What did the Polo Grounds look like?
After this expansion Polo Grounds looked like a horseshoe. Round behind home plate, the sides did not run parallel to the foul lines, but rather to a line drawn from home to second, extending straight into the power alleys before curving toward the middle in deep left and right centerfields.
When did the Polo Grounds get lights?
May 24, 1940
Before finding a home in the desert, the 160-ton, 150-foot towers brought light to the Polo Grounds, home of the New York Giants, beginning on May 24, 1940.
Why did they tear down Polo Grounds?
Version 1 was located in Central Park and originally used for — wait for it — polo. When the city wanted to expand its grid system, the site was demolished and moved to upper Manhattan. Back then baseball fields were built to the specs of the lot.
Did they play polo at the Polo Grounds?
But there was another location for the original Polo Grounds, the first stadium to use the name and the only one on which polo was actually played, at the corner of 110th Street and Fifth Avenue, just north of Central Park. It wasn’t until 1880 that professional baseball was played in Manhattan.
Did Babe Ruth ever play at Polo Grounds?
Babe Ruth hit many of his early signature blasts at the Polo Grounds, reaching the center field seats on several occasions. His longest blast at the grounds, over the right-center upper deck in 1921, was estimated at over 550 feet. He also hit several centerfield home runs at other ballparks which exceeded 500 feet.
Was polo ever played at the Polo Grounds?
The final three were located beneath Coogan’s Bluff in upper Manhattan. But there was another location for the original Polo Grounds, the first stadium to use the name and the only one on which polo was actually played, at the corner of 110th Street and Fifth Avenue, just north of Central Park.
Who played Polo Grounds?
New York Giants
The Polo Grounds was home turf for the New York Giants football team (referred to as the “Football Giants” by the newspapers for clarity) from 1925-1955 and later, the New York Jets (originally the Titans), for their initial three seasons, 1962-1964, in the upstart AFL before its merger with the NFL in 1966.
Who hit the longest home run at Polo Grounds?
Lou Brock
On June 17, 1962, At the Polo Grounds, during the first inning of the first game of a twin bill Chicago Cubs outfielder Lou Brock hits a 460-foot home run into the right field bleachers off Al Jackson.
What stands where Ebbets Field was?
In the spring of 1931, the Dodgers began expanding Ebbets Field. They demolished the old concrete bleachers beyond third base as well as the “circus seats”. They built an extension of the main double-deck stands, which stretched across left and center fields, leaving a notch for the big door in deep right center field.
What was the Polo Grounds like in the 1950s?
Polo Grounds changed very little during the rest of its tenure as a baseball stadium. By the 1950s the Giants were struggling to attract fans, Polo Grounds was falling into disrepair and tenement housing was built surround the ballpark.
When was the Polo Grounds in New York built?
Construction of the new $500,000 Polo Grounds started quickly and was partially completed, with a seating capacity of 16,000 when the New York Giants played their first game at the new ballpark on June 28, 1911.
When was the last game at the Polo Grounds?
On Sept. 18, 1963, New York Mets manager Casey Stengel waves goodbye to the Polo Grounds as he leaves with his wife, Edna, after the Phillies beat the Mets 5-1 in the final game at the ballpark. 50 years later, SI.com takes a look at the classic old ballpark.
What was the distance to the foul poles at Polo Grounds?
The distances to the foul poles were short, 277 in left field and 258 feet in right field, the distance to centerfield was monstrous, ranging from 433 feet from homeplate when the ballpark opened to 505 feet during its history. Polo Grounds was a hitters paradise with the exception of centerfield.