Washington Park
Encyclopedia
Washington Park was the name given to three major league baseball
parks
on two different sites in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, located at 3rd St. and 4th Ave. The first two sites were diagonally opposite each other at that intersection. The third site was the same as the second site.
The first Washington Park was bounded by 3rd and 5th Streets, and 4th and 5th Avenues. The property contained an old building then called the Gowanus House, which stands today, albeit largely reconstructed. It was used as an impromptu headquarters by General George Washington
during the Battle of Long Island
, during a delaying action by 400 Maryland troops against approximately 2000 British
and Hessian troops that allowed a good portion of the Continental Army
to retreat to fortified positions on Brooklyn Heights
. Those events inspired the ballpark's name.
The ballpark was the home of the Brooklyn
baseball club during 1883-1891, with a slight interruption by a destructive fire during the 1889 season. The team, then called the "Atlantics", had started in a minor league in 1883, joined the then-major American Association
in 1884, and then switched to the National League
in 1890. Trolley tracks ran near the ballpark, inspiring the one of the team's many nicknames that ultimately stuck: Trolley Dodgers
.
In 1891, the team split its time between Washington Park and a newer facility called Eastern Park
. moving there full-time in 1892. That might have seemed like a good idea at the time, but the park was a little too "eastern" for the fans' convenience, and was abandoned after six poorly-attended seasons.
The second Washington Park was bounded by 1st and 3rd Streets, and 3rd and 4th Avenues. It was located at 40°40′30"N 73°59′10"W. The park sat 18,800. It consisted of a covered grandstand behind the infield and uncovered stand down the right field line. The Brooklyn National Leaguers, by then often called the "Superbas" as well as the "Dodgers", moved into this new ballpark in 1898, where they would play for the next 15 seasons. On April 30, 1898, the Dodgers played their first game at new Washington Park and 15,000 fans attended.
Meanwhile, owner Charlie Ebbets slowly invested in the individual lots on a larger piece of property in Flatbush
, which would become the site of Ebbets Field
once he had the entire block. So in 1913, the Dodgers, at that time most often called the "Robins" for their manager Wilbert Robinson
, abandoned Washington Park.
or "BrookFeds" of the Federal League
, the only major league team ever named for a loaf of bread, acquired the ballpark property in 1914, then rebuilt the second Washington Park in steel and concrete. The old park took on a modern appearance; in fact, it was nearly a duplicate of the initial version of another Federal League park in Chicago that would become Wrigley Field
. However, with the Dodgers in a new and somewhat more spacious steel-and-concrete home already, Ebbets Field
, there was no long-term need for Washington Park, so it was abandoned for the final time after the Federal League ended its two-year run.
Part of the wall of the last Washington Park still exists on the eastern side of 3rd Avenue in what's now a Con Edison
yard.
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...
parks
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...
on two different sites in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, located at 3rd St. and 4th Ave. The first two sites were diagonally opposite each other at that intersection. The third site was the same as the second site.
Washington Park #1
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
during the Battle of Long Island
Battle of Long Island
The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn or the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, fought on August 27, 1776, was the first major battle in the American Revolutionary War following the United States Declaration of Independence, the largest battle of the entire conflict, and the...
, during a delaying action by 400 Maryland troops against approximately 2000 British
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
and Hessian troops that allowed a good portion of the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
to retreat to fortified positions on Brooklyn Heights
Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
Brooklyn Heights is a culturally diverse neighborhood within the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Originally referred to as 'Brooklyn Village', it has been a prominent area of Brooklyn since 1834. As of 2000, Brooklyn Heights sustained a population of 22,594 people. The neighborhood is part of...
. Those events inspired the ballpark's name.
The ballpark was the home of the Brooklyn
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
baseball club during 1883-1891, with a slight interruption by a destructive fire during the 1889 season. The team, then called the "Atlantics", had started in a minor league in 1883, joined the then-major 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...
in 1884, and then switched 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...
in 1890. Trolley tracks ran near the ballpark, inspiring the one of the team's many nicknames that ultimately stuck: Trolley Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
.
In 1891, the team split its time between Washington Park and a newer facility called Eastern Park
Eastern Park
Eastern Park was a baseball park in Brooklyn, New York in the 1890s. It was bounded by Eastern Parkway to the north ; the Long Island Railroad and Vesta Avenue to the east ; Sutter Avenue to the south ; and Powell Street to the west...
. moving there full-time in 1892. That might have seemed like a good idea at the time, but the park was a little too "eastern" for the fans' convenience, and was abandoned after six poorly-attended seasons.
Washington Park #2
Meanwhile, owner Charlie Ebbets slowly invested in the individual lots on a larger piece of property in Flatbush
Flatbush, Brooklyn
Flatbush is a community of the Borough of Brooklyn, a part of New York City, consisting of several neighborhoods.The name Flatbush is an Anglicization of the Dutch language Vlacke bos ....
, which would become the site of Ebbets Field
Ebbets Field
Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football...
once he had the entire block. So in 1913, the Dodgers, at that time most often called the "Robins" for their manager Wilbert Robinson
Wilbert Robinson
Wilbert Robinson , nicknamed "Uncle Robbie", was an American catcher, coach and manager in Major League Baseball...
, abandoned Washington Park.
Washington Park #3
The Brooklyn Tip-TopsBrooklyn Tip-Tops
The Brooklyn Tip-Tops were a team in the short-lived Federal League of professional baseball from 1914 to 1915. The team was named by owner Robert Ward, who owned the Tip Top Bakery. They were sometimes informally called the Brooklyn Feds or BrookFeds due to being the Brooklyn team of the Federal...
or "BrookFeds" of the Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
, the only major league team ever named for a loaf of bread, acquired the ballpark property in 1914, then rebuilt the second Washington Park in steel and concrete. The old park took on a modern appearance; in fact, it was nearly a duplicate of the initial version of another Federal League park in Chicago that would become 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...
. However, with the Dodgers in a new and somewhat more spacious steel-and-concrete home already, Ebbets Field
Ebbets Field
Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football...
, there was no long-term need for Washington Park, so it was abandoned for the final time after the Federal League ended its two-year run.
Part of the wall of the last Washington Park still exists on the eastern side of 3rd Avenue in what's now a Con Edison
Consolidated Edison
Consolidated Edison, Inc. is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the United States, with approximately $14 billion in annual revenues and $36 billion in assets...
yard.
Dimensions
(The Second Washington Park between 1st Street and 3rd Street)- Left Field - 335 ft (1898), 375.95 ft (1908), 300 ft (1914)
- Left Center Field - 500 ft (1898), 443.5 ft (1908)
- Center Field - 445 ft (1898), 424.7 ft (1908), 400 ft (1914)
- Right Center Field - 300 ft (1898)
- Right Field - 215 ft (1898), 295 ft (1899), 301.84 ft (1908), 275 ft (1914)
- Backstop - 90 ft (1898), 15 ft (1908)
Fences
- Left Field to Center Field - 12 ft.
- Right Field - 42 ft (13 ft. brick fence topped by 29 ft. of canvas)
External links
- Washington Park page from Forgotten NY
- The Battle for New York (2002). A book by Barnet Schecter that includes and excellent study of the Battle of Long Island and the action at what is now this park.
- Ebbets-Field.com
- Brooklyn Ballparks page on Washington Park