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Ebbets Field Drawing by Steve Ramer There have not been many old ball parks as beloved as the Brooklyn Dodgers' Ebbets Field.
The Dodger's stadium stood at 55 Sullivan Place in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York. Club owner Charlie Ebbets, took several years to buy up the land needed to build his new baseball stadium park. The original cost to construct Ebbets Field was $750,000.
Opening on April 9, 1913, Ebbets Field was home to the Brooklyn Dodgers
for the next 44 years. This cozy little baseball
park only sat 25,000 fans when it was built. The seating was increased to 32,000 in 1932.
For financial and business reasons, Dodger owner Walter O'Malley tried for a new stadium for Brooklyn's beloved "Bums". Actually he wanted a domed stadium. But the Borough declined.
O'Malley decided to move his team. After the 1957 season, the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles. Demolition of Ebbets field began on February 23, 1960.
Several other great old ball parks turned to dust in the 1960's, but no other baseball stadium had more nostalgia surrounding it than Ebbets Field. Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier here in 1947. It was home to the first Dodger World Championship in 1955. It had a unique atmosphere and fans seemed to be "at home".
Just as a side note. The 2006 Los Angeles Dodgers have played in Dodger Stadium for the same amount of time that they played at Ebbets Field.
Ebbets Field, with it's advertisements on the outfield walls, has become a ghost of Baseball In Time. But for Dodger fans and baseball fans of old, it will forever stand as a monument of that golden era of baseball.
Ebbets Field Dimensions: The original dimensions were much "deeper". The left field foul pole stood at 419 feet from home plate. Center field was a very deep 477 feet. The outfield wall angled quickly back toward the right field foul pole which stood at 301 feet.
In 1932 the dimensions were changed. Left field was brought in to 348 feet. The "alley" in left center was moved to 365 feet. Center Field was moved in to 407. The "notch" in right center was 395 feet and the right field foul pole stood at a very short 297.
In 1948, the dimensions again were revised. Left field stayed the same at 348 feet. Cenetr field was moved in again to 393. the right field foul pole stayed at 297, and the backstop was moved to 71 feet behind home plate.
Memorable Moments At Ebbets Field:
There were nine World series played there. 1916, 1920, 1941,
1947, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956. One World Championship in 1955.
One All Star game in 1949.
In 1947, rookie Jackie Robinson broke major league baseball's color barrier.
Hall of Famer Duke Snider hit 40 home runs from 1953 to 1957.
Only one no hitter was ever pitched at Ebbets Field. Johnny Va Der Meer accomplished it on June 15, 1938.
On August 31, 1950, Gil Hodges hit four home runs.
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