Wahconah Park

Wahconah Park is a city-owned baseball park located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and nestled in a working-class neighborhood. One of the last remaining ballparks in the United States with a wooden grandstand, it was originally constructed in 1892 and currently seats 4,500. Through the park's history, 201 different Pittsfield players went on to the Major Leagues, and 100 different Pittsfield players already had some Major League experience. Wahconah Park, the Short Story As researched & written by: David J. Potts “Build it and they will come”... Over-used phrase? Maybe, but George W. Burbank did build it in 1892 ... and they’ve been coming for 125 years. To truly experience the history of Wahconah Park one must step back in time. Back to an era when important Major League baseball games were often times listened to via the broadcasting efforts of a telegraph office operator. A time without radio, television or reliable transportation to allow one to attend a game in a distant city. It was a time when the "Boy's of Summer" captured the attention of everyone in America. They need not belong to the Major League's, they might only be your hometown semi-pro team, ... it mattered not. Baseball mania was not new to Pittsfield, MA, in 1892. "Bafeball" (as it was spelled in a 1791 town bylaw) had been a local favorite pastime for many years before it was ever acknowledged as a sporting event. What was to be new to Pittsfield in 1892 was a good and easily accessible place for sporting events and George W. Burbank was going to make that happen. George W. Burbank owned about eight acres of land out back of Brennan's Saloon and on the morning of June 14, 1892, he started the transformation of that land into a fine base ball diamond. The ground would be leveled and sodded and a grandstand would be erected, and the park would be completely fenced in. A ticket office would be built at the street with the entrance to the park just behind it. It would share the name of the street it was located on, hence "Wahconah Park." Newspapers were not as easily given to headlines as they are today, thus a few pages back in the Wednesday, August 10, 1892 edition of the Berkshire County Eagle the story read as follows. Wahconah Park. Successful Opening Yesterday. Pittsfield Easily Defeats The Gises. The new Wahconah park was successfully opened yesterday (August 9, 1892) with a base ball game between the newly organized Pittsfield team and the Gises, a semi-professional team of Albany, NY. When the game commenced there were about 500 people on the grounds with some 125 availing themselves the opportunity of sitting in the first grandstand on a ball park in this city. The grandstand is directly in back of the catcher and the bleachers (on the left as you go in) were crowded and plainly showed how they will be appreciated by the people who are unable to pay the extra fifteen cents. The team, selected by Manager Arthur William’s, is just as fine as the grounds and presented a fine appearance in their new uniforms of brown with black trimmings and black caps and belts. When rain stopped the game after six and one half innings the score was Pittsfield 12 - Gises 1 and what umpire Cain had set in motion at precisely 4:05 PM on that August afternoon in 1892 continues today, "baseball at Wahconah Park." Baseball at Wahconah Park continued through 1892, and with knowledge of other cities possessing semipro baseball teams, each city would contact the other via letter or telegraph asking to arrange for a game to be played. However crude the early methods of scheduling, the stage was being set for organized league baseball and in 1894 Pittsfield entered into the New York State League. The “Pittsfields” as they were called, was the only team in the league of six cities that wasn’t located in the State of New York. Scheduling, along with financial issues, primarily caused by rain-canceled games led to the teams withdrawing from the league after a brief thirty game history which has largely gone unrecorded. In these early years of Wahconah Park’s history the venue was host to many of the semipro “colored teams” of that era such as the Cuban Giants and the Brooklyn Royal Giants. In 1895 the park even had a private grandstand section that could be reserved for the more “affluent” fan of the game. Wahconah Park would continue to play host to Semipro, County and City league as well as High School baseball right up until the start of the Spanish American war which then captured the attention of America and anything less than National League caliber baseball would take an extended hiatus. During this period Wahconah Parks grand old baseball venue would occasionally lend itself to traveling Circus performances, such as the “Leon W. Washburns Big Show” and the “Robinson & Franklin Bros. Circus”. With the decline of local organized league baseball, neglect and deterioration was eminent for the one time pride of George W. Burbank and the park would survive only through its leasing to independent promoters and private interests. The park was once used during the fall of 1905 to corral wild horses brought in by railroad from the mid-west and pastured at Wahconah Park while awaiting sale. It wouldn’t be until a return to organized league baseball that interest in restoring the grand old park would foster itself in the minds of the devoted followers of the game. In 1905, Pittsfield had a team in the “Hudson River League” that played their home games exclusively at the Berkshire Athletic Field. Although there were many baseball diamonds within the Pittsfield city limits, Wahconah Park was still the venue of choice for many. Playing county and city league baseball did not require the amenities that professional level baseball was expected to provide and in September of 1908 the talk turned to forming a “Pittsfield Baseball Association” complete with plans to issue a public stock offering. By this time a completely new grandstand and fenced enclosure were needed to bring Wahconah Park back to life and by March of 1909 work on the project was well underway. The April 20, 1909 newspaper report called the new grandstand a “Bully One”. It will seat 1,100 people on a busy day and the bleachers will accommodate 450 and nearly $4,000 had been spent so far on the project. The report went on to say that few cities can boast of a field more picturesquely laid out or a grandstand that possesses so many elements of stability and attractiveness. It measured in at 138 feet long x 38 feet wide and was located at the extreme south end of the great field. Along the east side of the field and at right angles to the grandstand would be the bleachers which had previously been used at the “Common”, a city owned park. Only the best timber was selected to go into the grandstand. Girders 10x12 inches, posts 10x10 inches, stringers 2x12 inches, rafters 2x12 and so on. A three-ply roof had been constructed and the stand up near the roof had been left open thereby permitting a free circulation of air. The stand faced north and home plate was located in a direct line from the center of the grandstand. Dressing rooms would be fitted underneath the grandstand for the players and the park’s first telephone was installed, (number 118). There was 1,940 feet of 8 foot high unpainted hemlock fence used to enclose the playing field while the wood used in the grandstand was spruce. Parades, bands and having first pitches thrown out by mayors were commonplace at opening day baseball games and in 1909 Pittsfield was no different than any other city with a baseball team and a ballpark. Admission into the park and bleacher seating was 25 cents with an additional 15 cents to sit in the grandstand. As in 1894 Ladies were admitted free but were charged 15 cents for grandstand seats. Boys under 12 were admitted to the grounds free but had to remain in a spot out of the way of adults unless they paid for seating. Although admission was free to the young boys there was still a “Coogan’s Bluff” crowd viewing the game from a hill to the east of the grounds. With a final score of 7-4 in the home teams favor and over 900 in attendance, the mid-May 1909 Wahconah Park opening game was a success by all accounts. If anything negative could be said about the day it would be that a large canvas was subsequently installed along the fence to hide the view of the park from the hill across the street and boys were no longer to be admitted free due to a number of them not abiding by the rules that accompanied the privilege. By the first of June baseball at Wahconah Park had become so popular that grandstand seating sales were exceeding its capacity of 1,100 people and unseated fans had to be reimbursed money. Crowds of 2,400 were commonplace in the park. Local merchants were placing advertising on the outfield fence offering prizes to anyone hitting their signs. By 1912 talk of a Pittsfield team re-entering League baseball was being promoted by Jack A. Zeller. In a takeover move the former “Connecticut League” would now become the “Eastern Association” and Pittsfield would be one of the two expansion teams that would make up the eight-club circuit contingent upon securing a (league required) enclosed playing field. Mr. Zeller wasted no time in forming a fund raising drive to help with the purchase of the lease for Wahconah Park which was held by Fred M. Osteyee. Wishing to retire from involvement in baseball and to sell his lease, Mr. Osteyee had asked for a price of $4,000 for his holdings in Wahconah Park. However, after some “political wrangling” and the concerted fund raising efforts of the citizens of Pittsfield and surrounding communities, the $2,669.60 total that had been raised was accepted and Pittsfield was entered into the “Eastern Association”. The next public contribution to the process would occur through a “team naming” contest that resulted with the “Electrics,” a reference to the cities largest industry General Electric Co. The winner of the contest, Wilmer W. Kendall of Pittsfield was awarded a “seasons book” to the home games. Over 2,000 people witnessed the 1913 late April opening day game at Wahconah Park that the Electrics won 5-2 over a Springfield team called the Ponies. And for the next two years the Pittsfield Electrics would draw over 70,000 fans per year into Wahconah Park to watch minor league baseball at its finest. A league breakdown, combined with the start of the first World War, would interrupt Pittsfields favorite pastime and Wahconah Park would once again be inhabited primarily by High School and City league caliber baseball. Although yet unknown, the future of minor league baseball at Wahconah Park would hold great promise. Following the end of World War One, 1919 was to become an important year in Pittsfield with regard to Wahconah Park. About mid-March the Pittsfield Park Commission and the Park and Playground Association recommended to the city’s Finance Committee the acquisition of a tract of land for future recreational use that included the Wahconah Park property along with another 40 acres or so. About the same time the land acquisition was being discussed “league baseball” was once again the topic of conversation in baseball circles around town. Unknown to all but those directly involved was the fact that Pittsfield was about to have donated to it, the large parcel of land that included Wahconah Park. According to the current deed of record, the heirs of the George W. Burbank estate conveyed four parcels of land, one of which is known as the Wahconah Park property and any lands adjacent thereto, for consideration of one dollar and other valuable consideration, to the City of Pittsfield on June 27, 1919. About the same time the property gift was being considered the city had decided to send a representative to an Eastern League meeting in Springfield, MA to investigate the possibilities of obtaining a franchise but with no authority to actually purchase one. When the representative learned he could purchase the New London franchise and players for $1,000 he couldn’t resist contacting friends of financial means and got assurances the necessary backing would be there. Pittsfield was about to become franchised in the eight team Eastern League. All that was needed was a “Snappy” team name and that would again be decided through a public naming contest with a season ticket being offered for the best title submitted. Out of 510 names submitted the team would ultimately become known as the “Hillies” and a fine baseball team they were. Although deprived of playing the 1919 season opener at Wahconah Park, due to the flooded condition of the field, play commenced on the “Common” with the Springfield Ponies beating the Hillies 5-2. The Hillies would enjoy many a winning game in the old ballpark. In fact they won the 1919 Eastern League pennant in their homefield Wahconah Park. In June of 1920 they held the ceremonial pennant raising at the outfield fence flagpole with past and current presidents of the Pittsfield Baseball Association along with Eastern League president Daniel O’Neil and others in attendance. The pennant raising ceremony would be repeated again in 1922, as the Hillies would also win the 1921 Eastern League pennant. 1921 would not only be marked by a winning season but would also be the year the Boston Red Sox would play two exhibition games against the Hillies in Wahconah Park. Those two games were played on August 11th and again on August 31st. with the Eastern League Champion "Hillies" winning one of the two games. In 1922 the Boston Red Sox would play two more exhibition games against the Hillies in Wahconah Park and another on June 25,1928. The Hillies won three of those five Boston Red Sox appearances at the old Pittsfield ballpark. As famous as the Boston Red Sox were, the years ahead would see equally well known’s grace Wahconah Parks basepaths. In 1922, the park played host to "The World’s Greatest Athlete," Jim Thorpe. Jim played in Wahconah Park against the Hillies with the Hartford Senators before being released and becoming a player with the Worcester team. He would play two more games at Wahconah Park with the Worcester club in 1922. 1923 would prove uneventful, however in 1924 another (yet to be) famous player would step to the plate at Wahconah Park. Before getting caught in 1921 playing under the (assumed) name of "Henry Lewis," (which cost him a penalty year of active collegiate sports) Lou Gehrig had already played first base for the Hartford Senators but in 1924 he was doing it legally. The NY-Yankees had offered him a deal he couldn't refuse and against his Mothers wishes, Lou dropped out of Columbia University and accepted a contract to play baseball with the Yankees farm team, the Hartford Senators. Lou Gehrig would play in no less than five games at Wahconah Park, hitting his 35th home run of the season over the left center field fence in a long drive that’s mentioned in every recounting of that day. Back then one wouldn't have believed a crystal ball prediction of the "who's-who" of baseball that would hone their craft inside the fence of Wahconah Park over the next eight decades. One most recognizable name to the baseball world is Boston National outfielder, Charles Dillon "Casey” Stengel. By 1925 Casey Stengel had become the owner and playing-manager of the Eastern League Worcester team. Although there was little doubt the real owner was the Boston National club, the rules of organized baseball at that time prevented a major league club from owning a minor league club and making it their training ground for young players. Casey's team would play baseball in Wahconah Park on four occasions in 1925 but none more memorable than the second game of a double-header on July 30th. in which Casey was banished from the park. The newspaper account had it that Casey was called out on strikes in the first inning of the second game and he didn't like it. Casey sat beside the bats near the dugout and refused to move when asked to do so. The umpire then pulled his watch for a warning count, threatening to forfeit the game if Casey didn't leave. Not wishing to cost his team a forfeit, Casey departed and watched the rest of the game from the grandstand. Adding insult to injury, the umpire fined him $25.00 for his act of insubordination and worse even yet, it all happened on Casey Stengel's 35th birthday. Eastern League baseball would disappear from Wahconah Park in 1930 as a direct result of the “Great Depression”. In 1942 the Canadian-American League made its debut at Wahconah Park with a familiar team name, the Pittsfield “Electrics”. Throughout the 1940s the park would play host to boxing greats such as the world featherweight boxing champion, “Willie Pep”, the former featherweight boxing champion, “Sandy Saddler”, and the former lightweight boxing champion “Paddy DeMarco”. In 1964 former welterweight and middleweight world champion “Sugar Ray Robinson” would give Clarence Riley a boxing lesson in front of a Wahconah Park crowd. During the fifties the park even hosted professional wrestling. Over the years the park would see refurbishing and additions to the grandstand and bleachers, there would be outfield and infield diamond adjustments made to improve the quality of play. Lighting for evening baseball would be installed permanently in 1946 and a new grandstand with a “pile foundation” was erected in 1950. Although there have been many changes made since the first “play ball” was heard on August 9, 1892, some things have remained constant for those 115 years. The venue known as Wahconah Park has remained in its original location and has hosted everything from Baseball, Boxing, Circus performances and Drum & Bugle competitions. Its been said that the park once served as an overnight campground for the U.S. ARMY when they passed through town in the 1930s. The 1st Babe Ruth “State Tournament” was held in Wahconah Park in August of 1952. Football is played every fall in Wahconah Park as it has been for generations. Wahconah Park has played a significant role in the lives of well over 100 Major League baseball players that started out their careers playing for a Pittsfield minor league team. Among them are current and future Baseball Hall of Fame inductees. (See list included) Wahconah Park has served Pittsfield and its surrounding communities recreational and entertainment needs for well over a century and will no doubt continue to do so for many more years if protected and promoted through historic designation. Wahconah Park has been written about in Sports Illustrated, Money magazine and the Country Journal. The Parks history has been referenced on countless occasions in many major newspaper articles We may not be looking at the same structure that George W. Burbank built in 1892, but we are looking at the exact same venue (conceptually) that George did ... over a century ago. In the July 23, 1990 issue of Sports Illustrated, author Daniel Okrent raved about the park in his column entitled Just A Little Bit of Heaven – Pittsfield's Wahconah Park is Baseball as it Oughta Be. In 2012, the stadium became the home field of the Pittsfield Suns, an expansion franchise of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League.