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 League Park
Cleveland, OH
Home of the Cleveland Indians for over 50
years, many fans probably wish that the team would have stayed at
the park instead of moving to Cleveland Municipal Stadium. A new
ballpark was built for the National League Cleveland franchise and was ready
by opening day, May 1, 1891. Named League Park the ballpark could seat 9,000 fans. Built mainly of wood, the
single deck grandstand was behind homeplate, a covered pavilion
was behind first base and bleachers were located at various other
places in the park. However by the 1910 season, League Park was completely dismantled and rebuilt of steel and concrete,
allowing the capacity to increase. A double deck grandstand now
extended from the right field foul pole to homeplate and around to
about the left field foul pole. The lower deck extended around the
left field foul pole and to left field. A small section of wooden
bleachers were located in left center field. The ballpark could now
seat 18,000 fans. League Park’s playing field was shaped like a
rectangle. The owners of buildings next to League Park would not
move or sell their property. This made the right field fence very
short at 290 ft. making it 40 feet high. In 1920, League Park was
renamed Dunn Field in honor of the owner of the team, James Dunn.
The same year a section of bleachers were constructed in centerfield after
the Indians won the pennant. The ballpark was renamed League Park in
1927. By the late 1920s a new stadium was being built along the
lakefront in Cleveland. The Indians decided to move to this new stadium,
Cleveland Municipal Stadium on July 31, 1932. The team continued
to play full time at Cleveland Municipal Stadium until the end of
the 1933 season. However beginning in 1934, the Indians began
playing at League Park on weekdays and on holidays until 1947. The
team finally moved out of League Park because the ballpark never had
lights. League Park stood until 1951 when it was demolished.
The only part of the stadium that remains today is the ticket booth.
Part of the original grandstand has been demolished recently.
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