Dead Stadiums #2: Polo Grounds

#newyork #giants #newyorkgiants #newyorkyankees #newyorkmets #newyorkjets #polo #pologrounds
Sources:
-Society For American Baseball Research (SABR).
-ballparks dot com.
-baseball in parks dot com.
-The Pittsburgh Times.
-ballparksofbaseball dot com.

[@DaBlazesUSay]

In 1964, my parents & I attended the New York World's Fair. I was eight years old & already a baseball fan. One day, we took a Circle Line sightseeing cruise around Manhattan, and we passed by the Polo Grounds, which was in the process of being demolished. I remembered that the Mets had played there, and even though Shea Stadium was a sight to behold (well, it WAS when it was new!), I felt sad when our tour guide told us that "The Polo Grounds are no more!" One quick comment about the game where Willie Mays made that catch. It happened during the 1954 World Series on September 30, 1954. Imagine that! The World Series, the "October Classic," actually started back then in September. Now, the Series stretches into early November!

[@dragonkingsports]

Wow, what an awesome memory to have. I’m 29 years old, so most of these old stadiums for me exist solely in pictures and stories that have been passed on. It’s crazy to think that the World Series used to start so early. Back then, there wasn’t any playoffs. Just the regular season winners in each league and they played each other in the World Series. Going from regular season straight to the World Series seems unfathomable now. Thanks for your thoughtful comment and thank you for watching!!

[@KevinMiller-xn5vu]

1955 was the last year in which the World Series started in September. But as stated, now we have World Series games being played in November, no thanks to MLB.

[@TheCondoInRedondo]

Trivia: The wrecking ball used to level The Polo Grounds was the same one used to demolish Ebbets Field. I only saw The Polo Grounds once - from the outside. That was in 1960.

[@dragonkingsports]

Yessir. And I’ve been getting comments a lot on this video from people who have seen it in person. That’s so awesome man. Even seeing it from the outside.

[@Babygoat34]

Polo grounds gotta be one of the coolest looking stadiums in mlb history. It’s a shame they tore it down.

[@dragonkingsports]

Shameful indeed.

[@ra0929]

It was well built, but on borrowed time after the Giants left. NYC needed the land for housing. The Mets gave it a reprieve, but Shea Stadium was contingent on their existence.

[@darryljorden9177]

STAT-TEN Island.

[@dragonkingsports]

I’m not from New York, my fault

[@professorlazza3882]

But it’s a very well-known borough!

[@KevinMiller-xn5vu]

To me it's STATE-N Island. And I call it The Queens, not Queens.

[@lucasmembrane4763]

Fine video. I first attended an MLB game at the Polo Grounds on August 11, 1957, a double header between the Giants and the Phillies. Also saw 5 Mets games there in 1962 and 1963. Never had a bad time there. I even got excited just walking past the place to go to a World Series game in 1962. A couple of things you omitted. Most famous college football game played there was the Notre Dame vs Army game about which Grantland Rice wrote his Four Horseman of the Apocalypse column. Most famous pro football game played there was the 1934 NFL championship that you mentioned, also known as the "Sneakers Game." One of the photos you included showed the center field clubhouse windows, with a person sitting inside one of the windows clearly visible. Herman Franks, a Giants coach and later manager, sat with a telescope behind one of those windows, stealing the visiting catcher's signs throughout the team's 1951 comeback from 15 games behind Brooklyn, and a newsreel verified that Thompson had thereby been signaled to expect the pitch that he lined into the left field seats to end the playoff.

[@dragonkingsports]

I love those facts you mentioned. You have a passion for obscure knowledge just like me, I see. I would have loved to attend a game there, unfortunately I was born over 30 years too late. Thank you for this comment Lucas, and thank you for watching.

[@KevinMiller-xn5vu]

The John T. Brush Stairway is the only thing remaining of the Polo Grounds.

[@dragonkingsports]

I hope they keep it there too.

[@Alan-lv9rw]

My father grew up going to Giants (baseball) games at the Polo Grounds. He was in the centerfield seats right where Willie Mays made “the catch” in 1954.

[@dragonkingsports]

Wow. What a cool memory for him. Not many get the chance to witness history being made.

[@harrylyme3969]

The proper name was THE Polo Grounds. "The Catch" by the late Willie Mays was in the 4th iteration of The Polo Grounds. The ball was caught just to the right of the clubhouse steps 480 feet from home plate.

[@dragonkingsports]

Actually it was the third iteration. As I said, there’s different ways as to how the Polo Grounds are numbered. For my research, and for most people’s, including SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) it’s the third.

[@Bucks797]

It was the third man not the fourth. Also who cares if he forgot to say “the”. It was a good video.

[@YaBoyTim-fm9er]

It was the 3rd actually.

[@JosephRocco-mi4cm]

Yale vs Princeton football game engraving- shows a baseball game engraving

[@joseorozco4152]

The picture you use at 16:33 isn’t from the Polo Grounds demolition. That’s Carl Erskine at the wrecking ball ceremony at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.

[@dragonkingsports]

Correct, but it was the same wrecking ball.

[@superbrownbrown]

*Vic Wertz's shot that Willie Mays caught in center field was over 460 feet. You can see the "483 FT" on the center field wall above the monument in the picture.*

[@dragonkingsports]

Pretty much would be a home run in almost any other ball park too. Incredible moment.

[@superbrownbrown]

@@dragonkingsports *A guaranteed home run in every ballpark in 1954, except for one. The original Yankee Stadium. It probably would've hit off the high center field wall. It was 461 feet to center field back then.*

[@jtcbrt]

The 1st World Series was played in 1903, but both major leagues were already established by then.

[@dragonkingsports]

First World Series was actually played long before that. However, if you’re talking about modern world series then it’s 1903. However you are right about the majors being established earlier, but in the research I did, since 1903 and beyond is considered the modern era, and prior to that many players were not considered major league caliber, some baseball historians consider the “major leagues” to be 1903 and beyond, which could also be said for the World Series I suppose. I should have clarified. I’m new at this and not perfect. Thanks so much for your comment, I hope your day is going well.

[@jtcbrt]

@@dragonkingsports Under the circumstances, you did just fine. Good luck with your future videos.

[@CH-ux8un]

I enjoyed watching your video because of all the research you did to bring the history of the Polo Grounds to life. Well done!

[@dragonkingsports]

Thank you! I appreciate the compliment!

[@luv2sail66]

Thank you for putting this together. It was interesting and informative.

[@dragonkingsports]

Such a kind compliment, thank you! I hope your day is going well!

[@rockintetster]

Absolutely ridiculous dimensions for baseball.

[@dragonkingsports]

For real. I recommend playing on it on the video game MLB The Show. It’s quite fun😂

[@truckermikemct1]

I see a bright future for you on KZbin. Keep up the good work.

[@dragonkingsports]

Aye appreciate it! Thank you very much.

[@ra0929]

Polo Grounds Requiem for an Arena is on KZbin and is a good watch

[@dragonkingsports]

I will check it out, sounds intriguing.

[@panowa8319]

RIP Willie Mays. They should place a placard or statue where "The Catch" was made.

[@dragonkingsports]

I agree. Maybe a Willie Mays statue near it too

[@64north20west]

Correct me if I am wrong, but this was also the only stadium to host all of the games in a world series when the yankees played the giants.

[@dragonkingsports]

Yessir, you are indeed correct. It was in 1923. I probably should have included that in the video!! It also happened when the Giants hosted the Providence Grays. No clue why Providence didn’t get any home games, but the entire series was played at Polo. Also, fun fact, the Giants and Yankees met 7 times in the World Series total, 6 of them being when the Giants were still in New York.

[@charlesballaro9766]

I thought the Browns and Cardinals played the 1944 World Series at Sportsmans Park

[@CurtisDavis-ok1eq]

Nicknamed “The Bathtub!”

[@dragonkingsports]

Yes sir Curtis! Honestly one of the coolest stadiums I’ve looked into. Stay tuned for the Pontiac Silverdome.

[@rwboa22]

19:18 - RIP

[@dragonkingsports]

RIP indeed. I published this just days before his passing.

[@chuckdieselkicksdisks2380]

great work you did on this- very cool

[@dragonkingsports]

Thank you sir!

[@davidellis5141]

The Algorithm of YT led me here. Liked 👍 & subscribed & turned on the bell 🔔. Very cool information. Keep up the good work 👍

[@dragonkingsports]

Aye you’re a awesome! Thank you. 🙏🏼

[@csnide6702]

Polo is NOT played on a racetrack......

[@dragonkingsports]

I didn’t say racetrack, I said horsetrack, which is a track or ground made for horses. Which is true.

[@csnide6702]

@@dragonkingsports it's a LAWN.....

[@bdpopeye]

I liked your video however the Polo Grounds was not the first site of a MLB night game. Old Crosley Field in Cincinnati Ohio was on May 24th 1935. The Reds beat the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1.

[@dragonkingsports]

You are correct. My apologies.

[@bdpopeye]

@@dragonkingsports No problem..otherwise you did a great job.

[@indyracingnut]

Nice job kid. Got a sub from me!

[@dragonkingsports]

Thank you very much!!

[@professorlazza3882]

How can you not pronounce Staten Island properly? I know you're young, but come on!

[@dragonkingsports]

Yikes I know😂

[@MarkMyWordsXx]

Where is "state island"?

[@dodiad]

It’s pronounced “Statten” Island (not “Stay-ten”). “Fordam” University (not “Ford-ham”). Horace “Stonem” (not “Stone-ham”). Joe McGinnity (not “McGinney”). Ingemar Johansson (not “Ignemar”). The first night game played in the Major Leagues was in Cincinnati in 1935, not at the Polo Grounds in 1940. And the decaying stadium exacerbated (not “exasperated”) the problem.

[@Bucks797]

For the love of God quit whining man. Get a life.

[@dodiad]

Pathetic that you need to explain to your viewers what “polo” means.