Broke ground 1921 Capacity 12,500 | Opened 1921 Demolished 1955 | |
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Former names Clarkin Field (1921-1927) Location Hanmer & George Sts,off Franklin Ave.Hartford, Connecticut Similar Beehive Field, New Britain Stadium, Parkway Field, Braves Field, The Bushnell Center for | ||
Morgan G. Bulkeley Stadium was a sporting event stadium located in Hartford, Connecticut and the site of Babe Ruth's final baseball game. The facility was home to the Eastern League's Hartford Senators, the Hartford Blues of the National Football Leagueand included a 1/5 mile dirt oval for motor sports. Originally named Clarkin Field from 1921–1927, the stadium was renamed for former Connecticut Governor and First President of the National League, Morgan Bulkeley in 1927.
James H. Clarkin, owner of the Hartford Senators replaced the old Wethersfield Ave baseball grounds with the new Clarkin Field in 1921, which later became Bulkeley Stadium. The site was located at Hanmer Street and George Street off of Franklin Avenue. There was a fine playing surface laid out and had erected one of the best minor league structures in the country, with a stand of steel and concrete and dressing rooms, shower baths and complete modern equipment. In 1927 fire destroyed the stand and fence but was rebuilt in less than a month. After only playing away games during the beginning of the season, the Hartford Senators returned to Hartford for a Gala opening of Bulkeley Stadium in July 1927. According to the "Hartford Courant" Clarkin died 6 years later on March 12, 1933.
The stadium was the home of Hartford's various minor league baseball teams such as the Hartford Chiefs, Hartford Senators, Hartford Laurels, Hartford Bees of the Eastern League between 1921 and 1952. Lou Gehrig, Jim Thorpe, Leo Durocher, Hank Greenberg, Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain all played for these teams at one point in their careers. When the Boston Braves moved to Milwaukee at the end of the 1952 season, Hartford's minor league team was relocated.
On September 30, 1945, George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr. played in a charity game at Bulkeley Stadium for the Savitt Gems of the Greater Hartford Twilight Baseball League. At an old age of 50, Ruth entered the game as a pinch-hitter and grounded out to the opposing pitcher. The ballgame was Babe Ruth's final appearance of his playing career. Bulkeley Stadium fell into disarray and was demolished in 1955. The location of the stadium is currently a nursing home. A historical plaque was dedicated there in 1998.
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