Griffith Stadium - history, photos and more of the Washington Senators former ballpark

Griffith Stadium - history, photos and more of the Washington Senators former ballpark

The site that Griffith Stadium stood for 50 years was the site where several other ballparks were located. The National League Washington Senators originally played at National Park in 1892. However the National League club went bankrupt and the new Washington Senators were formed as part of the newly formed American League in 1894. Built of mainly wood, National Park burned while the team was at spring training on March 17, 1911. However, a new ballpark was immediately constructed of steel and concrete. The stadium was not completed by opening day, July 24, 1911, but a single deck was completed. By mid season in 1911, the ballpark was completed. The grandstand extended around homeplate and down the baselines, and a second deck extended around homeplate and the infield. Bleachers extended from the left field foul pole to centerfield. Once completed the capacity at the ballpark was 27,410. A presidential box was constructed near the first base dugout for the President of the United States. William Howard Taft became the first President to attend baseball games and to throw out the opening pitch. The outfield wall at National Park varied in height (from 4 to 12 feet) and was very quirky. Centerfield jutted into the outfield because of a huge tree and five houses that owners would not sell to the team. Share | Share on facebook Share on email Share on favorites Share on print FACTS & FIGURES -Tenants: Washington Senators (MLB), Washington Redskins (NFL) -Capacity: 27,410 -Surface: Grass -Cost: Unknown -Opened: 1892/July 24, 1911 -Closed: September 21, 1961 -Demolished: January 1965 -Dimensions: 407-L, 421-C, 320-R (original) 388-L, 421-C, 320-R (final) -Architect: Osborn Engineering   ALLIANCE TICKETS -MLB Tickets -Washington Nationals Tickets -Nationals Park Tickets In 1920, National Park was renamed Griffith Stadium after the owner of the Senators, Clark Griffith. The same year, the stadium was expanded for the only time during its existence. The grandstand was double decked to both the left and right field foul lines. However, the new second deck of Griffith Stadium did not connect to the original grandstand because the original stands were graded differently. Griffith Stadium remained unchanged after this addition. The scoreboard was in right field and made up part of the 30ft. high outfield wall. The bullpens were located in right centerfield and the first night game at Griffith Stadium was on May 28, 1941. In the late 1950s, the Washington Senators began to drop in the standings leading to a decline in attendance at Griffith Stadium. Owner Calvin Griffith began looking to relocate the team. Griffith decided to move the Senators to Minneapolis’s Metropolitan Stadium after the 1960 season. Baseball was back again at Griffith Stadium the next year as MLB placed an expansion franchise in DC. The new Washington Senators played at Griffith Stadium for one season in 1961 before moving again, this time to the new D.C. Stadium. The last game played at Griffith Stadium was on September 21, 1961. The stadium was demolished in 1965 and is now the site of Howard University Hospital. MEMORABLE MOMENTS AT GRIFFITH STADIUM All Star Game: 1937 & '56 World Series: 1924, '25, '33 Mickey Mantle's 565 ft. homerun in 1953. 500th career win by Cy Young on July 19, 1910. Pitcher Walter Johnson compiles 243 strikeouts and 1.09 ERA in 1913.     GRIFFITH STADIUM VIDEO EXPERIENCE GRIFFITH STADIUM PICTURES Click to Enlarge Pictures -Have Pictures of this Ballpark? Send them in! STADIUM SITE TODAY 1951 View Larger Map LOCATION: On the campus of Howard University, along Fifth and Seventh Streets.	BALLPARK MERCHANDISE Griffith Stadium Washington Senators 3D Ballpark Replica "Grand Old Griffith" Washington Senators Print) Nationals 8x10 Game Used Dirt Plaque Nationals Park Poster Nationals Park Ticket Frame 16"x20" Framed Washington Nationals First Pitch on Opening Day at Nationals Park 13.5" x 39" Framed Buy Ballparks of Baseball's Nationals Park Photos Sizes Vary More Nationals Park Items Other Ballpark Items
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