SABR Digital Library: Cincinnati’s Crosley Field: A Gem in the Queen City
Cincinnati’s Crosley Field: A Gem in the Queen City
Edited by Gregory H. Wolf
Associate Editors: Len Levin, Bill Nowlin, and Carl Riechers
ISBN (paperback): 978-1-943816-75-0, $19.95
ISBN (e-book): 978-1-943816-74-3, $9.99
311 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
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 The new steel and concrete ballpark was located at the site of its predecessor, the outdated wooden Palace of the Fans at the intersection of Findlay Street and Western Avenue.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 games, Joe DiMaggio’s 1939 World Series heroics, Johnny Vander Meer’s incredible summer of two no-hitters, and no-hitters by Lon Warneke and Clyde Shoun. Hank Aaron’s 3,000th hit took place at Crosley Field, as did indelible performances by Pete Rose, Roberto Clemente, and Frank Robinson.
- E-book: Click here to download the e-book version of Cincinnati’s Crosley Field for $9.99 from the SABR Store. Available in PDF, MOBI, and EPUB/Kindle formats.
- Paperback: Get the paperback edition of Cincinnati’s Crosley Field from the SABR Store ($30.99 includes shipping/tax; delivery can take up to 3-4 weeks.)
Below: Find ballpark biography, memorable game stories, and essays
from Cincinnati’s Crosley Field: A Gem in the Queen City
SABR Biography
Cincinnati Reds grounds crew preparing the tarps during a rainy game at Crosley Field.
Click here to read more about Crosley Field at the SABR BioProject
Game Recaps
Essays
Contributors: John Bauer, Phillip Bolda, Leo Bradley, Bob Buege, Alan Cohen, Richard Cuicchi, Chad Dotson, Paul E. Doutrich, Chris Eckes, Johnny Edwards, Greg Erion, Doug Feldmann, Dan Fields, Lon L. Garber, Gordon J. Gattie, Michael Huber, Kirk C. Jenkins, Norm King, Russ Lake, Len Levin, Michael T. Lynch Jr., Luke Miller, Mark Miller, Kellen Nielson, Bill Nowlin, Tom Pardo, Jacob Pomrenke, Greg Rhodes, Carl Riechers, C. Paul Rogers III, Rick Schabowski, Bill Schneider, Joe Schuster, Art Shamsky, Mark S. Sternman, Joseph Wancho, Mike Whiteman, Gregory H. Wolf, and Brian P. Wood.