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Recreation Park (Pittsburgh)
Encyclopedia
Recreation Park, originally known as Union Park, was a stadium
located in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, before its 1907 annexation into the city of Pittsburgh
, in the latter 19th century to the early 20th century. It was the first official home to the Pittsburgh Pirates
, the city's Major League Baseball
(MLB) franchise. It also hosted the football team
of the University of Pittsburgh
, then known as the Western University of Pennsylvania. In November 1892, the Park hosted the first ever professional American football game, between two local teams. After sporting events had ceased, Recreation Park was renamed the Pittsburgh Coliseum and was used as "a wooden saucer for motor-paced bicycle riding". There are no known pictures of the full park in existence.
s to allow 17,000 spectators. The stadium stood at the corner of North, Grant, and Pennsylvania Avenues on Pittsburgh's Northside
, approximately on the plot of land that currently houses the Business Records Management building.
, of the Union Association
. The Stogies relocated from Chicago in 1884, lasting one season at Recreation Park. Due to flooding in Exposition Park II
from its close proximity to the Allegheny River
, the Pittsburgh Alleghenies of the American Association
moved to Recreation Park in 1884. The team posted a 18–37 record at home throughout the 1884 season, finishing 12th overall in the league. In 1887, Alleghenies's owner William A. Nimick
moved the team from the American Association to the National League
. On April 30, 1887, the Alleghenies defeated the Chicago White Stockings
by a score of 6–2 in front of 10,000 spectators, in the first official contest of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise. Prior to one game in the 1887 season Pittsburgh's catcher, Fred Carroll
, buried his pet monkey beneath home plate. The lowest attended game at the park came on April 23, 1890, when six specatators watched the Pirates play the Cleveland Spiders
. In 1891, after the collapse of the Pittsburgh Burghers
baseball franchise of the Players' League, the Alleghenys moved to Exposition Park III which had been constructed for the Burghers.
football team and the Pittsburgh Athletic Club
. The Allegheny Athletic Association won the game, which was the first in professional football. In 1902, a Pittsburgh Pirates-backed football team, the Pittsburgh Stars
of the first National Football League
, played all of its home games at the field, now called the Coliseum. The Stars would go on to win the league's only championship against the Philadelphia Athletics
, by a score of 11-0, at the field. In 2001, the Pittsburgh Steelers
constructed Heinz Field
blocks from the site of Recreation Park.
The Western University of Pennsylvania (WUP), known today as the University of Pittsburgh
, played their first game of the 1898 season at Recreation Park. The team defeated Wesminster 5–0. However, the following season on October 15, Wesminster would beat the WUP, 6–0, at Recreation Park. Though the WUP began playing games at Exposition Park as early as 1900, games were still hosted at Recreation Park, until the University signed an exclusive contract with Exposition Park in 1904.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
located in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, before its 1907 annexation into the city of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, in the latter 19th century to the early 20th century. It was the first official home to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, the city's Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
(MLB) franchise. It also hosted the football team
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
of the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, then known as the Western University of Pennsylvania. In November 1892, the Park hosted the first ever professional American football game, between two local teams. After sporting events had ceased, Recreation Park was renamed the Pittsburgh Coliseum and was used as "a wooden saucer for motor-paced bicycle riding". There are no known pictures of the full park in existence.
History
Recreation Park originally had a capacity of 2,500, but later expanded its wooden grandstandGrandstand
A grandstand is a large and normally permanent structure for seating spectators, most often at a racetrack. This includes both auto racing and horse racing. The grandstand is in essence like a single section of a stadium, but differs from a stadium in that it does not wrap all or most of the way...
s to allow 17,000 spectators. The stadium stood at the corner of North, Grant, and Pennsylvania Avenues on Pittsburgh's Northside
Northside (Pittsburgh)
North Side refers to the region of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, located to the north of the Allegheny River and the Ohio River...
, approximately on the plot of land that currently houses the Business Records Management building.
Baseball
Prior to 1876, three amateur Pittsburgh baseball teams—the Enterprise Club, the Xanthas, and the Olympics—competed, most often at Recreation Park. In 1876 an Allegheny club, which can be traced to the modern-day Pittsbyrgh Pirates, but not affiliated with any organized league, played its first game against Xanthus at Union Park, winning 7-3. The first major league team to play at Recreation Park was the Pittsburgh StogiesChicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies
The Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies were a short-lived professional baseball team in the Union Association of 1884. They were to battle the Chicago White Stockings, of the National League, for the Chicago baseball market, however the Browns lost that battle to the White Stockings...
, of the Union Association
Union Association
The Union Association was a league in Major League Baseball which lasted for only one season in 1884. St. Louis won the pennant and joined the National League the following season...
. The Stogies relocated from Chicago in 1884, lasting one season at Recreation Park. Due to flooding in Exposition Park II
Exposition Park (Pittsburgh)
Exposition Park was a baseball park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1890 to circa 1915. It was located on the north side of the Allegheny River across from Pittsburgh's downtown area. Prior to the construction of this version of Exposition Park, two previous ballparks of the same name were...
from its close proximity to the Allegheny River
Allegheny River
The Allegheny River is a principal tributary of the Ohio River; it is located in the Eastern United States. The Allegheny River joins with the Monongahela River to form the Ohio River at the "Point" of Point State Park in Downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, the Pittsburgh Alleghenies of the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
moved to Recreation Park in 1884. The team posted a 18–37 record at home throughout the 1884 season, finishing 12th overall in the league. In 1887, Alleghenies's owner William A. Nimick
William A. Nimick
William A. Nimick was the owner of the Pittsburgh Alleghenys/Pirates baseball team of the National League from through . In 1887, Nimick purchased the club from Denny McKnight. He sold the Pirates to William Kerr and Phil Auten in 1891.-References:*...
moved the team from the American Association to the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. On April 30, 1887, the Alleghenies defeated the Chicago White Stockings
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
by a score of 6–2 in front of 10,000 spectators, in the first official contest of the Pittsburgh Pirates franchise. Prior to one game in the 1887 season Pittsburgh's catcher, Fred Carroll
Fred Carroll
Frederick Herbert Carroll was a catcher and outfielder in Major League Baseball. From 1884 through 1891, he played with the Columbus Buckeyes and for the Pittsburgh teams Alleghenys , Burghers and Pirates . Carroll batted and threw right-handed...
, buried his pet monkey beneath home plate. The lowest attended game at the park came on April 23, 1890, when six specatators watched the Pirates play the Cleveland Spiders
Cleveland Spiders
The Cleveland Spiders were a Major League Baseball team which played between 1887 and 1899 in Cleveland, Ohio. The team played at National League Park from 1889 to 1890 and at League Park from 1891 to 1899.- 1887-1891 :...
. In 1891, after the collapse of the Pittsburgh Burghers
Pittsburgh Burghers
The Pittsburgh Burghers were a baseball team in the Players' League, a short-lived Major League that existed only for the 1890 season. The team included a number of players who had jumped from the National League's Pittsburgh Alleghenys , including Hall of Famers Pud Galvin, Ned Hanlon, and Jake...
baseball franchise of the Players' League, the Alleghenys moved to Exposition Park III which had been constructed for the Burghers.
Football
On November 12, 1892, Recreation Park hosted a game between the Allegheny Athletic AssociationAllegheny Athletic Association
The Allegheny Athletic Association was an athletic club that fielded the first ever professional American football player and later the first fully professional football team. The organization was founded in 1890 as a regional athletic club in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, which is today the North...
football team and the Pittsburgh Athletic Club
Pittsburgh Athletic Club (football)
The Pittsburgh Athletic Club football team, established in 1891, was based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1892 the intense competition between two Pittsburgh-area clubs, the Allegheny Athletic Association and the Pittsburgh Athletic Club, led to William Heffelfinger becoming the first known...
. The Allegheny Athletic Association won the game, which was the first in professional football. In 1902, a Pittsburgh Pirates-backed football team, the Pittsburgh Stars
Pittsburgh Stars
The Pittsburgh Stars were a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1902. The team was member of what was referred to as the National Football League. This league has no connection with the National Football League of today. The whole "league" was a curious mixture...
of the first National Football League
National Football League (1902)
The National Football League was the first attempt at forming a national professional football league in 1902. The league has no ties with the modern National Football League. In fact the league was only composed of teams from Pennsylvania, which was hardly "national". Two of the teams were based...
, played all of its home games at the field, now called the Coliseum. The Stars would go on to win the league's only championship against the Philadelphia Athletics
Philadelphia Athletics (NFL)
The Philadelphia Athletics were a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1902. The team was member of what was referred to as the National Football League. This league has no connection with the National Football League of today. The whole "league" was a curious...
, by a score of 11-0, at the field. In 2001, the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
constructed Heinz Field
Heinz Field
Heinz Field is a stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers American football teams, members of the National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association respectively...
blocks from the site of Recreation Park.
The Western University of Pennsylvania (WUP), known today as the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, played their first game of the 1898 season at Recreation Park. The team defeated Wesminster 5–0. However, the following season on October 15, Wesminster would beat the WUP, 6–0, at Recreation Park. Though the WUP began playing games at Exposition Park as early as 1900, games were still hosted at Recreation Park, until the University signed an exclusive contract with Exposition Park in 1904.