Cardinals news from a Sabermetric point of view

Ballpark Marker Project

Since part of the mission of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) is to provide an outlet for educational, historical and research information, the Bob Broeg chapter has been working to place historical markers at all St. Louis-area sites documented to have been used as major-league baseball parks in the past during one or more seasons.

Over the past five years, a committee of the Bob Broeg SABR Chapter has identified and placed markers on four sites in the city of St. Louis that once had a major league baseball park on the property. It is working on the marker for the fifth and final site.

The markers installed at the sites of former Major League Ballparks in St. Louis in the order of dedication dates are:

Robison Field, AKA New Sportsman’s Park, League Park and Cardinal Field

  • Home of the National League St. Louis Browns/Perfectos/Cardinals 1893 – 1920
  • Natural Bridge, between Vandeventer and Prairie
  • 3836 Natural Bridge, on the grounds of Beaumont High School, across from Fairgrounds Park
  • The marker is set back about 20 feet behind the sidewalk and the Metro bus shelter on Natural Bridge.
  • Installed by volunteer Ron Ferber, this first marker was officially dedicated on June 6, 2006, and formally dedicated on June 21, 2006.

robison

Joan Thomas of the committee to identify historic St. Louis major league ballparks stands next to the plaque placed on the front lawn of Beaumont High School, once the site of New Sportsman’s/League/Robison/Cardinal Field.

Stars’ Park

  • Home of the Negro National League St. Louis Stars 1922 – 1931
  • Northeast corner of Compton and Market
  • The marker is located near 3100 Market, behind the sidewalk in front of the Harris-Stowe State University baseball field.
  • The marker was dedicated on May 2, 2007 at the Performing Arts Center of Harris-Stowe State University.
  • Later, the marker was installed at its permanent location by Harris-Stowe grounds crew.

stars

The plaque on the grounds of Harris-Stowe State University commemorating where the St. Louis Stars played. Led by St. Louisan James “Cool Papa” Bell, they were champions of the Negro National League in 1928, 1930.

Federal League Park, AKA Handlan Park and Steininger Field

  • Home of the Federal League St. Louis Terriers 1914 and 1915
  • Southeast corner of Grand and Laclede
  • The marker is located just off Grand Avenue, and to the right of the entrance to Saint Louis University’s Marchetti Towers.
  • Installed by the Saint Louis University grounds crew, the marker was dedicated on October 17, 2007.

terriers

Ballpark committee members Joan Thomas, right, Barbara Sheinbein, address the audience at the dedication of the plaque on St. Louis University property to mark the site of the stadium in which the Federal League St. Louis Terriers played in 1914-15. Behind them are members of the St. Louis U. varsity baseball team.

Red Stockings Park

  • Home of the National Association St. Louis Red Stockings of 1875
  • West of Compton at Gratiot, just north of the railroad tracks
  • The marker is located west of Compton, just to the left of the second entrance to Metro Transit’s repair facility on Spruce.
  • Installed by the Metro Transit grounds crew, the marker was dedicated on September 13, 2008.

red-stockings1

Former major leaguer Ed Mickelson (Cardinals, Cubs and Browns) unveils the plaque to commemorate the home of the St. Louis Red Stockings, a short-lived entry in 1875 in the National Association of Professional Baseball Players, America’s first professional league.

In addition, the committee has identified the northeast corner of Jefferson and Cass avenues in north St. Louis as the place where the St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association played in 1884, and where the National League St. Louis Maroons held their home games in 1885-86. The site contains numerous lots, all privately owned, unlike the four previous sites (photo UNIONS). The committee is still considering the approach to take in selecting the location and negotiating with the property owner for placement of a marker.

Information for this article was compiled by Joan M Thomas, committee project coordinator, and Jim Rygelski, committee member. Other committee members have included: Barbara Sheinbein, Ed and Mary Mickelson, Maggi O’Connor, Bob Tiemann and Jim Rygelski. Funds for the first marker at the site of Robison Field were contributed by individual SABR chapter members. Thanks to the efforts of chapter member Lew Levey, the committee was able to procure a sizable grant from a private contributor for the remaining markers.

For more information, please see the following posts: