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asrivkin · 05-31-2024, 09:24 AM

Today we have the first home of the Los Angeles Dodgers: Brooklyn's Washington Park. The team joined the American Association as the Atlantics in 1884, with the name change to the Bridegrooms/Grooms coming late in their tenure at this park. This was their home park when they won the AA pennant in 1889, though the park suffered a destructive fire in May of that year and was rebuilt. The rebuilt park served out the rest of that season and the next season, when the team jumped to the NL and won the pennant there as well. In 1891 the Grooms moved to Eastern Park. In 1898 the team moved back to the area, though that Washington Park was built a few blocks away.

Google Drive Link to Washington Park 1884-1889

So, a quick note about this 1889 fire. It happened on May 19th, 1889 and the newspaper accounts of the time say "The old grand stands were almost entirely consumed", but by the 30th the team was back at the grounds and hosted "nine or ten thousand people" and said the park was "as commodious as the old stand" but "not quite so handsome". That's really all I've been able to find to work from for the 1889-1890 park, other than reports that the grandstand was dismantled and rebuilt at Eastern Park. So, I'd like to claim artistic and historical license and suggest that the 1884-1889 park also be used for 1889-1890, which would complete the Dodgers franchise.

The model seems OK once I tracked down what was making its .obj file gigantic. There's some photo evidence of various parts of it and an insurance map. There are some funny assymetries, which I'm taking to be real. The field was apparently well below the street grid in Gowanus, which was raised above its original level. The stone house used for the clubhouse (and which survived the fire) is a historic house that was rebuilt near its original location and can be visited today.

Enjoy!

05-31-2024, 09:24 AM	#116
asrivkin Major Leagues Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Maryland Posts: 341	Washington Park, Brooklyn 1884-1889 Today we have the first home of the Los Angeles Dodgers: Brooklyn's Washington Park. The team joined the American Association as the Atlantics in 1884, with the name change to the Bridegrooms/Grooms coming late in their tenure at this park. This was their home park when they won the AA pennant in 1889, though the park suffered a destructive fire in May of that year and was rebuilt. The rebuilt park served out the rest of that season and the next season, when the team jumped to the NL and won the pennant there as well. In 1891 the Grooms moved to Eastern Park. In 1898 the team moved back to the area, though that Washington Park was built a few blocks away. Google Drive Link to Washington Park 1884-1889 So, a quick note about this 1889 fire. It happened on May 19th, 1889 and the newspaper accounts of the time say "The old grand stands were almost entirely consumed", but by the 30th the team was back at the grounds and hosted "nine or ten thousand people" and said the park was "as commodious as the old stand" but "not quite so handsome". That's really all I've been able to find to work from for the 1889-1890 park, other than reports that the grandstand was dismantled and rebuilt at Eastern Park. So, I'd like to claim artistic and historical license and suggest that the 1884-1889 park also be used for 1889-1890, which would complete the Dodgers franchise. The model seems OK once I tracked down what was making its .obj file gigantic. There's some photo evidence of various parts of it and an insurance map. There are some funny assymetries, which I'm taking to be real. The field was apparently well below the street grid in Gowanus, which was raised above its original level. The stone house used for the clubhouse (and which survived the fire) is a historic house that was rebuilt near its original location and can be visited today. Enjoy! Attached Images Last edited by asrivkin; 05-31-2024 at 09:28 AM. Reason: Adding some links that I forgot to include!