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Polo Grounds was the home of the New York Giants from 1891-1957, the New York Yankees from 1913-1922, and the New York Mets from 1962-1963.
Polo Grounds remained at the same location from 1891-1957, though it burned in 1911 and was rebuilt on the old location.
Field dimensions
Left Field - 279 ft
Left-Center - 450 ft
Center Field - 483 ft
Right-Center - 449 ft
Right Field - 258 ft
1912 World Series--Red Sox vs Giants. This is game 4, won by Smokey Joe Wood and the Red Sox 3-1. Do not know which team is batting an which team is in the field
1911 World Series--A's vs Giants. It's the top of the 4th, and Eddie Collins has just stolen 2b. Christy Mathewson pitching, Chief Meyers catching, Art Fletcher playing SS taking the throw, also pictured are 3b Buck Herzog and 1b Fred Merkle. The A's would win 3-2 in 11 innings. Mathewson and his counterpart, Jack Coombs, would both pitch all 11 innings.
1913 World Series betweeen the Giants and Philadelphia A's.
1919---Babe Ruth batting in Polo Grounds as a member of the Red Sox vs the Yankees
1920--Babe Ruth hits home run #21 as a member of the Yankees in his new home, the Polo Grounds
An aerial photo of Polo Grounds pre-1923. You can see the detail before the double-deck bleachers were added in the Outfield. When the Giants found out how much more seating would be available in the newly-constructed Yankee Stadium, they added on the familiar double-deck bleachers, giving Polo Grounds its distinctive look
Polo Grounds in 1923. You can see construction still ongoing on the new Outfield bleachers
1935--Babe Ruth batting for his new team, the Boston Braves
Polo Grounds, 1938
Polo Grounds aerial
Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium were very close in proximity
Polo Grounds in the 1950s
The bullpens in Polo Grounds
Casey Stengel as manager of the Mets, wondering what he has gotten himself into
Bobby Thomson's famous "Shot Heard 'Round the World" off Ralph Branca won the 1951 NL Playoff Series.
Jackie Robinson watches the Giants celebrate as Branca dejectedly trudges off to the clubhouse. Photo signed by Branca and Thomson.
Bobby Thomson hit a hard line drive on the shot heard round the world, because that's what it would have taken to hit a home run ball into the lower deck in Left Field. Check out that overhang.
Photo of Polo Grounds Centerfield Clubhouse
Full Disclosure: By his decision, Leo Durocher's 1951 Giants began stealing signs at midseason, and were stealing signs when Thomson hit his home run. Coach Herman Franks was in Durocher's Centerfield office (4th window from the left in picture below) with a telescope. Franks would then signal the Ginats bullpen by buzzer, and bullpen catcher Sal Yvars would sit still for a fastball and move around for a curve.
Willie Mays and his famous catch in the 1954 World Series. You can see the CF clubhouse entrance
Another angle of Willie's catch
Willie stealing second in 1956
Polo Grounds remained at the same location from 1891-1957, though it burned in 1911 and was rebuilt on the old location.
Field dimensions
Left Field - 279 ft
Left-Center - 450 ft
Center Field - 483 ft
Right-Center - 449 ft
Right Field - 258 ft
1912 World Series--Red Sox vs Giants. This is game 4, won by Smokey Joe Wood and the Red Sox 3-1. Do not know which team is batting an which team is in the field
1911 World Series--A's vs Giants. It's the top of the 4th, and Eddie Collins has just stolen 2b. Christy Mathewson pitching, Chief Meyers catching, Art Fletcher playing SS taking the throw, also pictured are 3b Buck Herzog and 1b Fred Merkle. The A's would win 3-2 in 11 innings. Mathewson and his counterpart, Jack Coombs, would both pitch all 11 innings.
1913 World Series betweeen the Giants and Philadelphia A's.
1919---Babe Ruth batting in Polo Grounds as a member of the Red Sox vs the Yankees
1920--Babe Ruth hits home run #21 as a member of the Yankees in his new home, the Polo Grounds
An aerial photo of Polo Grounds pre-1923. You can see the detail before the double-deck bleachers were added in the Outfield. When the Giants found out how much more seating would be available in the newly-constructed Yankee Stadium, they added on the familiar double-deck bleachers, giving Polo Grounds its distinctive look
Polo Grounds in 1923. You can see construction still ongoing on the new Outfield bleachers
1935--Babe Ruth batting for his new team, the Boston Braves
Polo Grounds, 1938
Polo Grounds aerial
Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium were very close in proximity
Polo Grounds in the 1950s
The bullpens in Polo Grounds
Casey Stengel as manager of the Mets, wondering what he has gotten himself into
Bobby Thomson's famous "Shot Heard 'Round the World" off Ralph Branca won the 1951 NL Playoff Series.
Jackie Robinson watches the Giants celebrate as Branca dejectedly trudges off to the clubhouse. Photo signed by Branca and Thomson.
Bobby Thomson hit a hard line drive on the shot heard round the world, because that's what it would have taken to hit a home run ball into the lower deck in Left Field. Check out that overhang.
Photo of Polo Grounds Centerfield Clubhouse
Full Disclosure: By his decision, Leo Durocher's 1951 Giants began stealing signs at midseason, and were stealing signs when Thomson hit his home run. Coach Herman Franks was in Durocher's Centerfield office (4th window from the left in picture below) with a telescope. Franks would then signal the Ginats bullpen by buzzer, and bullpen catcher Sal Yvars would sit still for a fastball and move around for a curve.
Willie Mays and his famous catch in the 1954 World Series. You can see the CF clubhouse entrance
Another angle of Willie's catch
Willie stealing second in 1956
Last edited by andycummings65 on Tue Nov 06, 2012 11:17 am, edited 1 time in total.