Vaughn Street Park
Encyclopedia
Vaughn Street Park was a baseball
park
located in Portland, Oregon
. It opened in 1901, and was torn down in 1956. Its primary tenant was the Portland Beavers
Pacific Coast League
team. During a stretch when the club was tagged as the "Lucky Beavers", the ballpark was also sometimes called Lucky Beavers Stadium.
Today, the site is an industrial property, with no traces of the stadium remaining except for a plaque.
lines that ran nearby. The ballpark was on a block bounded by Northwest Vaughn Street (south), Northwest 24th Avenue (east), and Northwest 25th Avenue (west), with home plate
near the southeast corner. The two financiers hoped to profit from professional baseball
, both at the box office and via fares from their trolley lines. In 1896, Portland's former professional baseball team had folded; a new team, the Portland Webfoots
, debuted in 1901. This team would go on to win the Pacific Northwest League
title that year. The following year, the league merged with the California League to become the Pacific Coast League
; the Webfooters, after several name change, settled on the name Portland Beavers
.
Initially, the stadium had a single 3000-seat grandstand behind home plate; seating was expanded to 6000 seats in 1905. That year, Portland hosted the Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition, and the stadium was used for the National Track and Field championships, held concurrently. Baseball was instead played on the grounds of the Portland Athletic Club (later the Multnomah Athletic Club), on a field that is now the current site of PGE Park
. With the construction of additional seating in 1912, the park's capacity grew to 12,000 spectators.
.
Vaughn Street Park occasionally hosted other events besides baseball; several prizefights
were held there.
Among the notable players to play at Vaughn Street, either for the home team or for the visitors, are Satchel Paige
, Joe Tinker
, Jim Thorpe
, and Ted Williams
.
, a team owned by Jesse Owens
. The Rosebuds were part of the West Coast Baseball Association, an all-black league headed by Abe Saperstein
, the owner of the Harlem Globetrotters
; the league was disbanded after only two months.
In 1947, the left field bleachers burned. In 1955, the stadium was bought by new owners, who later announced that they would tear it down; the Beavers moved to Multnomah Stadium in 1956. The stadium was razed that same year. The grass field from Vaughn Street was transplanted at Multnomah Stadium, but in 1969 it was removed when the newer facility installed an artificial turf
.
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...
park
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 Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. It opened in 1901, and was torn down in 1956. Its primary tenant was the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
team. During a stretch when the club was tagged as the "Lucky Beavers", the ballpark was also sometimes called Lucky Beavers Stadium.
Today, the site is an industrial property, with no traces of the stadium remaining except for a plaque.
Early history
The stadium was built in 1901, financed by E. I. Fuller and C. F. Swigert, two owners of trolleyTram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
lines that ran nearby. The ballpark was on a block bounded by Northwest Vaughn Street (south), Northwest 24th Avenue (east), and Northwest 25th Avenue (west), with home plate
Home Plate
Home Plate is the fifth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1975 .-Track listing:#"What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" – 3:19#"Good Enough" – 2:56#"Run Like a Thief" – 3:02...
near the southeast corner. The two financiers hoped to profit from professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
, both at the box office and via fares from their trolley lines. In 1896, Portland's former professional baseball team had folded; a new team, the Portland Webfoots
Portland Webfoots
The Portland Webfoots were a Minor League Baseball team in the Pacific Northwest League. They were based in Portland, Oregon and were active for only two years, and...
, debuted in 1901. This team would go on to win the Pacific Northwest League
Pacific Northwest League
The Pacific Northwest League was a professional Minor League Baseball league based in the Pacific Northwest. It was the first professional baseball league ever in the region.-Founding:...
title that year. The following year, the league merged with the California League to become the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
; the Webfooters, after several name change, settled on the name Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
.
Initially, the stadium had a single 3000-seat grandstand behind home plate; seating was expanded to 6000 seats in 1905. That year, Portland hosted the Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition, and the stadium was used for the National Track and Field championships, held concurrently. Baseball was instead played on the grounds of the Portland Athletic Club (later the Multnomah Athletic Club), on a field that is now the current site of PGE Park
PGE Park
Jeld-Wen Field is an outdoor sports stadium located in Portland, Oregon, United States that is used primarily for soccer and American football...
. With the construction of additional seating in 1912, the park's capacity grew to 12,000 spectators.
1920s-30s
In 1926, the stadium received its first serious local competition when the larger and more modern Multnomah Stadium (now Jeld Wen Field) opened approximately two miles to the south. It was expected that the baseball team, now christened the Beavers, would move to the newer stadium, but the team elected to stay at Vaughn Street. Multnomah Stadium was instead used for other sporting events, including college football games and greyhound racingGreyhound racing
Greyhound racing is the sport of racing greyhounds. The dogs chase a lure on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner....
.
Vaughn Street Park occasionally hosted other events besides baseball; several prizefights
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
were held there.
Among the notable players to play at Vaughn Street, either for the home team or for the visitors, are Satchel Paige
Satchel Paige
Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige was an American baseball player whose pitching in the Negro leagues and in Major League Baseball made him a legend in his own lifetime...
, Joe Tinker
Joe Tinker
Joseph Bert Tinker was a Major League Baseball player and manager. He is best known for his years with the Chicago Cubs dynasty which won four pennants between 1906 and 1910; and for his feud with double play partner Johnny Evers. Tinker was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in...
, Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe
Jacobus Franciscus "Jim" Thorpe * Gerasimo and Whiteley. pg. 28 * americaslibrary.gov, accessed April 23, 2007. was an American athlete of mixed ancestry...
, and Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
.
1940s-50s
The stadium also became, however briefly, the home of the Portland RosebudsPortland Rosebuds
Portland Rosebuds is the name of at least three professional teams based in Portland, Oregon during the first half of the 20th century. Two were professional men's ice hockey teams playing their home games at the Portland Ice Arena, one from 1914 to 1918 and another in 1925-6...
, a team owned by Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens
James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was an American track and field athlete who specialized in the sprints and the long jump. He participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, where he achieved international fame by winning four gold medals: one each in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the...
. The Rosebuds were part of the West Coast Baseball Association, an all-black league headed by Abe Saperstein
Abe Saperstein
Abraham M. Saperstein was an owner and coach of the Savoy Big Five, which later became the Harlem Globetrotters...
, the owner of the Harlem Globetrotters
Harlem Globetrotters
The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism, theater and comedy. The executive offices for the team are currently in downtown Phoenix, Arizona; the team is owned by Shamrock Holdings, which oversees the various investments of the Roy E. Disney family.Over...
; the league was disbanded after only two months.
In 1947, the left field bleachers burned. In 1955, the stadium was bought by new owners, who later announced that they would tear it down; the Beavers moved to Multnomah Stadium in 1956. The stadium was razed that same year. The grass field from Vaughn Street was transplanted at Multnomah Stadium, but in 1969 it was removed when the newer facility installed an artificial turf
Artificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
.
Dimensions
The dimensions were hitter-friendly:- Left field - 331 feet (100.9 m), wall 20 feet (6.1 m) high
- Center field - 368 feet (112.2 m), wall 20 feet (6.1 m) high
- Right field - 315 feet (96 m), wall 30 feet (9.1 m) high