - just 290 feet to the foul pole and a very manageable poke to right-center. In sellouts, overflow crowds could stand in right field as close as 240 feet from home plate.
In 1920, a 45-foot wall was placed in right to contain home runs, and the distances to left and center were shortened considerably. For the most part, the prevailing winds carried the ball well to left, though even with strong gusts of wind it was hard to knock the ball clean out. As it turned out, a home run to right was no picnic either because of the wall - the park cut down home runs for both left-handed and right-handed hitters. Balls hitting 25-foot-high screen above the 45-foot-high right field wall were still in play, so plenty of lazy fly balls turned into singles and extra base hits.
Dimensions
Left field: 376
Deepest corner, just left of center field: 450
Center field: 420 ft
Right field: 290, 240 (when roped off for overflow crowds)
Fences -
Left field: 5 ft (concrete)
Left-center: 10 ft (7 screen above 3 concrete)
Center field scoreboard: 35 ft
Right-center clock: 20 ft (left and right sides), 22 (center of clock)
Right-center field, parts not covered by chicken wire screen: 45 ft (20 concrete topped by 25 steel chicken wire screen supports, 1920)
Right field, parts covered by chicken wire screen: 45 (20 concrete topped by 25 chicken wire screen, 1920).
Fun Facts
Cy Young won the first game played in League Park on May 1, 1891 - a 12-3 win over the Reds, before 9,500 fans.
From 1932 to 1946, the Indians played their day games here and their night games and important weekday at Municipal Stadium, which had a higher capacity.
Renovated for the 1910 season. The wooden grandstand was replaced with steel and concrete and double decked.
Seats were added for the 1920 World Series which cut the center field distance from 460 feet to 420 feet.
Called Dunn Field from 1916 to 1927 after then owner Sunny Jim Dunn.
Indians second baseman Bill Wambsganss made the only unassisted triple play in World Series history here on October 10, 1920 in game 5 against the Brooklyn Robins (Dodgers). In the same game Elmer Smith hit the first grand-slam and Kim Bagby became the first pitcher to hit a home run in World Series history.
Joe DiMaggio set a record by hitting safely in his 56th consecutive game here on July 16, 1941.
Used only for the Indians weekday and Saturday day games from 1934 to 1946.
Owner Bill Veeck moved all of the Indians home games to Cleveland (Municipal) Stadium in 1947.
A park now occupies the site and a portion of the outfield stands still exists.
The two-story ticket booth built during the 1909-10 renovation is still standing and serves as a recreation center.
Baseball-statistics.com: Front | Advertiser Info | Contact Us | Tools | Site Map
Copyright ©2001 QATD Internet Ventures.
.
Last edited by GARYGARCIA on Thu Jun 01, 2006 8:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- GARYGARCIA
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- Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2012 2:34 pm
by GARYGARCIA » Thu Jun 01, 2006 8:43 pm
...somethin' to pass the time while waiting on the King...... :mrgreen:
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[url]http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/past/leagueaerial.jpg[/url]
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[url]http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/past/leagueaerial.jpg[/url]
- GARYGARCIA
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2012 2:34 pm
by rosenthm » Fri Jun 02, 2006 7:24 am
Trey, I'll be here checking in most of the day (Unitil I leave for the Cards/Cubs game tonight)....thanks for taking my proxy list, but I'll take over now...I may want to make a change or two, since I put it together rather quickly. I'll be happy to take proxies for anyone that wants to leave a list today...everyone have a good day!
- rosenthm
- Posts: 55
- Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2012 2:34 pm
by GARYGARCIA » Fri Jun 02, 2006 8:20 am
3momo......i'm off to work....please feel free to use my proxy list....i'll be home late afternoon (pst)......
Salud
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Salud
g
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- Posts: 55
- Joined: Tue Jul 03, 2012 2:34 pm
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