March 27, 200818 yr I recently had a flashback of the days when my dad used to take me to West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium when I was just a little guy. And with many of the posters on here being from West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County, or even South Florida in general, I figured you guys/girls could possibly share some stories/memories of the place. My dad would take me to Expo and Braves Spring Training games all the time. I hardly remember the place, but for some reason I can just picture being there. It never really was the nicest of places, either, but I loved it. Sadly, the stadium was demolished sometimes in the mid 1990s, and there is now a Home Depot where the ballpark once was. I've searched the internet for pictures, but all I could find were these (Man, those shorts that the guy was wearing makes me wanna :barf ) http://openstance.com/minors/parks/wpb/wpb_show/images/wpb-10_jpg.jpg http://www.skypic.com/sports/11-4705.jpg
March 27, 200818 yr Thanks for posting these. I've always been fond of old ballparks and their history. As a matter of fact, I made a post a few years ago about WPB Municipal Stadium and what was left of it, including some pictures I took of the "ruins". Here's the link: http://www.marlinbaseball.com/forums/index...showtopic=35370 While on the subject -- have you read or heard anything about Connie Mack Field, the ballpark that for years occupied the land where the Kravis Center now sits? I've had a difficult time finding any mention of its existence other than that framed poster they have hanging in the Kravis parking lot.
March 27, 200818 yr That looks kind've like Al Lang Field. Except the stadium cover doesn't go all the way around, and it has bleachers instead of berms. (EDIT: Looking back at the old thread... that answers miami15's question after all these years. :mischief )
March 27, 200818 yr I had a soccer tournament in Homestead next to a motorcycle speedway, and there was an old baseball stadium next to the soccer. fields. They should use these for something
March 27, 200818 yr I had a soccer tournament in Homestead next to a motorcycle speedway, and there was an old baseball stadium next to the soccer. fields. They should use these for something I believe that was supposed to be the new Spring Training home of the Cleveland Indians; that is, until hurricane Andrew came and ravaged the place. The Tribe then had to settle on Winter Haven instead.
March 27, 200818 yr Author While on the subject -- have you read or heard anything about Connie Mack Field, the ballpark that for years occupied the land where the Kravis Center now sits? I've had a difficult time finding any mention of its existence other than that framed poster they have hanging in the Kravis parking lot. Here's what I've come up with: I searched it on google, and it sent me to a 'google book', "Palm Beach Past: The Best of Post Time" by Eliot Kleinberg. It said this: It was Connie Mack Field, named not for the U.S. Senator who recently retired, but for his grandfather, the legendary Philadelphia Athletics owner and manager. It was born in the boom and stood for most of the city?s history. Originally opened in 1924 as Municipal Athletic Field, it was renamed Wright Field three years later and officially named Connie Mack Field in 1952. Grandstands held about 2000; black fans watched from a small section in the right field corner. Total capacity was about 3500. The stadium hosted Spring Training for the St. Louis Browns from 1928 to 1936 and the Philadelphia Athletics from 1945 to 1962. Minor League tenants were the West Palm Beach Indians of the Florida East Coast League from 1940 to 1942 and the Florida International League from 1946 to 1954, and the Florida State League?s West Palm Beach Braves , from 1955 to 1956. The park saw some of the game?s greats, including the legendary Connie Mack and his Philadelphia Athletics. An exhibition game between the Athletics and Brooklyn Dodgers, featuring Jackie Robinson, was one of the first games to break the color barrier. Branch Rickey considered West Palm Beach for a permanent Spring Training site, but Pearl Harbor set the talks aside and Dodgertown would be lured to Vero Beach instead. The field became dormant in 1962 when the new municipal stadium was built, and the grandstand was leveled in 1973. The field was bulldozed in 1992 for a garage for the new Kravis Center. A small display about the ballpark sits near the ground floor elevators, and a plaque noting the field?s historic importance was erected in 1994. It reads, ?Go ahead, step up to the plate?. That is very interesting.
March 27, 200818 yr I had a soccer tournament in Homestead next to a motorcycle speedway, and there was an old baseball stadium next to the soccer. fields. They should use these for something I believe that was supposed to be the new Spring Training home of the Cleveland Indians; that is, until hurricane Andrew came and ravaged the place. The Tribe then had to settle on Winter Haven instead. But what bothers me is that when I look at Uruguay's professional soccer fields, only one of them(the one in my sig) is better than the one Im talking about. It bothers me that they're unused
March 29, 200818 yr Author puma your rest pic did not come out Yes, you are right, that's strange...because they worked the other day. I'll have to see what's up.
March 31, 200818 yr Is anyone here old enough to remember Bobby Maduro Stadium? I remember we had a thread about it once: http://www.marlinbaseball.com/forums/index...showtopic=35429 I'm old enough, but I wasn't living in Florida yet when it was demolished.
March 31, 200818 yr Here's another thread with pics of stadiums old and new: http://www.marlinbaseball.com/forums/index...photos&st=0
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.