South End Grounds
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South End Grounds is the most commonly used informal name for a major league baseball park that was the home ground to the Boston entry, first in the National Association of Professional Baseball Players, and then in the National League, from 1871-1914.
Its formal name, as indicated on the sign over its entrance gate, at least in its later years, was Boston National League Base Ball Park. The ballpark was located on the northeast corner of Columbus Avenue and Walpole Street. Accordingly, it was also known over the years as Walpole Street Grounds, Union Baseball Grounds, or simply Boston Baseball Grounds).
The ballpark was across the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad tracks, to the south, from the eventual site of the Huntington Avenue Grounds, home to the Boston American League entry prior to the building of Fenway Park.
The Boston club was initially known as the Red Stockings, because many of its players had come from the famous 1869-1870 barnstorming team known as the Cincinnati Red Stockings and took the nickname with them to Boston. Over time the team acquired other informal nicknames, such as "Beaneaters", "Red Caps", "Rustlers" and even "Doves". This team eventually adopted the official nickname "Braves", just a few years before abandoning South End Grounds.
Two franchise shifts later, they are now the Atlanta Braves, and are the only surviving charter member of the original National Association. Their original "Red Stockings" nickname lives on in three ways: in the Boston Red Sox of the American League, who adopted it in 1908 after the National Leaguers had given up their red trim briefly; in the Cincinnati Reds of the National League, who reclaimed their city's old nickname in the 1880s during their days in the then-major American Association; and in the perennial red trim that the Braves wear in their uniforms. It is noteworthy that of the various stadiums and ballparks the Braves have called home during their 135 seasons to date, the South End Grounds served them for the longest time period, 44 seasons.
South End Grounds was rebuilt twice during its lifetime, the first time on purpose and the second time by necessity.
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South End Grounds (#1)
The first South End Grounds was opened on May 16, 1871. The last game was played on September 10, 1887. The ballpark's stands were demolished later that month to make way for a new structure.
South End Grounds (#2)
The second South End Grounds was opened on May 25, 1888. Sometimes called the Grand Pavilion, it was indeed the grandest of the ballpark's three incarnations, consisting of a large double-decked and grandstand with twin turrets behind home plate and uncovered stands stretching down the right and left field lines, as well as bleachers in right-center field. The ballpark sat 6,800 by one estimate. It was the only double-decked baseball stadium ever built in Boston, unless one counts the rooftop seating which has turned Fenway Park into a de facto double-deck ballpark. The stadium was destroyed in the Great Roxbury Fire of May 15, 1894, which began when children started a small fire beneath the right field bleachers, and destroyed the stadium and 117 other buildings. During the rebuilding process, the Bostons played their home games at Congress Street Grounds, where they achieved some history in a short time.
South End Grounds (#3)
The third South End Grounds was built in ten weeks on the site of the old stand and opened on July 20, 1894. Because the previous structure had not been sufficiently insured, there wasn't enough money to rebuild the stands according to its old plans, and a smaller structure was built. Few photographs of this ballpark seem to be in circulation. In one sense, the best known photo might be the one showing the opening game of the 1903 World Series, with the Huntington Avenue Grounds in the foreground; and the South End Grounds in the background, its season over, partially hidden by smoke from the rail yards. The Braves moved out of the South End Grounds on August 11, 1914 and played at Fenway Park for a year while Braves Field was being completed, a stretch which included their first World Series appearance as they shocked the Philadelphia Athletics in four straight games.
Dimensions of South End Grounds (#3)
- Left Field - 250 ft.
- Left Center Field - 445 ft.
- Deepest Left Center Field - 450 ft.
- Center Field - 440 ft.
- Right Center Field - 440 ft.
- Right Field - 255 ft.
Current Use
The stadium was demolished after the Braves left. Ruggles Station on the Orange Line of the MBTA now stands on the site.
Some Sources
- Green Cathedrals, by Phil Lowry
- Ballparks of North America, by Michael Benson
- Baseball Memories 1900-1909, by Marc Okkonen
- Baseball Uniforms of the 20th Century, by Marc Okkonen
External links
- South End Grounds at Ballparks.com (http://ballparks.com/baseball/national/sthend.htm)