Washington Park (formally Washington Baseball Park) was the name of two different
minor league baseball parks
A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are urban green space, green spaces set aside for recreation inside t ...
in
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Mari ...
, in the early twentieth century. They were used primarily by the
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and play their home games at Victory Field, which open ...
before that club moved to
Perry Stadium in 1931.
History
The first Washington Park was at 3001 East
Washington Street where it meets Gray Street (). That ballpark was built in 1900 in the southwest corner of that intersection. Initially it was the home of the Indianapolis entry in the then-minor
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
. A photo of "Washington Park, the new ball grounds" in the ''Indianapolis News'' on March 27, 1900, reveals an all-wood, temporary-looking structure. The papers had reported that the wood from the previous ballpark had been transported to the new site to rebuild the stands, not an unusual practice in those days. In 1902 the
American Association American Association may refer to:
Baseball
* American Association (1882–1891), a major league active from 1882 to 1891
* American Association (1902–1997), a minor league active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997
* American Association of Profe ...
's Indianapolis Indians moved into this facility and stayed there for three seasons. It later became the site of the
Wonderland Amusement Park.
The second home of the Indianapolis Indians, from 1905 to 1931, is now referred to as the West Washington Street Park, but at the time was known as either Washington Park or Washington Baseball Grounds. The park was located at 1235 West Washington Street, just west of the
White River (). Like its predecessor at Washington and Gray, this was a very rudimentary baseball venue with an all-wooden grandstand and a capacity of just over 4,000. In 1909 the park was completely rebuilt, and the seating capacity was enlarged to 20,000, the most in the minor leagues, due mainly to the addition of extensive bleacher sections. It also boasted the largest playing field of any minor league park, and was larger than many major league parks of the era. Aside from hosting the American Association's Indians, this venue was home to the
Indianapolis ABCs
The Indianapolis ABCs were a Negro league baseball team that played both as an independent club and as a charter member of the first Negro National League (NNL). They claimed the western championship of black baseball in 1915 and 1916, and fini ...
of the
Negro National League from 1920 to 1926. The second ballpark also served as the home field for the
1911 Butler Christians football team.
The last game at Washington Park (II) came on August 19, 1931. Even before the new
Perry Stadium was opened in early September, the old ballpark was being dismantled. Part of that process including moving the light towers to the new ballpark, to be ready for use by 1932.
The land occupied by the second incarnation of the ballpark, as well as the route of Washington Street itself, was substantially changed in the 1980s when the
Indianapolis Zoo
The Indianapolis Zoo is a non-profit zoo, public aquarium, and botanical garden in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. Incorporated in 1944, the Indianapolis Zoological Society established the first zoo at George Washington Park in 1964. The c ...
was built. Portions of the zoo now cover the site, and a marker was placed on July 22, 2011.
Dimensions
Local newspapers, reporting September 4, 1931, on a comparison of the old and new parks, stated that the foul line distances at Washington Park (II) were to left and to right.
See also
*
List of baseball parks in Indianapolis
References
Sources
*''Ballparks of North America'', Michael Benson, McFarland, 1989, p.209
{{Butler Bulldogs football navbox
Defunct baseball venues in the United States
Defunct college football venues
Minor league baseball venues
Negro league baseball venues
Butler Bulldogs football
American football venues in Indiana
Baseball venues in Indiana
Defunct sports venues in Indiana
Sports venues in Indianapolis
Indianapolis Indians