Crosley Field

Crosley Field
Blake Bolinger from Central NJ, United States · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	Crosley Field
Location	Cincinnati, Ohio
Coordinates	39.1056°N 84.5323°W
Opened	1912 (renovated 1934)
Closed	1970
Demolished	1970
Owner	Cincinnati Reds / City of Cincinnati
Surface	Grass
Capacity	approx. 24,000–27,000

Crosley Field was a historic baseball park in Cincinnati, Ohio that served as the home of the Cincinnati Reds for much of the 20th century. Originally built as Redland Field, the venue witnessed stages in the careers of players from the Babe Ruth era through the Johnny Bench generation and hosted significant events connected to the World Series, All-Star Game, and labor developments in Major League Baseball. The park's site and cultural associations link it to neighborhoods, transportation corridors, and civic institutions in Greater Cincinnati.

History

Redland Field opened in 1912 during a period of expansion for Major League Baseball franchises, replacing earlier facilities tied to the American Association and the National League presence in Cincinnati. Ownership passed through business figures such as Garrett A. Hobart-era investors and later prominent executives including Powel Crosley Jr., whose purchase in the 1930s prompted a name change to honor his involvement and the Crosley Broadcasting Corporation. The ballpark saw managerial tenures from figures like Sparky Anderson and Bucky Walters and roster stars including Edd Roush, Joe Nuxhall, Pete Rose, and Ernie Lombardi. It hosted postseason play during the 1919 World Series era repercussions and the 1940s golden age, intersecting with league expansions and the Commissioner's Office rulings. Labor discussions involving the Major League Baseball Players Association and personalities such as Marvin Miller found resonance in team and city dialogues connected to the facility.

Architecture and Features

Crosley Field combined early 20th-century ballpark elements with 1934 renovations that reflected design trends seen in parks like Polo Grounds and Shibe Park. The grandstand layout included a covered roof, mezzanine levels, and clubhouses influenced by architects who worked on venues for franchises like the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees. Distinctive features included a notable terrace in left field with a sloping incline that required adaptations by players and fans, echoing slope accommodations found at Fenway Park and Ebbets Field. The press box drew media from outlets including the Cincinnati Enquirer, The Cincinnati Post, and radio networks such as NBC Radio and the Mutual Broadcasting System. Night baseball lights, installed amid trends set by Ebbets Field and others, allowed games under floodlights, enabling scheduling changes that paralleled innovations for the All-Star Game and postseason telecasts with partners like Major League Baseball on NBC.

Events and Notable Games

Crosley Field staged numerous marquee moments: exhibition contests featuring touring stars like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig; regular-season feats by Johnny Vander Meer and Nolan Ryan-era counterparts in statistical lore; and milestones such as player debuts for Joe Nuxhall and home run records tied to sluggers like Frank Robinson. The park hosted the All-Star Game and hosted pivotal playoff-deciding games that connected to the World Series timelines involving teams such as the New York Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, and Brooklyn Dodgers. It was a venue for civic ceremonies attended by figures such as Mayor Murray Seasongood and entertainers booked through organizations like the Chamber of Commerce for wartime bond drives tied to World War II mobilization. Notable on-field incidents included controversial umpiring rulings that entered discussions in the Baseball Hall of Fame and disciplinary actions linked to the Commissioner of Baseball.

Tenants and Usage

Primary tenant was the Cincinnati Reds of the National League, with secondary users including minor-league affiliates from the American Association and collegiate teams from institutions such as the University of Cincinnati. The site accommodated spring training exhibitions featuring clubs from the American League and touring Negro leagues teams including squads associated with figures like Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson. The ballpark also hosted concerts, political rallies featuring speakers connected to the Ohio Republican Party and Ohio Democratic Party, and community events organized by groups like the Boy Scouts of America and the United Service Organizations (USO). Broadcast partners that used the venue included WLW (AM), WCPO-TV, and national television productions tied to Major League Baseball on ABC.

Closure, Demolition, and Legacy

By the late 1960s, pressures from urban renewal initiatives in Cincinnati and franchise planning amid stadium modernization movements—paralleling moves by teams like the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers—led to relocation plans culminating in the Reds' move to Riverfront Stadium. Crosley Field closed in 1970 and was demolished the same year; the site later saw redevelopment influenced by city planning agencies and private developers with projects linked to Great American Ball Park planning discussions. The park's cultural legacy persists through artifacts preserved in institutions such as the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, exhibitions at the Cincinnati Museum Center, and scholarship by historians affiliated with Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), while commemorations have been organized by the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum. Plaques, oral histories collected by the Library of Congress, and records held by the Pro Football Hall of Fame (in comparative stadium exhibits) contribute to ongoing public memory and academic research into urban sports infrastructure.

Category:Baseball venues in Ohio Category:Sports venues in Cincinnati