Exposition Park (Pittsburgh) [all variations]

[Mario Mendoza...HOF Lock]

Surprisingly there is no thread for Pittsburgh's pre-Forbes era stadium known as Exhibition Park (actually there were three). HERE is a brief Wikipedia entry which covers the history of the stadium in general. It sat near the future site of Three Rivers Stadium & PNC Park. A better article tells the story a little deeper: Exhibition Park: The Birthplace of Pittsburgh Baseball

Anyway, here is the Exposition Park site today.

(from t2buck.com)

These 2 are from the Library of Congress, probably from the very early '00's:
Exposition is visible on the enlargement towards the top right.
ENLARGE


This is an amazing photo that shows two games in progress. The Exhibition game was likely either the Pirates or a post-Forbes semi pro game, and the other game could have been semi-pro or little league. Notice the cone shaped towers have been removed by this time.
ENLARGE


Exposition seen in the distance during a 1904 flood


More big crowds in 1904


This shows a good side profile of the park (From user NationalPasttime/Flickr)

[StadiumPage]

I visited the site in 06 when I was last at PNC. The home plate is marked:


There's also one of those historical markers on the riverwalk:

[StadiumGraveyard]

I think I have couple of shots for Exposition, not in this thread on Stadium Graveyard.

[BeatEmBucs]

I visited the site in 06 when I was last at PNC. The home plate is marked:

That needs a more permanent marker....or at least a re-spray.

[StadiumPage]

That needs a more permanent marker....or at least a re-spray.

Yea, this was in 2006 actually, so if it hasn't been repainted since then it probably works a lot worse now.

[BSmile]

1915 Pittsburgh's Exposition Park Panoramic
Home Of The Pittsburgh Rebels (Federal League)
1915 Rebels Team Stats
Click Here To See Full-Sized (2932 x 1216)

[Pelt]

A few from a Heinz historical pic site:

Expo1.jpg
Expo2.jpg
Expo3.jpg

[Chevy114]

I wonder how much land on the waterfront cost back then? I bet it was through the roof with the industrial facilities needed water access.

[doctor_gogol]

I visited the site in 06 when I was last at PNC. The home plate is marked:


There's also one of those historical markers on the riverwalk:

I'm wondering how accurate the placement of the plate is.

[StadiumPage]

I'm wondering how accurate the placement of the plate is.

The plate was marked by SABR, so its likely very close. It is not where the PA historic marker is though. That's on the riverwalk. The plate is/was in a parking lot just east of Heinz Field.

[StadiumPage]

Here's an article about it:
http://rockymtn.sabr.org/sabr.cfm?a=cms,c,572,9,0

[alpineinc]

Honus Wagner in Exposition Park action, 1909. Light cap and uni, solid stockings on the road would make the opponent likely Boston, possibly Chicago.

15822a_lg.jpeg

http://www.mearsonlineauctions.com/L...px?lotid=15822

[alpineinc]

Brooklyn Tip-Tops in town (Federal League) to take on the Rebels. Love the unusual cave-like dugouts of this park.

6a29632r.jpg

Crop of visiting dugout
expkcrop1.jpg
Huge size (full photo)

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2007663782/


Crop from panoramic earlier in thread showing dugouts

expkpan.jpg

[Pelt]

Look at that foul territory. You'd almost have to hit a foul ball the same distance as a home run for it to reach the stands. lol

[alpineinc]

Look at that foul territory. You'd almost have to hit a foul ball the same distance as a home run for it to reach the stands. lol

Can almost have a practice game in that area at the same time. Here's a zoom from the great pic Mario posted at the top of the thread showing the huge foul area (a great scene in it's own right - both horseless carriages and a horse and buggy can be seen, as well as a second game going on right outside the stadium!).

exp1.jpg


Also, it appears that the area was so large, that they continued the right field foul line straight through foul territory to the first base side wall, as shown passing through the players lineup here (thought it was the left field line at first, but doesn't add up at all). While Forbes also had its share of foul ground, it definitely improved upon this setup.