The right field wall at Ebbets
December 17, 2008As you already know, I love the photography of Neil Leifer and his book “Ballet in the Dirt”. Every time I browse through it I stop and goon out on this one image he took of the right field wall at the old Ebbets Field. It’s amazing. There are so many angles and corners to the wall and the scoreboard that it makes me dizzy.
My first thought is that I would’ve had about 10 inside the park homers if that was my home field – and that’s with my speed (don’t laugh, I really DO have a couple inside the parkers). My second thought is for Brooklyn Dodger right fielder Carl Furrillo. I wonder how he played that sucker. After doing a little research, apparently he did a photo essay with Collier’s magazine demonstrating the 14 different ways the ball could bounce off the scoreboard. Being a left handed hitter, Duke Snider must’ve loved it (and the fact that it wasn’t even 300 feet). I’ll bet Ted Williams loved hitting there. I read a piece that said Pee Wee Reese once legged out an inside the parker while the ball bobbled around on a ledge of the right field wall.
A few random facts about the place. Ebbets Field was designed by Clarence Randall Van Buskirk (obviously not a ball player) and was finished in 1913 for a cost of $750,000. It sat 25,000 when it opened and housed the Dodgers until 1957. Ebbets Field was the sight of the first televised game in 1939. Sadly, all that’s left of the place is a plaque on the side of an apartment building. Oh well, all in the name of progress…right?
I like the Schaefer Awards sign on the side of the scoreboard; wonder if thats any relation to Bob “Cliffy” Schaefer?
may be, but more than likely beer.
I grew up one block away from the projects that stand where Ebbets Field used to be. Growing up in Crown Heights was super tough, especially considering that I was the only skateboard loving, baseball player in my neighborhood, and I listened to to rock music…. The kids from that area always picked on me and tried to rob me all the time. It’s sad that a place that was once home to greats such as sandy koufax, johnny podres, and jackie robinson, is now the home of some of the lowliest people on earth.
I used to live on the corner of crown st. and rogers ave., the ebbets field site is on montgomery and bedford ave. literally one block away… check it out on google maps…
That’s a bummer about the old hood. At least you were on a skateboard and could ollie over the hoodlums while getting the Led out! You were getting the Led out right?