Polo Grounds [IV] / Brush Stadium (1911-1963)

**Strawman** · 04-28-2009, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by SultanOfWhat

Clearly a 1963 SFGiants-Mets game - you can see the Mets program with a picture of the "new" Shea Stadium being built in Queens.

**Gary Dunaier** · 04-28-2009, 11:25 PM

No, that's 1962. The '63 Mets program had Mr. Met on the cover.

**mandrake** · 04-29-2009, 04:13 AM

Originally Posted by Gary Dunaier

No, that's 1962. The '63 Mets program had Mr. Met on the cover.

Yes, the Mets were only supposed to play at the Polo Grounds for one season. Constant delays kept pushing it back, and they eventually had to play the whole '63 season at 155th and 8th.

**Gary Dunaier** · 04-29-2009, 07:42 AM

Hence the description of the Flushing Meadows Stadium as the "new 1963 home of the New York Mets" on the cover. I've paid tribute to that by occasionally referring to Mr. Wilpon's Brooklyn fantasy as "Citi Field (new 2009 home of the New York Mets)."

**Chevy114** · 04-30-2009, 05:13 AM

Originally Posted by soup

Asbestos! What can't it do?

LOL! That made me smile for a good 2 minutes staight!

**SultanOfWhat** · 05-03-2009, 01:49 AM

**mschrader** · 05-06-2009, 07:18 AM

I found this on line. Does anybody know where I can get a better copy?

**bandit12** · 05-06-2009, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by nov. 1957

this is a shot from 10/2/1951 you can see the steps.

For proximity on google street view...I see the building in the foreground with the fire escape hasn't changed.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=155th+...78056426332295

**Bruce Boisclair** · 05-06-2009, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by alpineinc

Took the liberty of reposting your amazing picture in a larger size, with a link to the hi-res version, hope you don't mind. Great shot!!

Hi-res: http://www.whitesoxinteractive.com/g.../IMG_00164.jpg

My lord, there is more blue and orange even in the Polo Grounds than there is in Shea Diamond @ Citifield. lol

Given the way the bullpens were designed at Citifield, I was thinking a nicer, daring touch and a homage to the Polo Grounds would have been to make the gaps ridiculous so that you can put on field bullpens on the warning tracks, like at the Polo Grounds. Would have been very interesting ground rules.

**mandrake** · 05-07-2009, 07:42 AM

I would love to have this picture of the Polo Grounds on a T shirt, or a sweat shirt. Any ideas on how I could do it, considering it must be trademarked?

**bandit12** · 05-07-2009, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by mandrake

I would love to have this picture of the Polo Grounds on a T shirt, or a sweat shirt. Any ideas on how I could do it, considering it must be trademarked?

http://www.amazon.com/Hewlett-Packar.../dp/B00000J3LY

**mackenzie** · 05-07-2009, 07:06 PM

Chris Jones, his daughter, and I visited the Brush Staircase this past Tuesday. For Chris it was a mission to complete as his father was a big Giants fan, and I just like exploring old remnants of history, especially when they involve ballparks. I only became aware of its existence about a year ago despite having driven right by it numerous times on the way home from Yankee games.

The staircase does need a lot of work. The upper section turns 90 degrees to the left from the lower part, and the two sections are partially separated due to severe rusting of the steel frame. Hope the restoration project discussed here goes forward.

Chris E. - Looking forward to reading your book. Should be delivered next week.

Regards,
Mark

**hbwriter** · 05-07-2009, 07:50 PM

Mark--you guys made it--great! Good for all of you--

hope you the book--let me know if you'd like

chris@chrisepting.com

**Chris Jones** · 05-09-2009, 09:18 PM

As Mark said, He, Katherine, and I made it over to the stairway...and what a treasure, easier to find than I had anticipated (a big thanks to all you guys and your directions, etc.).

I can't believe I missed it in 2007; back then I was peering into the thick brush (no pun intended) and down into the hollow...just looking the wrong way.

The Book is marvelous...the evolution of the Ballpark is fascinating, as it grows to maturity up the side of the cliff (hollow), only to face such a sudden demise.

The Stairway is a portal to gentler time and place.

Thanks!

**hbwriter** · 05-09-2009, 10:24 PM

The Stairway is a portal to gentler time and place.

---

How beautifully put--

shoot me an email when you get the chance--i have a question about the book for you

**Chris Jones** · 05-14-2009, 11:16 AM

Chris:

The Book is like a classic movie...you watch it over and over again; it gets better with each viewing, and some new detail or perspective is seen and appreciated for the first time.

Those circles appear behind the bases...even the coaches' box is
circular in some photographs. As you said, "that ballpark has more odd touches and mysteries..."

I guess the circles go hand-in-hand with the "keyhole" path, the ornate frieze, and McGraw's love for those black uniforms.

It still strikes me...how many folks in those 1,616 apartment units, live, sleep, work, and die, never knowing of the infinite number of "Miracle(s) at Coogan's Bluff?"

The photograph of Eddie Cicotte (page 62) is a haunted (and haunting) photograph...

In closing, I find myself referring to the Polo Grounds in the present tense (as you do as well). I owe that to you and your Book. You have raised the ballpark out of the dust of an ignorant metropolis and placed it back in Coogan's Hollow.

On behalf of my Father, Thanks.

Regards,

Chris

**hbwriter** · 05-14-2009, 11:25 AM

Chris--that's about the nicest compliment I have ever received for any book I have written--I cannot thank you enough

ce

**410 FT** · 05-14-2009, 12:35 PM

Went looking for the staircase on tuesday and couldn't find it as I was on St Nicholas Pl/Harlem River Dr just above the polo grounds ---but then I went to Edgecombe above and found it. Back down to St Nicholas Pl then there had to be the ramp to the Polo Grounds to continue the walk down. I guess the only part of that thats left is the closed gate atop the hill.
So you went down the staircase,crossed St.Nicholas and then proceeded downward again. As the greenery had bloomed is there anything to the ramp left on that hill?

**Lpeters199** · 05-16-2009, 07:03 PM

Clips from the last Mets game at the Polo Grounds. No sound.

http://www.efootage.com/stock-footag...allfieldfields

**tugger** · 05-16-2009, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by Lpeters199

Clips from the last Mets game at the Polo Grounds. No sound.

http://www.efootage.com/stock-footag...allfieldfields

looks like several 10s of fans marked the historic passing.

**Dougman59** · 05-17-2009, 06:45 AM

Originally Posted by tugger

looks like several 10s of fans marked the historic passing.

LOL. When I looked at the box score the attendence was listed at around 1,752. Actually the lowest figure for the season! Sad for such historic park.

But then again it was a different time and age. I was looking up other final games at other parks, it was not uncommon for a last game to be less than capacity but usally there was some kind of bump in attendence from the per game average.

**Lpeters199** · 05-17-2009, 08:55 AM

The Mets had two "last ever" games at the Polo Grounds--everything's bigger in New York--and the first "last game" drew a better crowd than the last "last game."

**atdy17** · 05-17-2009, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by Lpeters199

The Mets had two "last ever" games at the Polo Grounds--everything's bigger in New York--and the first "last game" drew a better crowd than the last "last game."

This was probably before Shea got delayed. The Mets only wanted to play at Polo grounds for 1 season. Shea opening day was supposed to be in 1963 not 1964

**chinese home run** · 05-17-2009, 12:18 PM

Actually, the last game played at the Polo Grounds was on October 12, 1963, as the Latin-American All-Star Game was played at the PG. Juan Marichal, Orlando Cepeda, Roberto Clemente and Luis Aparicio were the future Hall-of-Famers who played there that day, and the National League All-Stars won by a score of 5-2 with 14,235 in attendance.

**Lpeters199** · 05-17-2009, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by chinese home run

Actually, the last game played at the Polo Grounds was on October 12, 1963, as the Latin-American All-Star Game was played at the PG. Juan Marichal, Orlando Cepeda, Roberto Clemente and Luis Aparicio were the future Hall-of-Famers who played there that day, and the National League All-Stars won by a score of 5-2 with 14,235 in attendance.

Wasn't the last game at the Polo Grounds played by the New York Titans in the 1963 season?