Bosse Field
Encyclopedia
Bosse Field, is a baseball stadium located in Evansville, Indiana
. Built in 1915, it is the third oldest ballpark used for professional baseball on a regular basis in the country, surpassed only by Fenway Park
(1912) in Boston and Wrigley Field
(1914) in Chicago.
It is the current home of the Frontier League
Evansville Otters
, a minor league
baseball
team. The Otters franchise came to Evansville in 1995 and have attracted a record number of fans for the league. In 2006 the Otters won the Frontier League title.
In 1991 the historic stadium was used by Columbia Pictures
for game scenes in the movie A League of Their Own
.
, mayor of Evansville from 1914 to 1922, who bought Garvin Park and helped to build the stadium. A holiday was declared in honor of the opening of the stadium. A band marched from Sunset Park to the new stadium.
Ten baseball teams other than the Otters have played at Bosse Field. Some of the most famous are the Evansville Triplets
(1970–84), Evansville Braves
(1946–57), Evas/Pocketeers/Hubs (1919–1931) and the Evansville River Rats
(1914–15). The River Rats
had played in Evansville previously from (1903–1910) and (1901–1902). The Triplets
won the American Association
titles in 1972, 1975, and 1979. The River Rats
won the Central League
title in 1908 and 1915. The Braves
won the Three-I League title in 1946, 1948, 1956, and 1957.
From 1921 to 1922, Bosse Field was used as a football stadium and was home to the Evansville Crimson Giants
of the NFL
.
Baseball Hall of Fame members Hank Greenberg
, Chuck Klein
, Edd Roush
, Warren Spahn
, and Sam Thompson
played at Bosse Field during their careers. There have been many other Major League Baseball players from Evansville.
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
. Built in 1915, it is the third oldest ballpark used for professional baseball on a regular basis in the country, surpassed only by Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
(1912) in Boston and Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
(1914) in Chicago.
It is the current home of the Frontier League
Frontier League
The Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either...
Evansville Otters
Evansville Otters
The Evansville Otters are a professional baseball team based in Evansville, Indiana, in the United States. The Otters are a member of the West Division of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
, a minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team. The Otters franchise came to Evansville in 1995 and have attracted a record number of fans for the league. In 2006 the Otters won the Frontier League title.
In 1991 the historic stadium was used by Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
for game scenes in the movie A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own is a 1992 American comedy-drama film that tells a fictionalized account of the real-life All-American Girls Professional Baseball League . Directed by Penny Marshall, the film stars Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Tom Hanks, Madonna, and Rosie O'Donnell...
.
History
Bosse Field opened on July 17, 1915. It was named in honor of Benjamin BosseBenjamin Bosse
Benjamin Bosse was the mayor of Evansville, Indiana, from 1912 until his death in 1922. During his term as mayor Bosse oversaw that the horse drawn fire carriages were replaced, the Evansville Police Department moved into a separate Police Station, the paving of most downtown streets were paved...
, mayor of Evansville from 1914 to 1922, who bought Garvin Park and helped to build the stadium. A holiday was declared in honor of the opening of the stadium. A band marched from Sunset Park to the new stadium.
Ten baseball teams other than the Otters have played at Bosse Field. Some of the most famous are the Evansville Triplets
Evansville Triplets
The Evansville Triplets were a minor league baseball team of the American Association from to . In its last season, Evansville was the Triple-A farm team for the Detroit Tigers...
(1970–84), Evansville Braves
Evansville Braves
The Evansville Braves were a professional minor league baseball team based in Evansville, Indiana. They played from 1946 to 1957 in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League . They played home games at Bosse Field, which is currently the third oldest baseball stadium in regular use in the United States...
(1946–57), Evas/Pocketeers/Hubs (1919–1931) and the Evansville River Rats
Evansville River Rats
The Evansville River Rats were a professional minor league baseball team based in Evansville, Indiana. They played from 1901 to 1902 in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League and from 1903 to 1910 and 1914 to 1915 in the Central League...
(1914–15). The River Rats
Evansville River Rats
The Evansville River Rats were a professional minor league baseball team based in Evansville, Indiana. They played from 1901 to 1902 in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League and from 1903 to 1910 and 1914 to 1915 in the Central League...
had played in Evansville previously from (1903–1910) and (1901–1902). The Triplets
Evansville Triplets
The Evansville Triplets were a minor league baseball team of the American Association from to . In its last season, Evansville was the Triple-A farm team for the Detroit Tigers...
won the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
titles in 1972, 1975, and 1979. The River Rats
Evansville River Rats
The Evansville River Rats were a professional minor league baseball team based in Evansville, Indiana. They played from 1901 to 1902 in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League and from 1903 to 1910 and 1914 to 1915 in the Central League...
won the Central League
Central League (baseball)
The Central League was a minor league baseball league that operated sporadically from 1903-1917, 1920-1922, 1926, 1928-1930, 1934, and 1948-1951. In 1926, the league merged mid-season with the Michigan State League and played under that name for the remainder of the season...
title in 1908 and 1915. The Braves
Evansville Braves
The Evansville Braves were a professional minor league baseball team based in Evansville, Indiana. They played from 1946 to 1957 in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League . They played home games at Bosse Field, which is currently the third oldest baseball stadium in regular use in the United States...
won the Three-I League title in 1946, 1948, 1956, and 1957.
From 1921 to 1922, Bosse Field was used as a football stadium and was home to the Evansville Crimson Giants
Evansville Crimson Giants
The Evansville Crimson Giants were a professional American football team based in Evansville, Indiana and were a part of the National Football League in 1921 and 1922. The Giants home games were played at Bosse Field...
of the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
Baseball Hall of Fame members Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
, Chuck Klein
Chuck Klein
Charles Herbert "Chuck" Klein was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Philadelphia Phillies , Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates ....
, Edd Roush
Edd Roush
Edd J. Roush was a Major League Baseball player who was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. He played the majority of his career in center field....
, Warren Spahn
Warren Spahn
Warren Edward Spahn was an American Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career in the National League. He won 20 games each in 13 seasons, including a 23-7 record when he was age 42...
, and Sam Thompson
Sam Thompson
Samuel Luther Thompson was a 19th century Major League Baseball player. "Big Sam" was known for his offensive production and was second on the career home runs list at the time of his retirement...
played at Bosse Field during their careers. There have been many other Major League Baseball players from Evansville.
Former/current professional teams
Former/current professional teams who have called Bosse Field home, have won a combined 9 league titles.| Team | Sport | League | Played | Class | Affiliation | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evansville River Rats Evansville River Rats The Evansville River Rats were a professional minor league baseball team based in Evansville, Indiana. They played from 1901 to 1902 in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League and from 1903 to 1910 and 1914 to 1915 in the Central League... |
Baseball | Central League Central League (baseball) The Central League was a minor league baseball league that operated sporadically from 1903-1917, 1920-1922, 1926, 1928-1930, 1934, and 1948-1951. In 1926, the league merged mid-season with the Michigan State League and played under that name for the remainder of the season... |
1914–1915 | B | Central League Central League (baseball) The Central League was a minor league baseball league that operated sporadically from 1903-1917, 1920-1922, 1926, 1928-1930, 1934, and 1948-1951. In 1926, the league merged mid-season with the Michigan State League and played under that name for the remainder of the season... Title 1915 |
|
| Evansville Evas | Baseball | Central League Central League (baseball) The Central League was a minor league baseball league that operated sporadically from 1903-1917, 1920-1922, 1926, 1928-1930, 1934, and 1948-1951. In 1926, the league merged mid-season with the Michigan State League and played under that name for the remainder of the season... |
1916–1917 | B | None | |
| Evansville Black Sox | Baseball | Three-I League | 1919 | B | None | |
| Evansville Evas | Baseball | Three-I League | 1920–1923 | B | None | |
| Evansville Crimson Giants Evansville Crimson Giants The Evansville Crimson Giants were a professional American football team based in Evansville, Indiana and were a part of the National Football League in 1921 and 1922. The Giants home games were played at Bosse Field... |
Football | National Football League National Football League The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing... |
1921–1922 | Major Professional | None | |
| Evansville Little Evas | Baseball | Three-I League | 1924 | B | None | |
| Evansville Pocketeers | Baseball | Three-I League | 1925 | B | None | |
| Evansville Hubs | Baseball | Three-I League | 1926–1931 | B | None | |
| Evansville Bees | Baseball | Three-I League | 1938–1942 | B | Boston Bees, 1938-1940 Boston Braves Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997.... , 1940–1942 |
None |
| Evansville Braves Evansville Braves The Evansville Braves were a professional minor league baseball team based in Evansville, Indiana. They played from 1946 to 1957 in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League . They played home games at Bosse Field, which is currently the third oldest baseball stadium in regular use in the United States... |
Baseball | Three-I League | 1946–1957 | B | Boston Braves Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997.... , 1946-1953 Milwaukee Braves, 1953–1957 |
Three-I League Title 1946, 1948, 1956, 1957 |
| Evansville White Sox Carolina Mudcats The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, are the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians major-league club beginning in 2012.-History:... |
Baseball | Southern League Southern League (baseball) The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams... |
1966–1968 | AA | Chicago White Sox Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans... |
None |
| Evansville Triplets Evansville Triplets The Evansville Triplets were a minor league baseball team of the American Association from to . In its last season, Evansville was the Triple-A farm team for the Detroit Tigers... |
Baseball | American Association American Association (20th century) The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the... |
1970–1984 | AAA AAA (baseball) Triple-A refers to the highest level of play in minor league baseball in the United States and Mexico.-Purpose:Triple-A teams' main purpose is to prepare players for the Major Leagues:... |
Minnesota Twins Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the... , 1970 Milwaukee Brewers Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League... , 1971-1973 Detroit Tigers Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant... , 1974–1984 |
American Association American Association (20th century) The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the... Title 1972, 1975, 1979 |
| Evansville Otters Evansville Otters The Evansville Otters are a professional baseball team based in Evansville, Indiana, in the United States. The Otters are a member of the West Division of the Frontier League, an independent baseball league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball... |
Baseball | Frontier League Frontier League The Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either... |
1995–Present | Indp | Frontier League Frontier League The Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either... Title 2006 |