Cincinnati's Crosley Field: A Gem in the Queen City (SABR Cities and Stadiums)

April 11, 1912, marked a new era in the history of the Cincinnati Reds. On that day the team inaugurated the season by playing its first game at Redland Field, which was renamed Crosley Field in 1934 in honor of the team’s owner, Powel Crosley. The new steel and concrete ballpark was located at the site of its predecessor, the outdated wooden Palace of the Fans at the intersection of Findlay Street and Western Avenue. For almost six decades, Crosley Field beckoned like a shining gem surrounded by warehouses and industrial complexes in the Queensgate neighborhood of the Queen City. The Reds closed the book on Crosley Field on June 24, 1970, and moved into Riverfront Stadium, a modern all-purpose sports venue that held almost twice as many spectators. This book evokes memories of Crosley Field through detailed summaries of more than 85 historic and monumental games played there, and 10 insightful feature essays about the history of the ballpark. Former Reds players Johnny Edwards and Art Shamsky share their memories of the park in introductions. Among the exciting contests recounted here are an Opening Day no-hitter in 1918, action from the infamous 1919 World Series, Negro Leagues action, Joe DiMaggio’s 1939 World Series heroics, Johnny Van Der Meer’s incredible summer of two no-hitters, and no-hitters by Lon Warneke and Clyde Shoun. Hank Aaron’s 3000th hit took place at Crosley Field, as did indelible performances by Pete Rose, Roberto Clemente, and Frank Robinson. This volume is a collaborative effort of more than three dozen members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), including Alan Cohen, Art Shamsky, Bill Schneider, Bob Buege, Brian P. Wood, C. Paul Rogers III, Chad Dotson, Dan Fields, Doug Feldmann, Gordon Gattie, Greg Erion, Greg Rhodes, Gregory H. Wolf, Jacob Pomrenke, Joe Schuster, Joe Wancho, John Bauer, Johnny Edwards, Kellen Nielson, Kirk Jenkins, Leo Bradley, Lon Garber, Luke Miller and Gregory H. Wolf, Mark Miller, Mark S. Sternman, Michael Lynch, Mike Huber, Mike Whiteman, Norm King, Paul E. Doutrich, Phillip Bolda, Richard A. Cuicchi, Rick Schabowski, Russ Lake, and Tom Pardo.