Congress Street Grounds
Encyclopedia
Congress Street Grounds is a former baseball
ground located in Boston, Massachusetts. The ballpark, as the name implies, was along Congress Street
, near the intersection of Thompson Place, and not far from the Fort Point Channel
on South Boston Flats, a newly filled in piece of land on Boston Harbor
. The ground was home to the Boston Reds, that played in the Players' League in 1890
and the American Association
in 1891
.
Although a short-lived facility, the ballpark witnessed some significant history. First, its occupants won league pennants in their two years of existence. The strong team was dropped during the NL-AA merger of 1892, as there was already an NL entry in Boston.
Then, between May and June 1894, Congress Street Grounds was the home to the Boston Beaneaters
while their home grounds, the South End Grounds
, were being rebuilt after the Great Roxbury Fire of May 15, 1894. It had a close left field fence, which benefited Boston's Bobby Lowe
just a couple of weeks later, on May 30, 1894, as he became the first batter to hit four home runs in a single game, all of them down the line in left field.
The location is now occupied by several office buildings, and the alley behind them, which would go through the area of the outfield, was used in the 2006 film The Departed
, in a key scene where Martin Sheen
's character is pushed off a roof.
.
42.350452°N 71.048283°W
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
ground located in Boston, Massachusetts. The ballpark, as the name implies, was along Congress Street
Congress Street (Boston)
Congress Street in Boston, Massachusetts is located in the Financial District and South Boston. It was first named in 1800. It was extended in 1854 as far as Atlantic Avenue, and in 1874 across Fort Point Channel into South Boston...
, near the intersection of Thompson Place, and not far from the Fort Point Channel
Fort Point Channel
Fort Point Channel is a maritime channel separating South Boston from downtown Boston, Massachusetts, feeding into Boston Harbor. The south part of it has been gradually filled in for use by the South Bay rail yard and several highways...
on South Boston Flats, a newly filled in piece of land on Boston Harbor
Boston Harbor
Boston Harbor is a natural harbor and estuary of Massachusetts Bay, and is located adjacent to the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is home to the Port of Boston, a major shipping facility in the northeast.-History:...
. The ground was home to the Boston Reds, that played in the Players' League in 1890
1890 Boston Reds season
The Boston Reds baseball team was a member of the short lived Players' League. They compiled a 81-47 record and won the league championship. After the season, the league folded, but the Reds were invited to join the American Association for the following season.- Roster :- Starters by position...
and the American Association
American Association (19th century)
The American Association was a Major League Baseball league that existed for 10 seasons from to . During that time, it challenged the National League for dominance of professional baseball...
in 1891
1891 Boston Reds season
The Boston Reds baseball team finished the season with a 93-42 record and won the American Association championship in their first season in the new league after the demise of the Players' League. Thus they became only the second team to win championships in two different leagues in successive...
.
Although a short-lived facility, the ballpark witnessed some significant history. First, its occupants won league pennants in their two years of existence. The strong team was dropped during the NL-AA merger of 1892, as there was already an NL entry in Boston.
Then, between May and June 1894, Congress Street Grounds was the home to the Boston Beaneaters
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
while their home grounds, the South End Grounds
South End Grounds
South End Grounds refers to any one of three baseball parks on one site in Boston, Massachusetts. They were home to the Boston club in the National Association and the National League from 1871 to 1914....
, were being rebuilt after the Great Roxbury Fire of May 15, 1894. It had a close left field fence, which benefited Boston's Bobby Lowe
Bobby Lowe
Robert Lincoln "Bobby" Lowe , nicknamed "Link", was an American baseball player, coach and scout. He played Major League Baseball for the Boston Beaneaters , Chicago Cubs , Pittsburgh Pirates , and Detroit Tigers...
just a couple of weeks later, on May 30, 1894, as he became the first batter to hit four home runs in a single game, all of them down the line in left field.
The location is now occupied by several office buildings, and the alley behind them, which would go through the area of the outfield, was used in the 2006 film The Departed
The Departed
The Departed is a 2006 American crime thriller film, fashioned as a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs. The film was directed by Martin Scorsese and written by William Monahan...
, in a key scene where Martin Sheen
Martin Sheen
Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez , better known by his stage name Martin Sheen, is an American film actor best known for his performances in the films Badlands and Apocalypse Now , and in the television series The West Wing from 1999 to 2006.He is considered one of the best actors never to be...
's character is pushed off a roof.
Other grounds
Congress Street Grounds was also an alternate name for the first of the Chicago ballparks called West Side ParkWest Side Park
West Side Park was the name used for two different baseball parks that formerly stood in Chicago, Illinois. They were both home fields of the team now known as the Chicago Cubs of the National League. Both parks witnessed championship baseball...
.
External links
42.350452°N 71.048283°W