Bleecker Stadium
Encyclopedia
Bleecker Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium
in Albany
, New York
. The stadium was once a reservoir for the Albany public water system. Today it has a baseball diamond, football/soccer field, and a softball field used by area high schools, colleges, and youth and adult leagues. Bleecker Stadium hosts several post-season games and series, including the Capital District Pop Warner
Super Bowls. The stadium is on Clinton Avenue which is to the south, Ontario Street is to the east, and Second Street is to the north. Swinburne Park borders Bleecker to the west.
project; originally the stadium was the Bleecker Reservoir, which was constructed in 1850. As Governor of New York
, Franklin D. Roosevelt
established a jobs relief program that made the conversion of the reservoir, which had become obsolete, possible; and this led to the creation of between 500 and 1,000 jobs. The stadium opened on Thanksgiving Day 1934. The clubhouse was built in 1940 under the Works Progress Administration
, also set up by Roosevelt, who by then was President of the United States
. Covering 9.5 acres (3.8 ha), the stadium was the ninth largest in the entire United States
and the second largest on the East Coast
behind Philadelphia.
Serial killer
Lemuel Smith
was brought to Bleecker Stadium in 1977 for an unusual police line-up. Smith and several others were placed behind large plywood sheets scattered around one end of the stadium and a police canine
named Crow at the other end sniffed at a priest vestment that Smith had used to wipe himself when defecating
after a double-homicide. Crow ran straight across Bleecker Stadium to Smith.
In 1981, the stadium was the site of a rugby
match between a regional team of Americans against the South Africa
n national rugby team, called the Springboks. Governor Hugh Carey
tried to block the game from being played as protest against the South African policy of apartheid, and he even brought the issue all the way to the US Supreme Court. Mayor Erastus Corning 2nd
and the Albany Times Union both supported the game being played.
Steve Ontiveros, Charlie O'Brien
, and Mike Gallego
are all Major League Baseball
players who once played at Bleecker Stadium. Hall of Fame ballplayer Johnny Evers
was appointed the Superintendent of Bleecker Stadium after being in financial straits and ill-health later in life.
, and the First World War. Bleecker Stadium seats 7,000 people for football and soccer and 2,000 for baseball.
, organized in 1930, have played at Bleecker Stadium since 1934, the League was the first and remains the oldest user of the stadium. The Albany Metro Mallers
are a semi-pro football team that has played at the stadium, since 1974. The Albany Dutchmen is an amateur team of college players that play in the New York Collegiate Baseball League
, and has played at Bleecker Stadium since 2009. The varsity football and baseball teams of the City School District of Albany play at the stadium.
, and the University at Albany, SUNY
. In 1982 the Albany A's
(later Albany-Colonie A's, the Albany-Colonie Yankees, and Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs
) played at the stadium while awaiting completion of Heritage Park in the nearby town of Colonie.
Multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...
in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The stadium was once a reservoir for the Albany public water system. Today it has a baseball diamond, football/soccer field, and a softball field used by area high schools, colleges, and youth and adult leagues. Bleecker Stadium hosts several post-season games and series, including the Capital District Pop Warner
Pop Warner Little Scholars
Pop Warner Little Scholars is a non-profit organization that provides youth football, cheerleading, and dance programs for participants in 43 U.S. states and several countries around the world. It is headquartered in Langhorne, Pennsylvania...
Super Bowls. The stadium is on Clinton Avenue which is to the south, Ontario Street is to the east, and Second Street is to the north. Swinburne Park borders Bleecker to the west.
History
Bleecker Stadium was built as a Federal public worksPublic works
Public works are a broad category of projects, financed and constructed by the government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community...
project; originally the stadium was the Bleecker Reservoir, which was constructed in 1850. As Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
, Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
established a jobs relief program that made the conversion of the reservoir, which had become obsolete, possible; and this led to the creation of between 500 and 1,000 jobs. The stadium opened on Thanksgiving Day 1934. The clubhouse was built in 1940 under the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
, also set up by Roosevelt, who by then was President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. Covering 9.5 acres (3.8 ha), the stadium was the ninth largest in the entire United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the second largest on the East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
behind Philadelphia.
Serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
Lemuel Smith
Lemuel Smith
Lemuel Warren Smith , is a convicted serial killer and rapist from Upstate New York who was the first convict ever to kill an on-duty female corrections officer.-Trouble from the beginning:...
was brought to Bleecker Stadium in 1977 for an unusual police line-up. Smith and several others were placed behind large plywood sheets scattered around one end of the stadium and a police canine
Police dog
A police dog, often referred to as a "K-9 dog" in some areas , is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work...
named Crow at the other end sniffed at a priest vestment that Smith had used to wipe himself when defecating
Defecation
Defecation is the final act of digestion by which organisms eliminate solid, semisolid or liquid waste material from the digestive tract via the anus. Waves of muscular contraction known as peristalsis in the walls of the colon move fecal matter through the digestive tract towards the rectum...
after a double-homicide. Crow ran straight across Bleecker Stadium to Smith.
In 1981, the stadium was the site of a rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
match between a regional team of Americans against the South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n national rugby team, called the Springboks. Governor Hugh Carey
Hugh Carey
Hugh Leo Carey was an American attorney, the 51st Governor of New York from 1975 to 1982, and a seven-term United States Representative .- Early life :...
tried to block the game from being played as protest against the South African policy of apartheid, and he even brought the issue all the way to the US Supreme Court. Mayor Erastus Corning 2nd
Erastus Corning 2nd
Erastus Corning 2nd was an American politician. He was Mayor of Albany, New York for more than 40 years, from 1942 to 1983, when Albany County was controlled by one of the last two classic urban political machines in the United States. Albany's longest serving mayor, the Democrat died in office in...
and the Albany Times Union both supported the game being played.
Steve Ontiveros, Charlie O'Brien
Charlie O'Brien
Charles Hugh O'Brien is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the Oakland Athletics , Milwaukee Brewers , New York Mets , Atlanta Braves , Toronto Blue Jays , Chicago White Sox , Anaheim Angels and Montreal Expos .While growing up in Tulsa, O'Brien attended and graduated...
, and Mike Gallego
Mike Gallego
Michael Anthony Gallego is the Oakland Athletics third base and infield coach, and a former Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Athletics, New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals from 1985 to 1997.-Baseball career:Gallego was the A's starting second baseman during their three-year...
are all Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
players who once played at Bleecker Stadium. Hall of Fame ballplayer Johnny Evers
Johnny Evers
John Joseph Evers was a Major League Baseball player and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1946...
was appointed the Superintendent of Bleecker Stadium after being in financial straits and ill-health later in life.
Structure
The stadium has an 18 ft (5.5 m) embankment with three visitor entrances cut through it, each is dedicated to veterans of a particular war; the US Civil War, Spanish-American WarSpanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, and the First World War. Bleecker Stadium seats 7,000 people for football and soccer and 2,000 for baseball.
Teams
The eight teams of the Albany Twilight LeagueAlbany Twilight League
The Albany Twilight League, based at Bleecker Stadium in Albany, NY, is an amateur baseball league that was founded in 1930 by George Elwell. Two former Major Leaguers, Matty Fitzgerald and Ed Phelps, along with James Ronin and William Louden, were all members of the first league commission...
, organized in 1930, have played at Bleecker Stadium since 1934, the League was the first and remains the oldest user of the stadium. The Albany Metro Mallers
Albany Metro Mallers
The Albany Metro Mallers are a semiprofessional football team that has played its home games primarily in Albany, New York, with the 6500-seat Bleecker Stadium as its home field. The team has long been successful regionally and nationally, having regularly been in the national semipro playoffs, and...
are a semi-pro football team that has played at the stadium, since 1974. The Albany Dutchmen is an amateur team of college players that play in the New York Collegiate Baseball League
New York Collegiate Baseball League
The New York Collegiate Baseball League is a 12-team collegiate summer baseball league founded in 1978 and sanctioned by the NACSB and Major League Baseball. Each NYCBL team plays an eight-week, 44-game schedule from June to July with a playoff in early August...
, and has played at Bleecker Stadium since 2009. The varsity football and baseball teams of the City School District of Albany play at the stadium.
Former teams
Various colleges have used the field for sports, such as the College of Saint Rose, Siena CollegeSiena College
Siena College is an independent Roman Catholic liberal arts college in Loudonville, in the town of Colonie, New York, United States. Siena is a four-year, coeducational, independent college in the Franciscan tradition, founded by the Franciscan Friars in 1937. It has 3,000 full-time students and...
, and the University at Albany, SUNY
University at Albany, SUNY
The State University of New York at Albany, also known as University at Albany, State University of New York, SUNY Albany or simply UAlbany, is a public university located in Albany, Guilderland, and East Greenbush, New York, United States; is the senior campus of the State University of New York ...
. In 1982 the Albany A's
Albany A's
The Albany A's are a defunct minor league baseball team. They played in the Eastern League at Heritage Park in Colonie, New York. They were affiliated with the Oakland A's. Their announcer that year was Phil Pivnick....
(later Albany-Colonie A's, the Albany-Colonie Yankees, and Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs
Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs
The Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs were a minor league baseball team based in Albany, New York from 1995 to 2002. The team played at Heritage Park in Colonie. The Diamond Dogs competed in the Northeast League from 1995-98 and then in the Northern League when the two leagues merged prior to the 1999...
) played at the stadium while awaiting completion of Heritage Park in the nearby town of Colonie.