360 DEGREE VIEWS OF CROSLEY FIELD
I have tried to put together a series of images of Crosley Field as seen from all 360 degrees. It is obvious that some angles are much more prevalent than others, but I think I covered most areas.
Before
I-75
After I-75
THE AUTOMOBILE AND CROSLEY'S DEMISE
By the middle of the 1950's it became apparent that Crosley Field was in big trouble. After WWII the modes of travel for Americans began to change drastically. More and more people stopped relying on trolleys and busses to move about the city and, instead, owned their own automobile. As you can see in the first image below in 1956, the year the Reds attendance passed 1 million for the first time, the only main parking space was south of Crosley, on the west side of Dalton Street. Remember all the other parking spaces were being used by homes and businesses in the area. In the 2nd image you see the fans departing the stadium after the 1958 opener and heading south on Dalton Street. Many of these fans were going to the Cincinnati Union Terminal where they had special trains ready to take them home. Because it is opening day the city provided extra trolleys and busses to handle the large crowds. The 3rd image show the fans arriving in 1961 for a night game looking toward the stadium from Union Terminal. By the time of the 1961 World Series in the 4th image you can see the vast number of buildings that were torn down for parking lots. The path for the new I75 expressway has been cleared at the lower right. No construction went on during the World Series so fans used the area as temporary seats sitting on the roofs of their cars and trucks.
1956
Leaving
1958
Arriving 1961
World Series 1961
The first image below is basically the same as the last image above, taken a few months later on Opening Day of 1962. A newer larger stadium was needed as Crosley was one of the smallest stadiums in the league. Of course we all know the results. Riverfront Stadium was finally constructed along the Ohio River After the Reds moved to Riverfront Stadium Crosley Field was turned into a auto impounding lot before it was razed in 1972. (see 2nd row below). Queensgate North Industrial Park is now located at this site (compare the 1991 image with the 1962 image).
Opening Day
1962
1962
After
demolition
1991
1971 - Crosley Field being used as an auto impound
lot
The very first set of baseball players in color were produced by the Morgan Stationary Co. of Cincinnati in 1907. This 12 card set showed the hometown Reds and their opponents. The players all have the belts in red thus the name of this set is known as "Red Belt" postcards. Set includes minor league players from the Toledo team plus one odd exception.
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Replica Replica
Replica
The 1st card, "Use Two if Necessary", has been identified as Hans Lobert, the park is not yet known. The 2nd card, "Its All in The Game-Noise", shows Reds manager Pat Moran in a road uniform. This card and the first Huggins card feature a painted backdrop. The 3rd and 4th cards, "Huggins Second Baseman Par Excellence", depict the star second baseman Miller Huggins who led the team in batting the previous year. The 4th card shows Huggins at the Palace of the Fans. The 5th card, "After a High One", depicts an as yet unidentified player in a Reds road uniform in a unknown ball park.
The card on the left, "Out To The Long Green", shows unidentified players in the Palace of the Fans. The 2nd card, "Practice Makes Perfect", shows pitcher Sam Leever of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Palace of the Fans Park. He apparently was added because he was from Goshen Ohio. In the 3rd card, "Hit and Run", the batter shown playing in The Palace of the Fans has not been identified. The most confusing card in the series is the 4th one above titled "Safe". It shows Hall of Fame third baseman Jimmy Collins of the Boston Red Sox in action at Boston's Huntington Avenue Grounds. It shows Collins playing in dress shoes instead of baseball spikes. He is also shown at 2nd base, not at his normal 3rd base position. Why this image was used in an Ohio-themed postcard series is a mystery.
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Replica
photo used for card
In
Consultation Opening
Day 1907
All 3 of these cards are in The Palace of the Fans ballpark. The first 2 cards show Toledo players, as evidenced by their striped socks and the Toledo emblazoned across the chest of the runner in the 1st card, "A Home Run". The last card show the Reds and the Pirates on opening day 4-11-07. The Reds won 4 to 3.
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Pitchers Practice
The postcard above is not associated with the Red Belt cards. I believe the player behind the target is Honus Wagner.
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The Rev Bob Henson known as " The Singing Preacher", singing the National Anthem at Crosley Field.
Copyright
1947
Copyright 1949
A couple of postcards from the 40's combining Coke and the Reds.
The above item was given out by Frisch's Big Boy to commemorate the first game ever played at Riverfront Stadium 6/30/1970.
Riverfront Stadium was opened on June 30, 1970 and was replaced in 2003 by The Great American Ballpark. The 3rd card shows the ceremonies for the 1970 All Star Game while the 4th card show the 1975 Championship trophy the Cincinnati Reds won.
Large size Postcard
Superman?
The above photographs of Pete Rose vividly demonstrates how he played the game every day.
Rose Breaks Cobb's Record
FOR MORE
SPORTS 
