Huggins-Stengel Field facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Huggins-Stengel Field
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 Location in Florida
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| Location | 1320 5th St. North |
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| Nearest city | St. Petersburg, Florida |
| Built | 1925 |
| NRHP reference No. | 100004348 |
| Added to NRHP | August 27, 2019 |
Huggins-Stengel Field is a famous baseball field in St. Petersburg, Florida. It's located inside Crescent Lake Park. This field was built in 1925. It was first used as a practice field for the New York Yankees during their Spring Training. Later, other famous teams like the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles also used it.
The Yankees played their spring training games here until 1947. After that, they moved to Al Lang Stadium. Today, Huggins-Stengel Field is still used for baseball. High school and college teams play their games and practice here. In 2019, this historic field was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
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A Look Back: Huggins-Stengel Field's History
This baseball field has a long and interesting past. Many legendary players have stepped onto its grass.
The Yankees' Early Days (1925-1942)
The New York Yankees started using this field in 1925. Their manager, Miller Huggins, led the team. Some say they moved here from New Orleans to help their star player, Babe Ruth, focus on baseball. In 1931, the field was renamed Miller Huggins Field to honor their great manager. During these years, baseball legends like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio played here.
World War II Changes
During World War II, it became hard for teams to travel far. Because of this, the Yankees practiced in Atlantic City for a few years. They returned to Crescent Lake in 1946 after the war ended.
The Yankees' Later Years (1946-1961)
After the war, the New York Yankees came back to St. Petersburg, Florida. They continued to practice at Crescent Lake. However, they started playing their main spring training games at Al Lang Stadium in 1947. For most of this time, the team was led by manager Casey Stengel. He helped the Yankees win many championships in the 1950s. Famous players from this time include Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Yogi Berra. After the 1961 season, the team moved its spring training to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The Mets Arrive (1962-1987)
In 1962, a brand new team, the New York Mets, took over the field. Their first manager was also Casey Stengel! In 1963, the field was given its current name: Huggins-Stengel Field. Just like the Yankees before them, the Mets would practice at this field. Then, they would play their games a short distance away at Al Lang Stadium.
The Orioles' Short Stay (1992-1995)
After a few years without a major league team, the Baltimore Orioles started using the field in 1992. By this time, the field was getting old. One former Orioles pitcher, Rick Sutcliffe, even said the locker room looked like a high school locker room! The Orioles didn't stay long. They played their last spring training here in 1995. This marked the end of Spring Training baseball at Huggins-Stengel Field.
Amazing Stories and Legends
Huggins-Stengel Field is known for some really cool stories and myths!
Alligators in the Outfield?
There's a famous story from 1925. On the very first day of practice, Babe Ruth supposedly stopped playing. Why? Because alligators started sunbathing along the edge of Crescent Lake! The lake was part of the outfield. It's easy to understand why a player wouldn't want to chase a baseball near an alligator! Today, there's a wall between the field and the lake. This helps keep players safe from any gators.
Long Home Runs into the Lake
It's said that only two players have ever hit a home run that landed directly in Crescent Lake. Those players are Babe Ruth of the Yankees and Dave Kingman of the Mets. This is an amazing feat because the lake is more than 500 feet away from home plate!
Darrell Johnson, who played with Mickey Mantle, said he often saw Mickey hit batting practice balls into the lake. These balls went far beyond the right field fence!
Another famous home run was hit by Darryl Strawberry. His teammate, Lenny Dykstra, nicknamed him "Awesome Strawsome" after he hit a huge home run off pitcher Bob Forsch. This ball went to center field. It was special because that part of the field was very deep, and the fence was about 15 feet high!
Field Myths
Some people say that the field is haunted by the ghosts of old players.
There's also a story that after Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle passed away, a brown patch of grass appeared in center field. This is where both of them used to play.
Huggins-Stengel Field Today
The field isn't used by Major League Baseball teams anymore. But it's still a busy place! High school and college teams use it for practices and games. There aren't many seats, just two sets of bleachers. But the old-time feel of the place makes it a great spot to visit.
The old clubhouses are now offices for TASCO. This stands for Teens Arts, Sports, and Cultural Opportunities. It's a local program for young people. Even though it's not a historical site you can tour, you can still see parts of the old clubhouse. There's an old wooden locker and some photographs.
The field has had some updates, but it still has its original size and shape. It hasn't been raised or lowered like many other fields. It's basically the same ground that baseball legends played on for over 90 years!
Images for kids
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Huggins-Stengel Field
