Fenway Park
Sports Trivia on Classic Ball Parks
Five such classic ball parks are Shibe Park, Ebbets Field, Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, and Wrigley Field.
Shibe Park stood in Philadelphia for nearly seventy years. It was opened in April of 1909 and demolished in June of 1976. During its time it was home to the Philadelphia Phillies (1927 and 1938 - 1970) and the Philadelphia Athletics (1909 - 1954). Shibe Park was the first steel and concrete stadium in Major League Baseball.
In 1953 Shibe Park was renamed Connie Mack Stadium. It played host to the All-Star Game in 1943 and 1952. The last game was played in Shibe Park / Connie Mack Stadium on October 1, 1970.
Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York stood for less than 47 years. During that short span it became very famous.
Ebbets Field was home to the Brooklyn Dodgers. One of the best features of the park was the fact that children could and would gather at the gate in right-center and watch the game in the gap under the gate.
Historically the field was important as well. Here are some interesting facts about Ebbets Field for all you sports trivia buffs.
On April 15, 1947 Jackie Robinson became the first black person to play Major League baseball in the 20th century. Also, the first televised game took place in Ebbets field on August 26, 1939 when the Dodgers played the Reds.
The last baseball game was played in Ebbets Field on September 24, 1957. Ebbets Field was demolished on February 23, 1960.
Yankee Stadium is home to the New York Yankees. Unlike Ebbets Field and Shibe Park, Yankee Stadium is still operational.
Going to Yankee Stadium is like taking a walk back through the history of baseball. Just past the left-center field wall stands plaques and monuments to some of the great players who have played in Yankee pinstripes. These are some of the biggest players in MLB history and they include: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Thurmon Munson, and Yogi Berra.
Yankee Stadium was built in 1923. It closed in 1973 and then reopened in 1976. Over the years it has undergone many renovations and additions.
Fenway Park is another ball park that is still being used. It is home to the Boston Red Sox. Fenway opened on April 20, 1912.
Besides having many great players pass through Fenway (Carlton Fisk, Ted Williams, etc.), the best feature of the park is The Green Monster.
The Green Monster is a high green wall that sits out in left field. It is only just over 300 feet from home plate. The short porch is unique, there is no other wall like it in Major League Baseball.
Wrigley Field is home to the Chicago Cubs. It was opened on April 23, 1914 but the Cubs didn't play their first game there until 1916.
Wrigley Field preserved its historical persona and didn't install lights in the ball park until the late 1980s. The first official night game was played on August 9, 1988.
Some interesting sports trivia about Wrigley Field is that the lights were originally set to be installed in 1941, but Wrigley donated them to a local shipyard for help in the effort to win World War II.
Wrigley Field is easy to identify because of the ivy vines that grow on the outfield walls. These vines were planted in 1937.
Throughout the history of baseball there have been many great classic ball parks. Five of the best are Shibe Park, Ebbets Field, Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, and Wrigley Field.
About the Author
Chad Henry is a writer for All Sports Trivia where no sport is off limits. Check out his website to test your knowledge with baseball trivia and other sports trivia.
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