Polo Grounds facts for kids
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"The Bathtub"
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Polo Grounds IV during the 1913 World Series
(New York Giants and Philadelphia Athletics) (below) Site of the original Polo Grounds, 1876–1888, between 110th and 112th Street, Manhattan |
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| Former names | Brotherhood Park (adjacent to Polo Grounds II, 1890) Brush Stadium (1911–1919) |
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| Location | bounded by West 155th Street, Frederick Douglass Blvd. and Harlem River Drive in Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York City |
| Coordinates | 40°49′54″N 73°56′14″W / 40.83167°N 73.93722°W Polo Grounds III (1891–1963) 40°49′49″N 73°56′16″W / 40.83028°N 73.93778°W Polo Grounds II/Manhattan Field (1889–1890/1891–1948) 40°47′53″N 73°57′2″W / 40.79806°N 73.95056°W Polo Grounds I (1876–1889) |
| Owner | New York Giants |
| Operator | New York Giants |
| Capacity | 34,000 (1911) 55,000 (1923) |
| Field size | Left field: 279 ft (85 m) Left-center: 450 ft (137 m) Center field: 483 ft (147 m) Right-center: 449 ft (136 m) Right field: 258 ft (78 m)  |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1890 |
| Opened | April 19, 1890 |
| Renovated | June 28, 1911 |
| Expanded | 1923 |
| Closed | December 14, 1963 |
| Demolished | April 10, 1964 |
| Architect | Henry B. Herts |
| Tenants | |
| New York Metropolitans (AA) (1883) New York Giants (PL) (1890) New York Giants (NL) (1891–1957) New York Giants (ALPF) (1894) New York Yankees (AL) (1913–1922) New York Mets (NL) (1962–1963) New York Brickley Giants (NFL) (1921) New York Giants (NFL) (1925–1955) Columbia Lions football (NCAA) (1900–1922) New York Nationals (ASL) (1927–1930) Fordham Rams football (NCAA) (1928–1950; 1953–1954) New York Giants (ASL) (1930–1932) New York Cubans (NNL) (1939–1950) New York Black Yankees (NNL) (1931–46) New York Bulldogs (NFL) (1949) New York Titans/Jets (AFL) (1960–1963) Gotham Bowl (NCAA) (1961) |
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The Polo Grounds was the name for three different sports stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City. These stadiums were mainly used for professional baseball and American football. They existed from 1880 until 1963.
The very first Polo Grounds opened in 1876. It was originally built for the sport of polo. It was located near Central Park. In 1880, it became a baseball stadium for the New York Metropolitans.
The third and most famous Polo Grounds was built in 1890. After a fire in 1911, it was rebuilt. This stadium was known for its unique "bathtub" shape. It had very short distances to the left and right field walls. However, its center field was unusually deep.
Many famous teams played at the Polo Grounds. The New York Giants baseball team called it home from 1883 to 1957. The New York Yankees also played there from 1913 to 1922. Later, the New York Mets used it for their first two seasons in 1962 and 1963. Each version of the stadium hosted at least one World Series.
In American football, the New York Giants played there from 1925 to 1955. The New York Titans/Jets also played at the stadium from 1960 to 1963. Other sports like soccer, boxing, and Gaelic football were also held there.
The last sporting event at the Polo Grounds was a football game in December 1963. The stadium was torn down in 1964. Today, a public housing complex called Polo Grounds Towers stands on the site.
Contents
Polo Grounds I: The First Stadium
The first Polo Grounds was located at 110th Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. This was right across from the northeast corner of Central Park. It was first used for the sport of polo. People just called it "the polo grounds" because of its use.
The New York Metropolitans were the first professional baseball team to play there in 1880. In 1883, the Metropolitans and a new team, the New York Gothams (who became the Giants), both played at the Polo Grounds. They even tried to have two baseball fields at once, but it didn't work well.
The Metropolitans won their league championship in 1884. They played in the 1884 World Series at the Polo Grounds. However, they lost to the Providence Grays. A famous moment for the Giants at this stadium was Roger Connor's home run. It flew over the right-field wall and into 112th Street.
Besides professional sports, college baseball and football games were also played here. For example, Yale University and Princeton University played a baseball game there in 1882. Yale and Harvard University also played their Thanksgiving Day football games there in 1883 and 1887.
Why Polo Grounds I Was Torn Down
In 1889, New York City was expanding its streets. Plans for a new street, West 111th Street, went right through the Polo Grounds. City workers started to cut through the fence to build the new road.
Even though the Giants had won the championship the year before, the city decided to go ahead with the street plans. This meant the Giants had to quickly find a new place to play.
Polo Grounds II: A Temporary Home
The Giants started the 1889 season playing in Jersey City, New Jersey. Then they moved to the St. George Cricket Grounds for a short time.
By July 1889, the Giants found a new home in Manhattan. This "New Polo Grounds" was located at 155th Street and 8th Avenue. The seats from the first Polo Grounds were moved to this new stadium. Despite all the moving, the Giants won their league championship again that year. They also won the 1889 World Series.
This new location was next to a steep hill called Coogan's Bluff. Many fans would watch games from the bluff without buying tickets. The stadium itself was in a low area called Coogan's Hollow. The field had a unique shape, with the center field being closer than the left or right center. This wasn't a big problem during the "dead ball era" of baseball, when fewer home runs were hit.
After the Giants moved to a different stadium in 1891, this second Polo Grounds was renamed Manhattan Field. It was then used for other sports like football and track-and-field. The stadium's structure was taken down in 1911. However, the field itself remained for another 20 years. Later, in 1948, it was paved over and became a parking lot for the next Polo Grounds.
Polo Grounds III and IV: The Famous Bathtub
Polo Grounds III: The Brotherhood Park Era
Polo Grounds III is the stadium that most people remember. It was built in 1890. At first, it had an open outfield, but more seats were added over time. By 1910, the outfield was fully enclosed with bleachers.
This stadium was first called Brotherhood Park. It was home to a different New York Giants team in the Players' League. This league was created by baseball players who wanted better conditions. For the 1890 season, two Giants teams played next to each other! Fans in the upper decks could even watch both games.
After the Players' League ended, the National League Giants moved into Brotherhood Park. They brought their stadium's name with them, and it became the "new-new" Polo Grounds. They stayed in Coogan's Hollow for 69 seasons.
Fire and Rebuilding: Polo Grounds IV
In April 1911, a fire destroyed most of the stadium's main seating area. Only the steel supports were left. The Giants' owner, John T. Brush, decided to rebuild the Polo Grounds using concrete and steel.
The new stadium reopened just two and a half months later, in June 1911. It was one of the first concrete and steel stadiums in baseball. The Giants did very well after the fire, winning their league championship in 1911, 1912, and 1913. The team briefly called the new stadium Brush Stadium in honor of their owner, but the name "Polo Grounds" stuck.
In 1923, the stadium was expanded even more. New bleachers and a clubhouse were built across center field. This construction gave the stadium its famous horseshoe or "bathtub" shape. This also gave it a new nickname: "The Bathtub."
This version of the Polo Grounds had some very unusual features. The foul lines were very short: 279 feet to left field and 258 feet to right field. However, the center field was incredibly deep, at 483 feet from home plate. This meant that a short hit could be a home run, but a long hit to center field was often just a fly out. The bullpens (where relief pitchers warm up) were actually part of the playing field in the outfield gaps.
The New York Yankees shared the Polo Grounds with the Giants from 1913 to 1922. After 1922, the Yankees built their own stadium, Yankee Stadium, right across the Harlem River. This made the Giants expand the Polo Grounds to compete for fans.
The Giants played their first night game at the stadium on May 24, 1940. The Polo Grounds was also the site of one of baseball's most famous moments. This was the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" home run. It happened on October 3, 1951, and won the league championship for the Giants against their rivals, the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Sad Moments at the Polo Grounds
On August 16, 1920, Cleveland Indians player Ray Chapman was hit in the head by a pitch. At that time, batters did not wear helmets. Chapman passed away the next day. He is the only player to die from an injury during a Major League Baseball game.
On July 4, 1950, a man named Bernard Doyle was killed by a stray bullet while sitting in his seat. A 14-year-old boy later admitted to firing a gun into the air from a nearby rooftop.
The Giants' Last Years at the Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds started to decline in the late 1940s. The stadium was not well maintained. The Giants owned the stadium, but the Coogan family still owned the land. The neighborhood around the stadium also began to change. These issues led to fewer ticket sales, even when the Giants were playing well.
In 1954, the Giants won the 1954 World Series. However, they still had fewer fans than other teams. The football Giants moved to Yankee Stadium in 1956. The baseball Giants' poor performance in 1956 also caused ticket sales to drop.
The Giants' owner, Horace Stoneham, faced financial problems. He couldn't afford stadium upkeep and had to let go of maintenance staff. The stadium also had very little parking, which was a big problem as more people drove cars.
Because the Polo Grounds was old and falling apart, Stoneham considered moving the team. On August 19, 1957, the Giants announced they would move to San Francisco, California. They followed their rivals, the Dodgers, to the West Coast. The Giants had won five World Series titles while playing at the Polo Grounds.
The Final Years of the Polo Grounds
The stadium was mostly empty for almost three years. Then, the new Titans of New York (now the New York Jets) football team started playing there in 1960. The new New York Mets baseball team also used it in 1962 and 1963. They needed a temporary home while Shea Stadium was being built.
In 1961, New York City decided to take over the land. They planned to build a housing project there. The Coogan family, who still owned the land, fought this decision. However, the city eventually won in 1967.
The New York Mets played their last game at the Polo Grounds on September 18, 1963. The New York Jets played the final sporting event there on December 14, 1963.
Demolition of the Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was torn down in 1964. The demolition started on April 10 with a wrecking ball painted like a baseball. The crew wore Giants jerseys as they began taking apart the historic stadium. It took about four and a half months to completely level the stadium.
Today, the site is home to the Polo Grounds Towers. This is a public housing project that opened in 1968.
Other Sports at the Polo Grounds
Football Games
The Polo Grounds stadiums were very good for American football. Hundreds of football games were played there over the years.
The first professional football game in New York City was played at the Polo Grounds on December 4, 1920. It was between the Buffalo All-Americans and the Canton Bulldogs. This was in the first year of the league that later became the NFL.
Both the New York Giants of the NFL and the New York Jets (then called the New York Titans) used the Polo Grounds as their home field. The Giants moved to Yankee Stadium in 1956. The Jets followed the Mets to Shea Stadium in 1964.
College Football
Many college football teams played at the Polo Grounds. Columbia University and Yale University played games there in the 1800s.
Teams like Fordham University and Army also used the grounds for many games. A famous game happened in 1924 when University of Notre Dame beat Army. This led to a famous sports article about Notre Dame's players, called "The Four Horsemen."
Soccer Matches
The Polo Grounds also hosted many international soccer matches. In 1926, a team from Austria called Hakoah played there. They drew huge crowds, with one game having 46,000 fans.
In 1894, some baseball team owners tried to start a professional soccer league. The New York Giants soccer team played six games at the Polo Grounds.
After World War II, the USA played Israel there in 1948. In 1950, Manchester United from England played a game at the Polo Grounds. The stadium also hosted the International Soccer League Final in 1960 and 1961.
Gaelic Football
The New York GAA sometimes held major Gaelic games matches at the Polo Grounds. In 1947, the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final was played there. This was a very special event because it was the only time this championship was held outside of Ireland. It honored Irish Americans, many of whom were descendants of people who left Ireland during the Great Famine.
Boxing Matches
Many famous boxing matches took place at the Polo Grounds. These included the legendary 1923 heavyweight championship fight between Jack Dempsey and Luis Ángel Firpo.
Another famous fight was Billy Conn's close match against heavyweight champion Joe Louis in 1941. The last major boxing match at the Polo Grounds was in 1960. Floyd Patterson became the first heavyweight boxer to win back the championship against Ingemar Johansson.
Unique Features for Baseball
The Deep Center Field
One of the strangest things about the Polo Grounds was its incredibly deep center field. The wall was 483 feet from home plate. No batter ever hit a home run over that wall. Only a few players ever hit a ball into the distant center field bleachers.
The entire 60-foot wall in dead center field was considered part of the playing area. Even the clubhouse windows on that side were in play. If a ball went through an open window, it was a ground rule double, not a home run.
In Game 1 of the 1954 World Series, Giants outfielder Willie Mays made an amazing catch in deep center field. This catch, known as "The Catch," helped the Giants win that World Series.
Babe Ruth hit many of his early home runs at the Polo Grounds. He reached the center field seats several times. His longest hit there, in 1921, was estimated to be over 550 feet.
The Short Right Field
While center field was deep, the right-field fence was very short. The foul pole was only 258 feet from home plate. This was one of the shortest distances in major league baseball history. Home runs that just cleared this short fence were sometimes called "Chinese home runs."
Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World" in 1951 went over the left field fence. But a famous home run to right field was hit by Dusty Rhodes in the 1954 World Series. It barely cleared the fence, helping the Giants win that game.
The John T. Brush Stairway
The only part of the Polo Grounds that still exists today is the "John T. Brush Stairway." It runs down Coogan's Bluff from Edgecombe Avenue. The stairway was named after John T. Brush, the Giants' owner who had recently passed away. It opened in 1913 and led to a ticket booth overlooking the stadium. People say it offered a clear view of the stadium for fans who didn't buy tickets.
In 2011, a project began to restore the stairway. It was completed in August 2014.
Polo Grounds Light Poles
The original light poles from the Polo Grounds are still in use today! They were shipped to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1964. They are now at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, the baseball field for Arizona State University. The San Francisco Giants (the team the New York Giants became) used this stadium for spring training.
Teams and Timeline
- Polo Grounds I
- New York Gothams/Giants (National League), 1883–1888
- New York Metropolitans (American Association), 1880–1885
- Polo Grounds II (also called Manhattan Field)
- New York Giants (NL), 1889–1890
- Polo Grounds III (first called Brotherhood Park, then Brush Stadium)
- New York Giants (Players' League), 1890
- New York Giants (NL), 1891–1911
- Polo Grounds IV (the rebuilt stadium)
- New York Giants (NL), 1911–1957
- New York Yankees (American League), 1913–1922
- New York Giants (NFL), 1925–1955
- New York Bulldogs (NFL), 1949
- New York Titans/Jets (American Football League), 1960–1963
- New York Mets (NL), 1962–1963
- New York Cubans (Negro National League II), 1939–1950
- New York Black Yankees (Negro National League II), 1931–1946
Stadium Dimensions
The Polo Grounds had different dimensions over the years. Here are some of the key distances:
| Area | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Left Field Line | 279 ft (85 m) | Very short! |
| Left Center | 447 ft (136 m) | |
| Center Field | 483 ft (147 m) | Extremely deep! |
| Right Center | 449 ft (137 m) | |
| Right Field Line | 257 ft (78 m) | Also very short! |
| Backstop | 65 ft (20 m) | Distance behind home plate |
Seating Capacity
The number of seats at the Polo Grounds changed as it was rebuilt and expanded.
| Years | Capacity |
|---|---|
| 1911–1916 | 34,000 |
| 1923–1925 | 43,000 |
| 1926–1929 | 55,000 |
| 1953–1963 | 56,000 |
See also
In Spanish: Polo Grounds para niños
