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Early history of baseball in San Francisco, California.
Contents
Portsmouth Square
It has been speculated that the game of baseball was played in California by men during the Gold Rush of 1849 when Alexander Cartwright, who is sometimes referred to as "the father of baseball", came to San Francisco and is reported to have brought his baseball to the city in 1849. The Daily Alta California newspaper reports a game of base ball being played upon the Plaza (Portsmouth Square) "by a number of the sporting gentlemen about town", on February 3, 1851. Mention of the play of a game of Townball at Portmouth Square is recorded in The Daily Alta California newspaper on January 14, 1852. An early town leader serving on the city council as second alcalde, or assistant mayor, of San Francisco during the years 1849-1854 was Frank Turk a New York Knickerbocker. According to historian Frank Joel, baseball was formally introduced into California, at San Francisco in 1859.
The beginning years, 1860s
In the 1860s baseball grew in prominence in San Francisco, with the first game reported to be between the Eagles and the Red Rovers on February 22, 1860. The San Francisco Directory in 1860 identifies three base ball clubs, the Eagle, Em Quad, and Excelsior Clubs. In 1867 it was reported that "baseball clubs are now the rage" and the game of baseball drew plaudits from influential quarters. That year marked the establishment of the first baseball league in San Francisco known as the Pacific Coast Base Ball Convention with play 14 clubs from San Francisco, Oakland and Santa Clara county. The San Francisco clubs were named the Eagles, Pacifics, Lafayettes, Knickerbockers, Atlantics, Bay City, Empires, Brodericks and the Cosmopolitans. The 1867 championship game, between the Atlantic and Cosmopolitan clubs, was won by the Cosmopolitans by a score 50 to 45 on April 27, 1867. In the 1870s additional teams were named the Libertys, Wide Awakes (Oakland), Alhambra, Americans, Excelciors and the San Franciscos.
First baseball park, Recreation Grounds
California's and San Francisco's first enclosed professional baseball park, located in the heavily Irish workingman Mission District, was named simply 'The Recreation Grounds' and opened November 26, 1868 and operated until November 23, 1884. Built on the site of the Pioneer Race Course, a horse race track owned by George Treat, and the facility was used for multi-purposes including base ball games and cricket matches as early as October 1860. The grandstand accommodated initially a capacity of 12,000 fans and was later expanded to hold 17,000. Home of the Pacific Baseball League beginning in 1878, was owned an operated by the politically active Captain Al Fritz of the influential Workingman's Party of California in partnership with Samuel Shear on land leased from San Francisco Mayor Andrew J. Bryant. In the later years after the death of Fritz, the Recreation Grounds was leased by Waller Walace and Andy Pierce for organized ball play with the preeminent team of that era being the Haverlys. In 1879 league play included a new Military League, organized by newspaper reporter Joseph H. McCloskey, drawn from teams of local militias which were generally aligned along ethnic lines. The period of 1881 to 1886 saw league play from the California League which failed to achieve much organizational competence, during the year 1883 for instance, there was only 36 games among four teams.
The location of this ballpark bordered Harrison, Twenty-Fifth, Folsom and Twenty-Sixth Streets, including present day Garfield Square. Photo. Other teams playing in Recreation Grounds included the Eagles, Wide Awakes, Niantics, Woonsockets and the Reddingtons. 37°45′2.63″N 122°24′49.33″W
Amateur and practice fields
19th Century amateur and practice fields. During the 1870s and 1880s baseball was a very popular recreation in San Francisco with amateur games and practices held prior to professional games at the professional parks, and at fields located at 15th and Folsom, 25th and Howard in the Mission District, at 8th and Harrison South of Market and at Filmore and Geary in the Richmond. A sand lot baseball field was located at Pierce and Haight Streets, 1886 photo.
Haight Street Grounds
Haight-Street Recreation Grounds. Following a league dispute at the Central Park grounds, James Fair established a new ball park in 1886 known as the Alameda Grounds on the island of Alameda for play of the California League, which was moved the following year for play at a new baseball park in the Haight District. With grandstands seating 14,000 and located at the terminus of a railcar line. 1887 to March 1895. The borders of this ball park were Stanyan, Waller, Cole and Frederic Streets Photo. Teams playing in this park included the Greenhood & Morans both of Oakand, the Colonels of the California League (1887–89), the Haverlys andFriscoes - California League (1887–1893), the San Franciscos - California State League (1896 only), Brewers - California League (1897–1901) and the Pirates - Pacific National League (1903). 37°46′3.17″N 122°27′5.46″W
Central Park
1884-1906 In the South of Market district, known under the name 'Central Park' at the corner of 8th and Market Streets, a stadium with seating for 15,000, Daniel R. McNeil opened a professional baseball stadium on Thanksgiving Day 1884, and was used for play of the Pacific Coast Baseball League from 1886 until June 1887. 37°46′25.81″N 122°24′30.79″W
This ball park on April 28, 1888 became the home of the newly formed California State League. This park was destroyed by 1906 earthquake/fire.
Location: 8th and Market Streets 1901 Photo. Occupants:Recreation Park
Mission District Recreation Park April 6, 1907 until 1930. - 1930s 37°46′1.87″N 122°25′23.93″W
Occupants: Location: 14th Street (north, right field); Valencia Street (east, first base); 15th Street (south, third base); Guerrero Street (west, left field) Photo. Currently: Housing projectEwing Field
Ewing Field, 1914 to 1938 (located in the Richmond District, on Masonic between Geary and Turk; the Seals played at Ewing Field for one year in 1914, but returned to the Valencia Street Recreation Park the next year following many criticisms of the cold, windy, foggy weather at Ewing Field) In June 1926 the stadium burned down from a fire started by a cigarette. From 1926 until 1938 the field remained unoccupied.
Occupant: San Francisco Seals - Pacific Coast League (1914) Location: Masonic Avenue (east, third base); St. Rose's Avenue (now Anza Street, north, first base) Currently: Ewing Terrace (street and housing development)