Recreation Park (San Francisco) facts for kids
Recreation Park was the name given to several old baseball fields in San Francisco, California. These parks were important places for baseball in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
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San Francisco's First Baseball Parks
The Original Recreation Grounds
The very first baseball park called Recreation Grounds opened on November 26, 1868. It was San Francisco's first professional baseball field that was completely enclosed. This park was located in the Mission District, where Garfield Square is today. It was surrounded by Harrison, Twenty-Sixth, Folsom, and Twenty-Fifth Streets. 37°45′1.78″N 122°24′47.78″W / 37.7504944°N 122.4132722°W
On opening day, about 4,000 people came to watch. They saw the second game of the California baseball championship. The San Francisco Eagles beat the Oakland Wide Awakes with a score of 37 to 23! There was also an operatic concert and footraces. This park closed in May 1884. Photo.
Haight-Street Recreation Grounds
Another park, the Haight-Street Recreation Grounds, existed from 1886 to 1895. It was also known as Haight-Street Recreation Park. This field was located between Stanyan, Waller, Cole, and Frederic Streets. It closed its doors in 1895.
Central Park (Recreation Park)
A different Recreation Park, also called Central Park, opened on Thanksgiving Day in 1884. It could hold up to 15,000 fans! This park was at 8th Street and Market Streets. Many baseball teams played there, including the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League starting in 1903.
Sadly, this park was destroyed by the terrible earthquake and fire on April 18, 1906. While San Francisco was being rebuilt, the Seals baseball team had to play their games in Oakland. Photo.
The Famous Recreation Park
The most famous and longest-lasting Recreation Park was also in the Mission District. 37°46′1.87″N 122°25′23.93″W / 37.7671861°N 122.4233139°W This park was the main home for the San Francisco Seals from 1907 to 1913, and again from 1915 to 1930.
For one year, in 1914, the Seals tried playing at a new park called Ewing Park. This park was near the Richmond District. But it was a bad idea because the weather there was often cold and foggy in the summer. So, the Seals moved back to Recreation Park.
The Oakland Oaks team also played many of their games at Recreation Park starting in 1907. They played there until their own new park, Oaks Park, opened in 1913. Recreation Park could hold 15,000 people. It also became the home of the Mission Reds team when they arrived in 1926.
The Chicago White Sox baseball team even used Recreation Park for their spring training in 1909 and 1910.
Where Was This Park?
This final Recreation Park was located on a city block. It was bordered by 14th Street (north, near right field), Valencia Street (east, near first base), 15th Street (south, near third base), and Guerrero Street (west, near left field). 37°46′2.7″N 122°25′23.32″W / 37.767417°N 122.4231444°W
The stands where fans sat had an interesting design. There was a small lower section, and right above it was a much larger upper section. Part of the upper section had no roof, so fans could enjoy the sunshine or feel the rain! The stands were made of wood.
In 1931, a new baseball park called Seals Stadium opened. It was made of concrete and was less than a mile east of Recreation Park. Seals Stadium became the new home for both the Seals and the Missions teams. Recreation Park was then torn down, and the area was turned into a public housing project.
Images for kids
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The Recreation Grounds in the Mission, which operated from 1868 - 1884. Located where Garfield Park sits today at 25th & Harrison Streets
