Memorial Stadium (Baltimore) facts for kids
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| Location | 900 East 33rd Street, Baltimore, Maryland |
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| Owner | City of Baltimore |
| Capacity | 31,000 (in 1950) 47,855 (in 1953) 53,371 (in 1991) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1922 (first version), 1950 (second version) |
| Closed | December 14, 1997 |
| Demolished | 2001 |
| Construction cost | USD $6.5 million |
| Architect | L.P. Kooken Company |
| Tenants | |
| Baltimore Orioles (minor league) (IL) (mid-season 1944-1953) Baltimore Orioles (MLB) (1954-1991) Bowie Baysox (Eastern League) (1993) Baltimore Colts (AAFC/NFL) (1947-1950) Baltimore Colts (NFL) (1953-1983) Baltimore Stallions (CFL) (1994-1995) Baltimore Ravens (NFL) (1996-1997) Baltimore Bays (NASL) (1967-1968) |
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Memorial Stadium was a famous sports stadium located in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. It was the home field for many popular sports teams. These included the Baltimore Orioles (baseball) from 1954 to 1991. The stadium also hosted the Baltimore Colts (football) from 1953 to 1983. Later, the Baltimore Ravens (football) played there from 1996 to 1997.
People gave the stadium fun nicknames like "The Old Grey Lady of 33rd Street." It was also called "The World's Largest Outdoor Insane Asylum" because of how loud the fans got! The stadium was eventually torn down in 2001. A new baseball field was built on the same spot in 2010. Baseball legend Cal Ripken helped open it.
Contents
A Look at Memorial Stadium's History
Memorial Stadium had a long and interesting past. It was first built in 1922, but a bigger version opened in 1950. This stadium was special because it honored soldiers who fought in World War II. A plaque inside the stadium remembered these brave people. Today, a copy of this plaque is outside Oriole Park at Camden Yards. This is the new home of the Orioles baseball team.
Why the Stadium Closed
Over time, Memorial Stadium started to get old. Newer stadiums were being built with more modern features. This made it hard for Memorial Stadium to keep up. Because of this, the teams eventually moved to new, updated homes. The Orioles moved to Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Ravens now play at M&T Bank Stadium.
Famous Moments and Memories
Many exciting games and events happened at Memorial Stadium. Fans loved watching their favorite baseball and football teams play there. The stadium was known for its lively atmosphere. It was a place where many sports memories were made for people in Baltimore.
Images for kids
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Municipal Stadium/Baltimore Stadium with the old Greco–Roman style colonnade and porticoes and 33rd Street boulevard to the south in the foreground – Army-Navy football game in 1944
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Babe Ruth's widow, Claire, at the unveiling of a memorial plaque to his memory in Memorial Stadium (1955)
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The Orioles playing one of the last major league home night games at the stadium, September 14, 1991
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Scoreboard before the final Orioles home game, October 6, 1991
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The residential neighborhood of Ednor Gardens-Lakeside surrounding Memorial Stadium to the north was visible just beyond the outfield, pictured here in 1991
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Demolition of stadium, summer 2001
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2007 Seniors apartment complex now standing in what used to be right field
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Contemporary newspaper photograph and diagram of Frank Robinson's May 1966 "out-of-the-park" home run
