Visit to League Park/Dunn Field

[mrharryc]

Great story - thanks for sharing!

I confess I didn't know the park was still there; I had business in that neighborhood just before Christmas! Fortunately, I'll be back there soon and can plan a visit this time.

[dyork56]

It's amazing how some places just have that feel. I think you know what I mean; you walk out there and something just feels different. Almost like the events are still going on. I get that feeling when I go for a run at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield here in Springfield, MO.

I would love play catch in a place like league park....now that would be an experience.

[dharmabums]

Great story. Love it when you get that feeling of connecting to the history in a place. Old baseball fields do that. Nice, nice feeling. :) :) :) :)

[chuckwonup]

Thanks for the throw back. I got a feeling alot of folks know about the book The Glory of their Times at this site, but if you don't it will give yea goosebumps as many great old timers reflect on the careers and the game.

[Mr Regulator]

Here are a few pics I took at League Park/Dunn Field this week.

[img:04267e0388]http://www.valleyrc.com/baseball/sign.jpg[/img:04267e0388]
The Historical Landmark sign at the Park.

[img:04267e0388]http://www.valleyrc.com/baseball/ticket-1st.jpg[/img:04267e0388]
Ticket Booth and the Old wall - The wall was on the 1st base side.

[img:04267e0388]http://www.valleyrc.com/baseball/ticketwall-old.jpg[/img:04267e0388]
Same place taken when the Park was being used.

[img:04267e0388]http://www.valleyrc.com/baseball/ticketbooth.jpg[/img:04267e0388]
The Ticket Booth Today

[img:04267e0388]http://www.valleyrc.com/baseball/ticketcounter-old.jpg[/img:04267e0388]
The Ticket counter back in the day.

[img:04267e0388]http://www.valleyrc.com/baseball/wall-2.jpg[/img:04267e0388]
The Wall outside the 1st Base side.

[img:04267e0388]http://www.valleyrc.com/baseball/1st-wall.jpg[/img:04267e0388]
The Wall on the 1st base line along E. 66th Street.

[img:04267e0388]http://www.valleyrc.com/baseball/new-sign.jpg[/img:04267e0388]
The new sign at the park telling about the restoration project.

I will post some of the field later tonight.

Paul.

[andycummings65]

Love how the Historical Marker in the first photo above lists [b:16c8a1fad9]Bill Wamby[/b:16c8a1fad9] as making the only unassisted triple play in World Series history. Bill WAMBY???? :lol:

[Mr Regulator]

[quote:c16d656c44="andycummings65"]Love how the Historical Marker in the first photo above lists [b:c16d656c44]Bill Wamby[/b:c16d656c44] as making the only unassisted triple play in World Series history. Bill WAMBY???? :lol:[/quote:c16d656c44]

Yep, even if it was his nickname. You would think that they would at least put his full name on the Marker....

Here are a few more pictures from a very memorable place for me.

[img:c16d656c44]http://valleyrc.com/baseball/flagpole.jpg[/img:c16d656c44]
An old flagpole (?) in the park close to the original home plate. A lot of people think this is a marker for the old home plate when they view it from google maps.

[img:c16d656c44]http://valleyrc.com/baseball/leaguepark-goo.jpg[/img:c16d656c44]
The lastest picture from Google Maps with a not to scale diamond showing the approximate location of the original diamond.

[img:c16d656c44]http://valleyrc.com/baseball/cf.jpg[/img:c16d656c44]
Looking toward centerfield, where Speaker, Joe Jackson and Averill roamed. The stake is suppose to be the original Home Plate.

[img:c16d656c44]http://valleyrc.com/baseball/rf.jpg[/img:c16d656c44]
The short porch in right field, but the fence was about 50' high. If you look close you can see Lajoie playing 2b.

[img:c16d656c44]http://valleyrc.com/baseball/home-lf.jpg[/img:c16d656c44]
From Home plate looking down the 3b line.

[img:c16d656c44]http://valleyrc.com/baseball/rf-cf.jpg[/img:c16d656c44]
Looking from Right Field towards centerfield

[img:c16d656c44]http://valleyrc.com/baseball/rf-3b.jpg[/img:c16d656c44]
Looking from Right Field towards Home Plate and 3b.

[img:c16d656c44]http://valleyrc.com/baseball/stairs.jpg[/img:c16d656c44]
The old Stairs to the clubhouse on the 1st Base side.

[img:c16d656c44]http://valleyrc.com/baseball/tunnel.jpg[/img:c16d656c44]
The tunnel to the club house. Not very safe for a public park.

[img:c16d656c44]http://valleyrc.com/baseball/stairs-ticket.jpg[/img:c16d656c44]
Again the stairway to the clubhouse with the ticket booth and old wall.

[img:c16d656c44]http://valleyrc.com/baseball/tunnel-wall.jpg[/img:c16d656c44]
The old tunnel that was under the 1st base line grandstands.

[img:c16d656c44]http://valleyrc.com/baseball/lin-66.jpg[/img:c16d656c44]
The old ballpark from E 66th and Linwood.

[img:c16d656c44]http://valleyrc.com/baseball/dimag-old.jpg[/img:c16d656c44]
Great picture of the high fence in right field as Joe DiMaggio hits safely in his 56th game at League Park.

If your ever in Cleveland make sure you stop by this old park. You will be glad you did.

Paul

[jet40]

Good pics

[Ursoid]

I had a business meeting across the street from the old gate 5 or 6 years ago, before there was any serious effort to restore the park. It looks so much better now with the grass mowed - it was so overgrown back then it was disrespectful. From what I've heard the restoration will be great. I just hope the funding holds up to get it all done.