April 5, 1913: Ebbets Field opens with inaugural exhibition game

On September 20, 1912, Brooklyn team president Charles Ebbets gave up hope that his new stadium could open before that season’s end. Construction had gotten a boost from the experience of his new co-owners, Steve and Ed McKeever. Yet too much work remained undone. The field was game-ready, but the stands were far from complete. Thus, they decided to aim for an opening in the spring of 1913.1

That same day, Ebbets raised his stake in the Newark Indians of the International League to a controlling interest.2 At some point before 1912 ended, Brooklyn scheduled a game against Newark for April 5, 1913. It was to be the first professional match at Ebbets Field.3

Meanwhile, another big New York baseball story had broken on December 12. The Chicago Cubs released future Hall of Famer Frank Chance, freeing him to negotiate with the Yankees to become their new manager.4 “The Peerless Leader” signed a three-year deal on January 8, 1913.5

Soon thereafter, Ebbets canceled the Newark game and one against Yale University slated for April 7. Instead, he booked two games against the Yankees, knowing their debut in the city under Chance, then one of the sport’s biggest names, would be a big attraction.6

Tickets went on sale on March 3, as manager Bill Dahlen‘s Superbas (the team’s dominant name in 1913) made their way to training camp in Augusta, Georgia.7 Advance sales were indeed brisk. By mid-March, Ebbets’ worries about the stadium’s readiness had eased enough to enable a much-needed vacation to New Orleans. Steve McKeever oversaw a field inspection on March 17.8 A crowd estimated at no less than 20,000 turned out just for that event, and before the end of March, all the reserved seats and boxes for the first Yankees game had been sold.9 Ebbets announced that to provide unobstructed views, no emergency portable seats would be put on the ground.10

Ebbets had good box office instincts. “The amount of interest in Frank Chance and his team must have surprised even [Yankees] President Frank Farrell and Chance himself … a tremendous outpouring of rabid Manhattan cranks … began wildly dashing for tickets a couple of days before the game and could not get enough to satisfy them.”11

The morning of April 5 was gloomy – but gave way to “rattling fine baseball weather.” Even before noon, fans were already en route to the game. Some 50 city policemen – on foot, horseback, and bicycle – were controlling the crowd, but a 100-strong reinforcement was summoned.12 The stadium’s focal point, its marble rotunda, was occupied by numerous floral arrangements which got in the crowd’s way.13

By 2:00, all 25,000 seats were filled. Ebbets halted ticket sales – two scalpers were arrested – and a reported 10,000 more people were turned away. Thousands took up viewpoints on hills overlooking the stadium; one entrepreneur had put up a temporary grandstand on “McKeever’s Bluff” and collected 50 cents a head.14 Ebbets intimated that he would soon block those vistas.15

Shannon’s 23rd Regiment Band entertained the crowd. Ebbets’ youngest daughter, Genevieve, threw out the first ball. Ed McKeever’s wife, Jennie, had the honor of raising the American flag in center field, accompanied by her husband and Ebbets. However, a groundskeeper had to fetch Old Glory from the office first.16

Finally, at around 3:30, it was time to play ball. The Superbas’ starting pitcher – their ace, Nap Rucker – faced Bert Daniels.

The Yankees lineup provided a notable subplot. In Chicago, Chance had developed one of the finest team defenses ever with himself at first base.17 He was in decline as a player, though, and had appeared just twice in 1912. Also, the Yankees’ starting first baseman for the past eight seasons, Hal Chase, was another marquee name then. Chase’s brilliant fielding at first base is still the best ever in the view of many, such as baseball historian Bill James.18 Chance declared, shortly after the report that he’d come to New York, that he was through as a first baseman and that he’d manage from the bench, not the field. Yet apparently fans were already speculating that Chase would shift to second base, even though he threw left-handed.19 Indeed, Chase had played there in the past, including brief stints in 1911 and 1912.

But Chance soon changed his mind, stating that he expected to play, alternating with Chase.20 In February, he reiterated that he’d take the field again.21 Thus, Chase worked out at second during spring training in Bermuda, although an ankle injury hampered him. Chance considered holding Chase out of the game at Ebbets Field to avoid aggravating the injury.22

Chance too was ailing, with a bad back.23 Yet on April 5, both Chase (batting fifth and playing second) and the skipper (batting sixth and manning first) were in the lineup. As it developed, Chase wasn’t tested in the field, handling just one chance, a pop-up.24 However, Chance removed “Prince Hal” for a pinch-runner at a key ninth-inning juncture.

Brooklyn won that afternoon, 3-2. Rucker threw five scoreless innings, benefiting from first baseman Jake Daubert‘s leaping grab of a fifth-inning liner by catcher Ed Sweeney that looked like a potential triple. For the Yankees, Ray Caldwell went six, allowing two runs.

In the bottom of the fifth, Brooklyn scored the game’s first run on Casey Stengel‘s inside-the-park homer. Yankees center fielder Harry Wolter accidentally kicked the ball further toward the wall, allowing Stengel to come all the way around.25 Wolter was not charged with an error, though, and Stengel got credit for a four-bagger.

In the sixth inning, the Superbas made it 2-0 on another inside-the-park homer to deep center field. Contrary to Ebbets Field’s reputation as a “bandbox” for much of its existence, when it opened, the distance to straightaway center was an enormous 507 feet.26

The batter, Daubert, described his battle with Caldwell. “I watched Caldwell’s style, and when I went to bat the first time, I held the stick way out on the end for a free swing against his low speedy shoot. But Ray is a student of the game as well as myself, and he put it high and inside. I could not have hit it with a board. The next time up I ‘choked’ the bat for a close one, and he crossed me again with his low, fast ones on the outside. The third time up was when [cleanup hitter Zack] Wheat and I tried the hit and run. I again figured he would put it over on the inside, and choked my bat, but he pitched out, and Sweeney caught Wheat trying for second. That got my goat and I changed my tactics. I choked the bat again as if I were expecting that insider, but when Caldwell started his windup, I let the bat slip and guessed him exactly right, for the ball was low and on the outside, just the right place to be caught flush on the nose for the wallop that got me a home run.”27

The Yankees tied it in the ninth against Frank Allen, who’d replaced Rucker. Chase led off with a walk and Chance followed with a single. On Sweeney’s sacrifice, Allen threw wildly. Ezra Midkiff, running for Chase, and Chance both scored.

Yet the Superbas fans went home happy that afternoon. Leading off was Wheat, whose supposed Native American descent was a feature of game stories.28 He swung for the fences but topped a little grounder toward third. The unintended “swinging bunt” became a scratch single.29 Sweeney’s wild throw sent Wheat to second, though no error was charged. After Daubert sacrificed, Carlisle “Red” Smith‘s sharp single brought in the winning run. Ray Fisher took the loss.

As the fans filed out, there was commotion – few if any knew how to exit. The aisles were jammed; private security and firemen had to direct the throngs.30 Crowd control was a serious issue in Ebbets Field’s early days.31

POSTSCRIPT #1
Superbas-Yankees rematch on April 7

A cold front held attendance down to just 1,000 or so. Though New York won, 8-4, the cold likely contributed to both Yankees starter Jack Warhop‘s sore arm and Frank Chance’s leg injury while running the bases. Chance was out until April 22; he played just 12 games all season. Hal Chase got many fielding opportunities at second and looked good.32 Yet after five regular-season games, the experiment with Chase at the keystone was over – and Chance traded the divisive star on June 1.

The frigid Monday also caused fatal illness for Gerhard Tidden, baseball editor of the New York World. Tidden (a.k.a. “George” or “Roger”) wasn’t in good health but insisted on covering the game.33 It prefigured the death from pneumonia of Ed McKeever, contracted at Charles Ebbets’ funeral in April 1925.34

POSTSCRIPT #2
Annual tradition

This started a long-running series of Yankees preseason visits to Ebbets Field, continuing in 1914 and carrying through 1957, the Dodgers’ last year in Brooklyn.35

SOURCES

For the box score of the game, see “Ebbets Field Is Formally Dedicated with a Pleasing Victory,” Sporting Life, April 12, 1913: 5.

Many aspects of this game – especially the new stadium’s description, the crowds, and the preliminary festivities – are covered at greater length in previous book-length histories of Ebbets Field:

Joseph McCauley, Ebbets Field: Brooklyn’s Baseball Shrine (Bloomington, Indiana: AuthorHouse, 2004)

Bob McGee, The Greatest Ballpark Ever (Piscataway, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press, 2005).

John G. Zinn and Paul G. Zinn, editors, Ebbets Field: Essays and Memories of Brooklyn’s Historic Ballpark, 1913-1960 (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co., 2013)

NOTES

1 “Brooklyn Club’s New Park,” New York Times, September 21, 1912: 9.

2 Thomas S. Rice, “Ebbets and McKeever Get Newark Club Stock,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, September 21, 1912: 18.

3 “Building of Ebbets Field,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, December 29, 1912: 53.

4 “Yankees Get Chance, [Joe] Tinker to Lead Reds,” New York Times, December 12, 1912: 14.

5 “Frank Chance Manager of New York Yankees,” St. Petersburg (Florida) Independent, January 9, 1913: 6.

6 “Giants to Play 25 Games in South,” New York Times, January 15, 1913: 14. Yale game was mentioned in “Dodges Predictions,” New York Times, January 1, 1913: 19.

7 Abe Yager, “Brooklyn Bits,” Sporting Life, March 8, 1913: 7. The “Dodgers” label jockeyed with “Superbas” in the press (along with a tertiary label, “Infants”). When Wilbert Robinson became manager in 1914, “Robins” came to the fore, but it was not unanimous – both Dodgers and Superbas were still visible in press coverage. Only in 1932 did the team become known for good as the Dodgers.

8 Abe Yager, “Brooklyn Budget,” Sporting Life, March 22, 1913: 8.

9 Abe Yager, “Brooklyn Bits,” Sporting Life, March 29, 1913: 6.

10 “No Seats on Ebbets Opening,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, March 13, 1813: 22.

11 “Brooklyns Show Great Finishing Powers By Beating Yankees in the Ninth,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, April 6, 1913: 58.

12 Superbas Win, 3-2, in Opening Game at Ebbets Field,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, April 6, 1913: 1, 5.

13 “Entire World Centers on Brooklyn Tomorrow,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, April 8, 1913: 20.

14 “Superbas Win, 3-2, in Opening Game at Ebbets Field.”

15 Abe Yager, “Beatific Brooklyn,” Sporting Life, April 12, 1913: 5.

16 “Superbas Win, 3-2, in Opening Game at Ebbets Field.”

17 Chris Jaffe, Evaluating Baseball’s Managers, Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company (2010): 83.

18 Bill James, The New Bill James Historical Abstract, New York: Free Press (2001): 467.

19 “To Manage from Bench,” Louisville Courier-Journal, December 12, 1912: 9.

20 “Chance to Play First Base,” New York Times, January 15, 1913: 14.

21 “Frank Chance Here; To Play First Base,” New York Times, February 11, 1913: 14.

22 Harry Dix Cole, “New York News,” Sporting Life, April 5, 1913: 6.

23 Harry Dix Cole, “New York News,” Sporting Life, March 29, 1913: 5.

24 Harry Dix Cole, “New York News,” Sporting Life, April 12, 1913: 6.

25 “Superbas Win, 3-2, in Opening Game at Ebbets Field.”

26 Ronald M. Selter, “Ebbets Field by the Numbers,” Ebbets Field: Essays and Memories of Brooklyn’s Historic Ballpark: 127.

27 Thomas S. Rice, “Daubert Would Give $500 To See Brooklyn Do Well,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, April 7, 1013: 20.

28 See Rory Costello, “Zack Wheat: Native American?” SABR BioProject (https://SABR.org/bioproj/topic/zack-wheat-native-american/).

29 “Brooklyns Show Great Finishing Powers By Beating Yankees in the Ninth.”

30 “Superbas Win, 3-2, in Opening Game at Ebbets Field.”

31 “Fans, in Near Riot, Mob Ebbets Field,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, April 27, 1913: 1.

32 “Yankees Win Costly Game in Brooklyn – Manager Chance, Warhop, and Derrick Injured Playing in Cold Atmosphere,” New York Times, April 8, 1913: 11.

33 “George Tidden Dead after Long Illness,” Pittsburgh Press, July 3, 1913. In a 1937 retrospective, Thomas Rice of the Brooklyn Eagle wrote that Saturday, April 5, was the cold day – contradicting the stories that were written at the time.

34 “Dodgers Owners: The Timeline,” Los Angeles Times, October 11, 2003.

35 Research on newspapers.com shows such games taking place during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s as well, though whether the sequence of years was unbroken remains open to question.