Victory Field, built in 1996 as home to the Indianapolis Indians, is considered by many today as the best minor league ballpark in the nation. But baseball has deeper roots in the Circle City, as fans of the Tribe will discover in the pages of Baseball in Indianapolis, which tells the story of the American pastime in the state capitol from the post-Civil War era up to the present day. Legends like Rube Marquard, Oscar Charleston and Roger Maris are all a part of Indianapolis' baseball heritage. So too are present-day stars like Randy Johnson, Larry Walker and Aaron Boone. Even Hank Aaron had a stint with the barnstorming Indianapolis Clowns in 1952, en route to his record-breaking career.

Baseball in Indianapolis (IN) (Images of Baseball)

History

W.C. Madden

Americas

Arcadia Publishing

In the late 1800s, postcards of Indianapolis began appearing in mailboxes throughout the country. Since that time, the many prominent monuments, buildings, and parks of the Hoosier capital have been featured on countless cards.
Using an impressive collection of these images, author W.C. Madden takes the reader on an historic journey through Indianapolis from 1890 to 1950, providing a visual history of the development of the city. Indianapolis experienced great growth during the first half of the 20th century, which gave rise to innovative art and architectural structures, many that serve as the subject of postcards featured here. The Soldiers and Sailors Monument, the Indiana World War Memorial, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Union Station, and Claypool Hotel, to name a few, are all highlighted.

Indianapolis In Vintage Postcards (IN) (Postcard History Series)

Arts & Photography

Photography & Video

Inaugurated as the state capital in 1825, Indianapolis was patterned after the nation's capital and laid out on a mile-square grid with Monument Circle at its center. As the city grew and experienced the tumult of the Civil War, legislators decided to erect a monument to the war's fallen servicemen. In 1902, one of the world's most outstanding memorials was completed-the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Surrounding Monument Circle, "The Circle City" gets its nickname from the prominence and historical significance of the central city structure. Throughout the years, Indianapolis has maintained its commitment to honoring the achievements of Hoosiers. This dedication to Indiana has given the capital its own rich history, told not only through monuments and memorials, but also through the architecture, parks, businesses, and people that make up the heart of Indianapolis. This new book documents the heroes and history of the city, using an impressive collection of vintage photographs from the late 1800s through the early 1900s juxtaposed against present-day images.

Indianapolis (Then & Now)

The 1950s and early 1960s are considered by many to be the Golden Era of Racing at the Indianapolis 500, and photographer Ben Lawrence was on hand taking photos of the Greatest Spectacle for the Indianapolis Times. 
During that era, Ben captured many images of the race and race events that surrounded the Indy 500. He was there when Bill Vukovich met his fate in 1955. He photographed the first Indianapolis 500 Parade, which has become an annual event. He captured A.J. Foyt winning his first race at the Brickyard. He was on hand to photograph the breaking of the 150-mph barrier. Then he saw the transition from the front-engined Offenhauser to the rear-engined Lotus-Fords, which ended the Golden Era.

The Indy 500: 1956-1965 (IN) (Images of Sports)

Ben Lawrence

Christopher Bass

Indianapolis' Crown Hill Cemetery is noted for its unique beauty and historic significance. Dedicated on June 1, 1864, the cemetery, at more than 555 acres, is the final resting-place to over 185,000 citizens and is one of the most historically significant areas in the city. Many of the country's great leaders, soldiers, entrepreneurs, and artists are buried within the cemetery's confines including: President Benjamin Harrison, Col. Eli Lilly, and the infamous John Dillinger, to name just a few. Within these pages of vintage photographs, the history and beauty of Crown Hill Cemetery is revealed. Author W.C. Madden examines such structures as the inspiring Waiting Station and Gothic Chapel, both of which were built in the 1800s. He also details the ground's viscerahl history exemplified by the National Cemetery, dedicated to those who served our country, and the Confederate lot on the cemetery's south grounds.

Crown Hill Cemetery (IN) (Images of America)

Since 1950, Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium (formerly Municipal Stadium) has hosted the nation’s top college baseball programs in the College World Series. Baseball fans from every corner of the country have taken the annual “Road to Omaha” and packed the seats to see championship baseball at its best. In 1954 thousands saw Jim Ehrler of Texas toss the tourney’s first no-hitter en route to the Longhorns winning back-to-back CWS championships. Fans at the 1970 tournament saw Southern Cal defeat Florida State in the midst of their unmatched five-year championship run. In 1996 Rosenblatt’s faithful took in the dramatic bottom-of-the-ninth, two-out, two-run homer by Louisiana State’s Warren Morris, giving his team a 9-8 upset victory over powerhouse Miami.

The College World Series (NE) (Images of Baseball)

John E. Peterson

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