Old Baseball Stadiums

As many of you know, I am a huge baseball fan.  I try to go to games at any city that I visit.  I have been known to drop plans with friends and family over important games.

I will be writing many posts throughout the season of the different stadiums that I have visited.  The first post will be about stadiums that are not in use by baseball teams any more.  They have been dropped for newer stadiums. 

Rickwood Field, Birmingham, Alabama

  
This stadium sits in a far corner of Birmingham.  It was the home of the Birmingham Barons and the Black Barons (back when the leagues were separated by color).  It is still used for a few league games each year, but mostly in movies and tv shows needing an older style stadium (it is the first stadium shown in the movie 42: The Jackie Robinson Story).  Free self guided tours are available.  You can even go out onto the playing field, if they aren't getting ready for an event.


RFK Stadium, Washington, DC

When Major League Baseball decided that they wanted to bring baseball back to our nation's capital, they decided to bring the team back to the previous home of the Washington Senators. It was the home of the Redskins and is now the home of the D. C. United MLS team.  The Washington Nationals called RFK home for a few years.  A subway stop is located nearby.  You walk around the National Guard Armory to arrive at the stadium.  It is an older stadium, with very few concession areas or restrooms.  A new stadium was built downtown in 2007.

Shea Stadium, Flushing, Queens, New York

Shea Stadium was the previous home of the New York Mets.  It was built in 1961.  I was not able to visit during baseball season so I just walked around the stadium to get some pictures.  Being a Braves fan, I know it as one that Chipper played in so well that the fans booed him every chance that they could.  It was demolished to make room for parking for the new Citi Field (built right behind Shea).  The number 7 subway stop is Mets/Williets Point.  The Arthur Ashe Stadium (home of the U. S. Open) is nearby, along with Flushing Meadows Park and the globe and towers leftover from the World's Fair.

Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York

The House That Ruth Built was opened in 1923.  Ride the subway to 161St/ Yankee Stadium stop.  The old stadium was located right off the stop.  Since the line is elevated, you go down the stairs to get to the stadium.  Some restaurants, bars, and shops are under the line.  I was not able to see a game at this stadium either, so I only have a few pictures.  I was able to walk around and see the construction of the new stadium across the street.  It is also called Yankee Stadium.  Many of the statues and memorabilia have been transferred over.