Sportsman's Park

SPORTSMAN'S PARK

April 23, 1902 - May 8, 1966

Actual Size 6 ^1/2" 11"

Click picture for larger view.

Sportsman's Park Highlights

October 1, 1944 - On the final game of the season the St. Louis Browns win their first and only pennant.

April 17, 1945 - One armed outfielder Pete Gray makes his major league debut. He goes 1 for 4.

October 5, 1946 - During the 7th game of the World Series Enos Slaughter's "mad dash" from first base scored the winning run on Harry Walker's base hit.

August 19, 1951 - Browns owner and showman Bill Veeck has 3 foot 7 inch Eddie Gaedel pinch hit. He walked on four straight pitches.

I've always loved this ballpark and this scoreboard. It served as the home of the Browns and later the Cardinals played their home games there. When the Browns moved to Baltimore after the 1952 season the Cardinals changed the name of the park to Busch Stadium. Some of the greats that found a home at Sportsman's Park would include George Sisler, Dizzy Dean, Rogers Hornsby, Stan Musial, and Bob Gibson are just a few.

Choosing a day to highlight for our sixth release was easy. October 5, 1944, game 2 of the World Series to feature both the St. Louis teams. This particular game even went into extra innings before the Cards tied the series at one game apiece.

This stately park, located between Sullivan Avenue, North Spring Avenue, Dodier Street ; and North Grand Boulevard . This location was the same as an earlier Sportsman's Park, but turned around so that home plate was in the west-southwest corner.

Besides this colorful scoreboard, what kid wouldn't be awed by the local newspaper, the Globe-Democrat, that had an ad on the right-center wall that showed the star of the previous game. Just to the right of this ad, the league standings for both leagues were listed.

Some of the greats literally found a home at Sportsman's Park, owner Bill Veeck's family lived in an apartment under the stands in the 1950s. Other all time greats who played there would include George Sisler, Dizzy Dean, Rogers Hornsby, Stan Musial, and Bob Gibson are just a few.