Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Griffith Stadium

Griffith Stadium was a multi-purpose sports venue in , best known as the home ballpark of the American League's from 1911 to 1961. Originally constructed in the 1890s as Boundary Field for and early , the wooden grandstand burned down on March 17, 1911, prompting a rapid rebuild with concrete and steel that opened on July 24 of that year at a cost of approximately $100,000. The stadium was renamed in 1922 for , the Senators' owner and former player, and expanded over time to seat about 27,550 spectators by the 1950s. Beyond baseball, it hosted college football for teams like and , professional football for the NFL's Washington Redskins from 1937 to 1960, and Negro National League games for the during the 1940s. Notable events included the 1937 , three (1924, 1925, and 1933), and an NFL championship in 1942, alongside frequent ceremonial first pitches by U.S. presidents from to . The venue's asymmetric field dimensions, with a short 328-foot right-field line, favored right-handed power hitters and witnessed record-setting home runs, such as Josh Gibson's estimated 500-plus-foot blast. Following the Senators' relocation to after the 1960 season, Griffith Stadium hosted the expansion Senators briefly in 1961 before demolition began on January 26, 1965; the site was redeveloped into .

Origins and Construction

Predecessor Venues

Boundary Field, established in 1891 on the grounds at Florida Avenue NW and Georgia Avenue NW in , functioned as the immediate predecessor to Griffith Stadium. This wooden ballpark, initially seating approximately 6,500 spectators, hosted professional baseball teams including the Washington Statesmen of the American Association in its inaugural year and the subsequent of the from 1892 to 1899. Following the 's contraction of the Senators after the 1899 season, the venue accommodated clubs until 1904, when the 's expansion relocated there, incorporating grandstands relocated from the short-lived American League Park I. The era's reliance on wooden construction rendered such venues highly vulnerable to destruction by fire, as evidenced by numerous incidents across major league ballparks that prompted swift, privately funded rebuilds to sustain fan demand and league viability. These recurring challenges highlighted the limitations of transient wooden structures, catalyzing a broader industry transition toward permanent steel-and-concrete designs exemplified by pioneering facilities like Philadelphia's in 1909, which prioritized safety and longevity on established sites.

1911 Reconstruction After Fire

On March 17, 1911, a fire ignited by a plumber's destroyed the wooden grandstand and surrounding structures at Boundary Field, the existing home venue of the in the . With spring training underway and the regular season opener less than a month away, the Senators' ownership syndicate of local businessmen promptly initiated fundraising and reconstruction efforts on the same site to minimize disruption to the schedule and preserve franchise viability amid the league's expansion-era challenges. The new facility, constructed from fire-resistant and rather than wood, featured a basic single-deck grandstand extending from home plate along the foul lines, reflecting a utilitarian, cost-effective approach prioritized for speed over luxury. Initial seating capacity reached approximately 27,000, sufficient for the era's working-class attendance patterns without extensive amenities like covered upper decks, which were added later. Reconstruction advanced concurrently with the early-season road schedule, enabling the ballpark—initially dubbed Park—to reopen on July 24, 1911, against the Detroit Tigers, thus restoring home-field continuity through private initiative without reliance on public funding. This swift response by the ownership group, later solidified under Clark Griffith's majority acquisition in 1919, underscored the stadium's role in anchoring the Senators' long-term presence in amid competitive dynamics.

Physical Design and Evolutions

Original Layout and Dimensions

Griffith Stadium's original playing field, established upon its opening, exhibited pronounced asymmetry due to the urban site's irregular boundaries, including detours around adjacent houses in center field. The left-field line extended 407 feet from home plate, center field reached 421 feet with a notched fence, and right field measured 328 feet—remeasured in the as 320 feet—creating conditions that generally favored pitchers through expansive distances despite the shorter right-field pull zone for right-handed batters. A 31-foot-high wall in right field mitigated some home run potential in the shallower direction, contributing to the venue's reputation for suppressing power hitting overall, as verified by early gameplay statistics showing lower-than-average rates compared to symmetrical contemporaries. The seating arrangement emphasized practicality, with a double-decked spanning from foul pole to foul pole along the baselines and behind home plate, accommodating 27,410 spectators at opening. areas remained largely open, permitting views across the field but offering limited shelter from , reflective of the era's engineering focus on rapid, economical using and rather than expansive roofing or enclosed luxury seating.

Expansions, Renovations, and Adaptations

In 1920, amid the rising competitiveness in the , owner oversaw significant structural expansions to the stadium, including the addition of a second deck to the foul-line grandstands extending nearly to the poles and covered roofing that did not connect across the outfield. These modifications, completed by 1921, boosted from prior levels of around 23,000 to 32,000, enabling accommodation of larger crowds during the team's pennant drives and subsequent appearances in 1924 and 1925. The upgrades reflected economic pressures to capitalize on baseball's growing popularity in Washington, though they prioritized incremental revenue from attendance over comprehensive modernization. Subsequent adaptations in the 1930s and 1940s focused on multi-use functionality, particularly for after the Washington Redskins relocated to the venue in 1937. Temporary were erected in right field for gridiron games, temporarily elevating capacity to approximately 35,000 to meet demand from the franchise's larger fanbase and events like college matchups. In 1940, cosmetic renovations included repainting seats to refresh the aging facilities, costing an unspecified but modest amount amid wartime constraints. These tweaks addressed the stadium's rectangular layout limitations for —such as narrower end zones compared to modern fields—but relied on portable structures rather than permanent redesigns, highlighting Griffith's frugal approach to shared-venue . By the 1950s, the cumulative patchwork of expansions had resulted in structural wear, with critics noting inadequate maintenance and outdated amenities despite listed capacities hovering between 29,000 and 32,000. Economic incentives waned as the Senators' chronic losing seasons reduced attendance below 300,000 annually, underscoring the stadium's inability to adapt to demands for comfort and safety without major reinvestment that ownership declined to pursue.

Primary Use: Baseball

Home Field for Washington Senators

Griffith Stadium hosted the as their home field from 1911 to 1961, providing a fixed venue for the franchise over five decades marked by intermittent success and prolonged struggles in the . During this period, the stadium accommodated the Senators' lone victory in 1924 against the , along with defeats in the 1925 and 1933 fall classics, as well as Games in 1937 and 1956. These events underscored the venue's centrality to the team's identity, even as the Senators finished last in their league 31 times, earning the fan quip "First in war, first in peace, last in the ." Opening Day rituals at cultivated a sense of civic continuity, with every U.S. president from to delivering ceremonial first pitches to commence the season. This tradition, initiated under at the prior venue and sustained at Griffith, linked national leadership to local fervor, drawing crowds irrespective of recent performances. Fan attendance demonstrated steadfast support amid variability, averaging under 10,000 per game in many seasons—for instance, around 2,500 to 3,000 daily in the 1920s based on yearly totals of 359,000 to 458,000—reflecting loyalty to a privately held enterprise. Owner Clark Griffith, who acquired majority control in 1920, financed stadium upkeep and team operations through personal resources and gate receipts without public funding, enabling persistence despite chronic low revenues that contrasted sharply with taxpayer-supported facilities common in later eras.

Iconic Games, Records, and Performances

The clinched their sole title in Game 7 of the 1924 series on October 10, 1924, at Griffith Stadium, defeating the 4-3 in 12 innings via a comeback featuring Giants errors and a ground ball that took an errant hop. Manager , at age 27 the youngest to lead a team to the championship, guided the Senators through the seven-game series, which drew sustained crowds and marked a high point in franchise attendance with over 584,000 fans for the home schedule. Griffith Stadium hosted two All-Star Games, with the 1937 edition on July 7 drawing a then-record 31,391 spectators as the won 8-3 before President . The 1956 game on July 10 featured exceptional power, including back-to-back home runs by and off in the sixth inning, contributing to four total homers (also by and ) in the National League's 7-3 victory and setting an All-Star single-game record. Individual feats underscored the venue's challenges for hitters, given its deep fences that limited home runs league-wide to under one per game on average during the Senators' tenure. Negro Leagues star of the , who shared the stadium, slugged 10 home runs in 160 at-bats there in 1943 alone, defying the dimensions. His final career homer came at Griffith on September 15, 1946, in a doubleheader opener. On the mound, Bobby Burke delivered the franchise's lone at the park on August 8, 1931, blanking the Boston Red Sox 5-0 with eight strikeouts and no walks.

Dimensions' Impact on Play and Notable Sluggers

Griffith Stadium's dimensions, with left field at 407 feet, center field at 421 feet (including a right-angled notch extending play further), and right field at approximately 328 feet, generally suppressed production despite the relatively shorter right-field porch. Over its 41-year tenure from 1920 to 1960, the park ranked as the lowest home run venue among the 16 MLB ballparks in 34 seasons, yielding park factors that favored pitchers by limiting extra-base hits into the expansive outfield. This configuration amplified pitching dominance, as evidenced by Walter Johnson's career there from 1911 to 1927, during which he allowed only nine home runs from 1914 to 1919 across primarily home starts, contributing to his league-leading 417 wins and 3.24 . The shorter right-field distance provided a minor counterbalance, enabling occasional home runs for right-handed pull hitters, but statistical outcomes demonstrated limited overall aid, with total park s remaining below league averages even in the . exploited this on May 7, 1921, hitting what was then the longest recorded at the stadium—a 500-plus foot drive to center—amid his 29 total s that season against Senators pitching, underscoring his power transcending venue constraints rather than relying on them. Similarly, Heinie Manush, a left-handed hitter, topped Senators totals with 14 in 1932 while batting .378 to win the AL title, but his career park-adjusted output aligned with skill-driven production, as Griffith's deep alleys constrained his totals compared to more hitter-friendly venues like those in or where he previously played. Negro League exhibitions at Griffith further highlighted the field's demands on hitters, drawing substantial crowds that revealed pre-integration talent pools capable of powering through the dimensions. The , regular tenants, attracted 102,690 fans across 10 appearances in 1942 alone, with games like the 1946 matchup versus the pulling 25,000 spectators despite the park's pitcher-friendly layout. These events showcased players like , whose long home runs tested the deep fences, demonstrating that exceptional ability overcame the stadium's suppressive effects without venue-specific advantages.

Secondary Uses: Football and Beyond

Washington Redskins Era

The Washington Redskins of the relocated from to , and commenced playing home games at Griffith Stadium starting in the 1937 season, continuing through 1960. This period marked the team's establishment in the nation's capital, with the stadium serving as its primary venue amid growing professional football popularity. Logistical adaptations for football included temporary seating expansions, boosting capacity beyond 35,000 for key matchups to handle surging demand. A highlight of the era occurred on December 13, 1942, when hosted and won the Championship Game against the by a score of 14–6 before an attendance of 36,006 spectators. This victory avenged a prior lopsided playoff loss and underscored the venue's role in the team's competitive successes, with strong turnouts reflecting fan enthusiasm during winning campaigns. Performance outcomes varied, but peak seasons correlated with verifiable attendance spikes, as evidenced by the near-capacity championship crowd amid the league's wartime context. Team owner , who prioritized a southern-oriented , resisted integrating Black players as a calculated decision to preserve appeal among segregated regional audiences, postponing such changes until 1962—after had departed Griffith for the new D.C. Stadium. Federal authorities, via Interior Secretary , exerted pressure by conditioning the lease for the publicly funded replacement stadium on compliance, an intervention that leveraged control over public assets to override private operational choices despite existing market-driven rationales. This dynamic facilitated the tenancy's end at Griffith, as the team transitioned amid broader urban development shifts.

Other Sporting and Non-Sporting Events

Griffith Stadium hosted over 150 matches between 1911 and 1965, including notable heavyweight bouts such as exhibitions and the 1941 World Heavyweight Match. These events, often scheduled on off-days from and , utilized the venue's central location and capacity to draw local crowds for combat sports exhibitions. The stadium also accommodated high school and college-level football games, serving local educational institutions without relying on federal funding. For instance, it was the site of the 1953 District Interhigh football championship between Theodore Roosevelt High School and Anacostia High School. Such contests, including annual rivalries and exhibitions like versus the U.S. Marines, filled scheduling gaps and contributed to community engagement in amateur athletics. Non-sporting events underscored the stadium's adaptability for public gatherings. In June 1960, evangelist held an eight-day crusade there, attracting an estimated 139,000 attendees who heard sermons delivered from a over second base. During , the venue supported war efforts through scrap-metal drives and sales, integrating civic initiatives with its multi-purpose infrastructure. These uses highlighted Griffith Stadium's role in local revenue generation via diverse programming, independent of major league subsidies.

Political and Ceremonial Role

Presidential Traditions and Visits

The ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day at Griffith Stadium became a longstanding presidential tradition, building on William Howard Taft's inaugural throw at a Senators game in 1910, which established the custom for subsequent chief executives. From Woodrow Wilson onward, every U.S. president through John F. Kennedy participated in this ritual at Griffith Stadium, typically throwing the pitch from the stands or box to mark the start of the baseball season. Specific instances include Wilson on April 10, 1913, and April 20, 1916; Calvin Coolidge on June 18, 1925; Herbert Hoover annually from 1929 to 1932; Franklin D. Roosevelt on April 24, 1934, and subsequent years including 1940 and 1941; Harry S. Truman on April 15, 1952, and Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1950s; culminating with Kennedy on April 10, 1961. This bipartisan practice served as a civic , symbolizing national unity and the of , with presidents attending regardless of the Senators' performance or political affiliations. The stadium's proximity to the , approximately two miles away, enabled convenient participation without substantial logistical demands, reinforcing the tradition's persistence as a low-cost emblem of public engagement rather than partisan endorsement. Beyond , presidents visited for other events, such as attending games, and together in 1922, Coolidge meeting in 1925, at the 1937 , and Truman's multiple appearances including an ambidextrous pitch in 1945. During World War II, Griffith Stadium hosted morale-boosting activities aligned with presidential priorities, including war bond sales drives that contributed to fundraising efforts, though direct presidential attendance at these specific events was less documented than game openings. Roosevelt's support for continuing baseball amid wartime constraints, as expressed in his 1942 "Green Light Letter" to league commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, underscored the sport's role in sustaining public spirits, with stadium events like those at Griffith aiding bond campaigns that raised billions nationally. These visits highlighted the venue's function as a site for ceremonial politics, distinct from partisan advocacy.

Racial Policies and Integration Debates

Segregation in Practice and Attendance Patterns

Griffith Stadium implemented racial segregation for spectators during Washington Senators games, directing African American fans to a dedicated right-field established by owner around 1920 following his acquisition of principal ownership. This arrangement aligned with prevailing Jim Crow customs in Washington, D.C., where the stadium's location bordering the predominantly African American LeDroit Park neighborhood facilitated access for local black residents. Despite the restricted seating, African American patrons attended in notable numbers, with reports indicating they "flocked" to games, contributing to revenue as paying customers under Griffith's privately managed operation, which showed no documented policy of denying entry to blacks willing to purchase tickets. The pavilion's positioning overlooked the field from an upper-deck area along the right-field line, accommodating black fans separately from white attendees in the and other sections, a practice that persisted unofficially through the expansions and into subsequent decades without formal ordinances mandating it at the venue. This setup mirrored broader patterns in ballparks of the era, prioritizing operational revenue over egalitarian seating while avoiding overt exclusion that might reduce gate receipts. Griffith's concurrent rental of the stadium to Negro League teams like the further evidenced an economic incentive to draw black crowds, as these events drew thousands, including for doubleheaders that boosted overall utilization. Attendance records from the pre-1950s reveal that segregated fan policies did not correlate with diminished black participation; instead, the Senators' perennial poor on-field performance—finishing last or near-last in the in multiple seasons, such as 1949–1952—drove broader declines in total turnout, averaging under 300,000 annually by the early , irrespective of seating demographics. Claims attributing low box-office returns primarily to fan overlook this causal link to competitive futility, as the stadium's proximity to black communities and pavilion provision sustained patronage from that demographic without evident or deterrence effects until roster debates intensified later. Private ownership under Griffith emphasized frugality and inclusivity for profit, evidenced by the pavilion's construction amid rising local black , rather than ideological barriers beyond normative practices.

Delays in Team Integration and External Pressures

The Washington Senators delayed integration compared to early adopters like the Brooklyn Dodgers, who signed Jackie Robinson in 1947, but owner Clark Griffith's reluctance stemmed from concerns over potential fan backlash and attendance declines in a market with historically low turnout, rather than overt ideological opposition. Griffith, who had publicly questioned the readiness of black players for major league competition, waited until September 6, 1954, to promote Cuban-born outfielder Carlos Paula from the minors, marking the franchise's first acknowledged black player at Griffith Stadium. This timeline placed the Senators behind several American League teams but ahead of holdouts like the Boston Red Sox, who integrated only in 1959; empirical data on post-integration attendance showed no immediate collapse, suggesting Griffith's caution reflected risk aversion in a city where baseball struggled financially amid competition from other entertainments. The Washington Redskins, tenants at Griffith Stadium from 1937 to 1960, maintained an all-white roster far longer than MLB counterparts, with owner resisting integration until 1962 due to economic dependencies on segregated southern broadcasting and fan markets, where the team positioned itself as the NFL's "southernmost" franchise to maximize revenue. Marshall's strategy preserved short-term profits by avoiding alienation of white southern supporters, as evidenced by the team's reliance on radio deals in states like and the that enforced segregation-era norms; boycotts by black media and community leaders, including campaigns for empty seats at games, failed to compel change, underscoring the limits of voluntary pressure against entrenched market incentives. Use of Griffith Stadium remained unaffected by these delays, as the venue's private lease allowed the all-white Redskins to play there through the 1960 season without external mandates. Federal intervention ultimately forced integration via control over public facilities, setting a precedent for government intrusion into private team decisions. In March 1961, Secretary of the Interior conditioned ' lease for the federally owned D.C. Stadium (later RFK Memorial Stadium) on hiring black players, explicitly warning Marshall that non-discrimination policies barred segregated teams from the venue starting with the 1962 season. Facing relocation threats after vacating Griffith Stadium, Marshall traded for from the in 1962, integrating the roster and enabling the move—demonstrating how coercive lease terms succeeded where market-driven boycotts had not, by leveraging control over stadium access to override owner autonomy. This episode highlighted causal dynamics where ownership enabled policy enforcement, contrasting with Griffith Stadium's era of tenancy.

Final Years and Legacy

Decline, Expansion Team Transition, and Closure

By the 1950s, Griffith Stadium had fallen into disrepair, with deferred maintenance exacerbated by the Washington Senators' consistent on-field struggles and declining attendance. The facility, originally constructed with wooden elements prone to deterioration, suffered from inadequate upkeep as owner prioritized cost-cutting amid the team's poor performance, which included only three winning seasons between 1937 and 1960. In a pointed , St. Louis Browns president described Griffith Stadium as "one of the most rundown excuses for a in the majors," highlighting its outdated and concerns that deterred fans and complicated operations. These conditions contributed to Griffith's decision to relocate the , as the aging venue could not support modernization without substantial , which the privately owned could not independently. Washington, D.C., officials refused to provide public funding for a new stadium, unlike contemporaneous projects in other cities that relied on taxpayer-supported facilities, leaving Griffith without viable options to revive local interest. On October 26, 1960, Griffith announced the Senators' move to for the 1961 season, where they would become the Twins and play in the publicly financed , marking the end of at Griffith after the original team's final home game on October 2, 1960, against the Tigers. To appease fans and maintain presence in the capital, the league expanded with a new franchise for 1961, which briefly used Griffith Stadium as its home field. However, the expansion team's tenure underscored the venue's obsolescence and the franchise's ongoing woes, drawing just 597,287 attendees amid another losing season. The stadium hosted its last contest on September 21, 1961, a 6-3 defeat to the visiting Twins—ironically the relocated original Senators—before just 1,500 spectators, signaling the failed attempt to sustain viability at the site without broader infrastructural or economic reforms. The new Senators shifted to the publicly funded D.C. Stadium (later RFK Stadium) in 1962, further illustrating Griffith's inability to compete with subsidized alternatives.

Demolition and Post-Stadium Site Utilization

Demolition of Griffith Stadium commenced in February 1965, following its sale to for $1.5 million, enabling expansion of the institution's medical facilities on the 8.5-acre site. The steel-and-concrete structure, which had stood since its 1911 rebuild after an earlier , was razed without significant preservation efforts, prioritizing practical urban redevelopment amid growing demand for healthcare infrastructure in the LeDroit Park neighborhood. The post-demolition site became the location of , completed in 1975, which continues to serve as a key medical center affiliated with the historically Black university and addresses longstanding community health needs in A plaque embedded in the hospital grounds marks the former position of home plate, providing a modest nod to the stadium's . Few artifacts were systematically saved during the teardown, though nearly 1,000 original wooden seats were salvaged from the grandstands and later repurposed in the construction of , the modern home of the , linking the site's history to contemporary infrastructure. The hasty demolition has drawn retrospective criticism for undervaluing the venue's role in hosting three , two Games, and decades of without public funding—exemplifying private enterprise in early major league facilities—yet the decision aligned with mid-20th-century priorities favoring institutional growth over static historical monuments. No major recent developments have altered the site's utilization beyond occasional nostalgic commemorations in historical analyses.

References

  1. [1]
    Griffith Stadium (Washington, DC)
    The expansion Senators moved into Griffith Stadium in 1961 for one year. The following season they moved to new D.C. Stadium. After 10 years in Washington, ...
  2. [2]
    Griffith Stadium - history, photos and more of the Washington ...
    The 6,500 seat ballpark was known as Boundary Park and National Park. After the 1899 season the Washington baseball team was contracted, but two years later, ...
  3. [3]
    Griffith Stadium Historical Analysis by Baseball Almanac
    a Washington, D.C. tradition that might return due to the return of ...
  4. [4]
    The Ballparks: Griffith Stadium—This Great Game
    Corner of Georgia Avenue NW and Florida Avenue NW, Washington D.C.. Date of Groundbreaking. March 18, 1911. Date of Demolition. January 26, 1965. Cost. $100,000 ...
  5. [5]
    Remembering Griffith Stadium: The Demise of a D.C. Landmark
    Apr 28, 2022 · The site of so many wonderful baseball and football memories, Griffith Stadium, had its life ended by the brutal swings of a wrecking ball in 1965.
  6. [6]
    Demolition begins at Washington's Griffith Stadium
    Feb 3, 2020 · January 26, 1965: Demolition begins at Washington's Griffith Stadium. The venue opened as National Park in 1911 and was used for over half a ...
  7. [7]
    A hospital's mini-tribute to Griffith Stadium
    Nov 11, 2021 · After Washington's Griffith Stadium was torn down in February 1965, nearby Howard University acquired the 8.5-acre property for $1.5 million ...
  8. [8]
    Griffith Stadium - Project Ballpark
    In 1904, the stands from American League Park I were moved onto the old Boundary Field and the American League Senators moved in. E. Lawrence Phillips, the ...
  9. [9]
    Griffith Stadium And The Site Of D.C.'s First Nationals Park
    Oct 9, 2013 · A fire on March 17, 1911 (caused by a plumbers lamp), destroyed the grandstand and a new concrete and steel stadium was built in its place. A ...Missing: construction | Show results with:construction
  10. [10]
    The Fire that Destroyed our Old Ballpark: Boundary Field
    Aug 11, 2014 · Learn more about the fire, the replacement stadium and the Washington Nationals (aka, Senators) of 1911. 1907 Baist map of North Cleveland Park.
  11. [11]
    1911 Washington Senators Season Ticket Contest
    Apr 22, 2015 · On March 17, 1911, a fire destroyed Washington D.C.'s Boundary Field, almost immediately construction began on a new ballpark on the site–what ...
  12. [12]
    Griffith Stadium - National Ballpark Museum
    Built in 1891, it was called Boundary Field, or National Park after the team that played there: the Washington Senators/Nationals. It was destroyed by a fire in ...Missing: key events
  13. [13]
    District of Columbia - nlbpa.com
    The stadium was not completed by opening day, July 24, 1911, but a single deck was completed, so the ballpark opened. By mid season in 1911, the ballpark ...
  14. [14]
    July 25, 1911: Tigers get best of Senators in grand opening of Griffith ...
    Mar 19, 2022 · In September the owners hired Clark Griffith as player-manager to replace the departing McAleer. Better times were ahead. Sources. In ...
  15. [15]
    Griffith Stadium - Wikipedia
    Griffith Stadium stood in Washington, DC, from 1911 to 1965, between Georgia Avenue and 5th Street (left field), and between W Street and Florida Avenue NW.Early history · Field design · Notable sluggers · Football
  16. [16]
    It's 92 Years Since Clark Griffith Bought the Senators
    Nov 10, 2011 · Also, yes, I know that the word “bought” is a little imprecise; neither Ryan nor Griffith was the sole owner of the team, having other partners.
  17. [17]
    Clem's Baseball ~ Griffith Stadium
    Sep 25, 2011 · Griffith Stadium* Home of the former. Washington Senators** (1911-1961)*** · * known as "American League Park" until 1920 · ** Original Senators ( ...
  18. [18]
    Griffith Stadium - Ballparks by Munsey and Suppes
    Dimensions: Left field: 407 (1911), 424 (1921), 358 (1926), 407 (1931), 402 ... U.S. presidents traditionally opened each season by throwing out the first ball in ...<|separator|>
  19. [19]
    Griffith Stadium Seat - National Ballpark Museum
    Feb 3, 2022 · These home field “tricks” and “work-arounds” were to no avail, as the Senators produced just eighteen winning seasons during their tenure at the ...
  20. [20]
    Presidents & Baseball - White House Historical Association
    ... Opening Day first pitch at Griffith Stadium on April 19, 1948. Clark Griffith, President of the Washington Senators, stands next to President Truman. The ...
  21. [21]
    Presidential openers and D.C. - Washington baseball history
    Mar 30, 2023 · President George W. Bush threw out the first pitch – from the mound, unlike all the throws at the Senators' openers at Griffith and RFK stadiums ...
  22. [22]
    Presidential Pitches - 408 to Center
    Nov 5, 2024 · Taft would throw out the first pitch at the Senators Opening Day the following season, and before everyone knew it, a tradition was born. Every ...
  23. [23]
    1920-1929 MLB Attendance - Ballparks of Baseball - Your Guide to ...
    1920-1929 Ballpark Attendance ; St. Louis Cardinals, Sportsmans Park, 326,836, 384,773, 536,998 ; Washington Senators, Griffith Stadium, 359,260, 456,069, 458,552 ...
  24. [24]
    Washington Senators I team ownership history
    Jan 2, 2019 · Even before the ballpark's expansion, Washington fans responded favorably to Griffith's ownership. Attendance increased from 234,000 in 1919 to ...
  25. [25]
    1924 World Series - Baseball Almanac
    The Washington Senators won the 1924 World Series against the New York Giants 4-3, with a key Game 7 win after a late comeback and errors by the Giants.
  26. [26]
    1924 World Series Game 7 - D.C. Baseball History
    The Washington Senators won 1924 World Series Game 7 against the New York Giants 4-3 on October 10, 1924.
  27. [27]
    The 1924 World Series - Ancestry.com
    The Senators were handed a victory in the final game on October 10 when two errors by the Giants and a "bad hop" ground ball led to the winning run. Giants ...
  28. [28]
    Rare Film: Washington Senators Win the 1924 World Series | Timeless
    Oct 22, 2019 · The Washington Senators won the 1924 World Series over the New York Giants in a Game Seven that went 12 innings.Missing: clincher | Show results with:clincher
  29. [29]
    1937 All-Star Game - Baseball Almanac
    Location, Griffith Stadium ; Attendance (Rank), 31,391 ; 1st Pitch, President Franklin Roosevelt ; M.V.P. Award, Not Awarded Until 1962 ; League Items, A.L., N.L..
  30. [30]
    All-Star Games in D.C.: 1937, 1956, 1962, 1969 and 2018
    Oct 1, 2022 · On July 10, 1956: a full house of 28,843 at aging Griffith Stadium saw Washington's Mickey Vernon start at first base for the A.L. Nats' slugger ...
  31. [31]
    Williams, Mantle hit back-to-back homers | 07/10/1956 - MLB.com
    Jul 14, 2020 · 7/10/56: Ted Williams hits a two-run homer in the 6th, and Mickey Mantle follows it with a home run of his own at the 1956 All-Star Game.<|separator|>
  32. [32]
    July 10, 1956: The Kid, The Man, the Say Hey Kid, and the ...
    Apr 18, 2022 · Ted Williams, selected to his 13th All-Star Game, manned left field for the American League, and St. Louis's popular Stan Musial, also in his ...
  33. [33]
    1956 All-Star Game - This Day In Baseball
    Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams and Stan Musial all homer. Mays's pinch-hit two-run home run off Whitey Ford is his 7th straight hit against the Yankee
  34. [34]
    https://sabr.org/journal/article/josh-gibson-blazes-a-trail-homering-in-big-league-ballparks-1930-1946/
  35. [35]
    Josh Gibson Blazes a Trail: Homering in Big League Ballparks ...
    Dec 19, 2020 · The final home run of Gibson's career was also hit at Griffith Stadium, on September 15, 1946. It came in the first game of a doubleheader ...
  36. [36]
    Bobby Burke throws only Senators no-hitter at Griffith Stadium
    Oct 16, 2018 · Major-league baseball was played for another 30 years in Griffith Stadium, but only Bobby Burke can lay claim to be the sole Senators hurler to ...
  37. [37]
    Griffith Stadium - BR Bullpen - Baseball-Reference.com
    Mar 2, 2022 · Griffith Stadium was the long-time home of the first Washington Nationals -- and yes, the American League franchise was, officially at least, called the ...Missing: key events
  38. [38]
    Walter Johnson - BR Bullpen - Baseball-Reference.com
    He struck out nearly 14 batters per 9 innings while allowing less than one run and one walk per 9 IP. He also pitched 77 consecutive scoreless innings - ...Missing: Stadium | Show results with:Stadium
  39. [39]
    WHEN THE GREATS FACED THE GREATS, THE BABE AND THE ...
    Jun 24, 2024 · From 1914 through 1919 Walter Johnson allowed a total of nine home runs, and his HR percentage rate was 0.00090404 %. Babe Ruth hit two of ...
  40. [40]
    May 7, 1921: Bob Meusel hits for the cycle as Ruth wallops longest ...
    Apr 12, 2021 · May 7, 1921: Bob Meusel hits for the cycle as Ruth wallops longest home run ever at Griffith Stadium ... Babe Ruth home run and a cycle by Meusel.
  41. [41]
    https://www.statscrew.com/baseball/roster/t-WS1/y-1932
  42. [42]
    1932 Washington Senators baseball Roster on StatsCrew.com
    Washington scored 840 runs. Heinie Manush led the squad with 14 home runs Heinie Manush and Joe Cronin each recorded 116 runs batted in. Heinie Manush paced ...
  43. [43]
    Satchel Paige and D.C. - Washington baseball history
    Jul 1, 2024 · the Grays in the Negro Leagues' championship series at Griffith drew a crowd of 25,000. Paige retired the first 10 batters and shut out the ...
  44. [44]
    Satchel Paige, Monarchs shut out powerful Homestead Grays lineup ...
    Mar 22, 2022 · The Post reported that in 10 appearances at Griffith Stadium that season (16 total games including doubleheaders), the Grays drew 102,690 ...
  45. [45]
    D.C. and the Homestead Grays - Washington baseball history
    Dec 2, 2019 · The team's season opener in D.C. drew a crowd of 13,000, but the Grays' average attendance at Griffith Stadium that season fell to about to ...
  46. [46]
    Griffith Stadium | American Football Database | Fandom
    The seating capacity for football from 1937–1960 was 35,000.[1]; ↑ "Clem's Baseball ~ Griffith Stadium". Andrew G. Clem. http://www.andrewclem.com/Baseball ...
  47. [47]
    [PDF] 1942 NFL CHAMPIONSHIP: SWEET REVENGE
    This round, their defeat could only be blamed on a determined Redskins effort. Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C., December 13, 1942. Attendance: 36,006.
  48. [48]
    Chicago Bears at Washington Redskins - December 13th, 1942
    Chicago Bears 6 at Washington Redskins 14 on December 13th, 1942 - Full team and player stats and box score.
  49. [49]
    The Last NFL Team to Integrate Was the Washington Redskins
    Jan 18, 2023 · The Washington Redskins were the last NFL team to integrate. Owner George P. Marshall ran a southern-focused media empire.Missing: delay | Show results with:delay
  50. [50]
    Integrating the Redskins: George Preston Marshall vs. the U.S. ...
    Jun 5, 2002 · "Marshall thinks we don't mean business, but we do," Udall said that July. "This guy's making a big mistake if he thinks our department merely ...Missing: decision | Show results with:decision
  51. [51]
    District Interhigh football champion 1953 game with Theodore ...
    Part 1 of silent film footage of the District Interhigh football game pitting Theodore Roosevelt High School against Anacostia High School at Griffith Stadium.
  52. [52]
    Graham Crusade: The Gospel in Washington - Christianity Today
    Eight years ago Billy Graham preached on the Capitol steps, and in an armory seating 10,000. This week he is speaking in Griffith Stadium, home of the ...
  53. [53]
    Taft becomes first U.S. president to throw out first pitch at MLB game
    Aug 25, 2021 · On April 14, 1910, President William Howard Taft becomes the first president to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Major League Baseball game.
  54. [54]
    Ceremonial First Pitches - Pieces of History
    Mar 28, 2023 · Every U.S. President from William Howard Taft to John F. Kennedy threw a ceremonial first pitch at Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC, home to ...
  55. [55]
    Heartfelt History - Facebook
    Apr 22, 2025 · April 10, 1913 In a game which features President Woodrow Wilson throwing out the first pitch, Washington's Walter Johnson gives up an unearned ...
  56. [56]
    FDR attends 1937 All-Star Game - D.C. Baseball History
    Jul 7, 2025 · President Franklin D. Roosevelt is the first President to attend an All-Star game as he is invited to throw out the 1937 first ball at Griffith Stadium in ...Missing: visits WWII bond drives<|separator|>
  57. [57]
    Harry S. Truman & Baseball: Presidential First Pitches- Shapell
    Apr 1, 2021 · Five years later, Truman would make history by throwing out the first pitch of Opening Day ambidextrously, a tradition, incidentally, started by ...
  58. [58]
    When FDR Said 'Play Ball' - National Archives
    Nov 14, 2022 · In January 1942, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the legendary commissioner of baseball, sent Roosevelt a handwritten letter, asking if major league baseball ...
  59. [59]
    Major League Baseball, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and World ...
    Feb 23, 2016 · This was scheduled to be the first of sixteen war-relief engagements involving every major league club. Everyone who entered the park had to pay ...Missing: non- | Show results with:non-
  60. [60]
    When Segregation Doomed Baseball in Washington
    Feb 15, 2003 · Although they sat in Griffith Stadium's segregated right field pavilion, blacks flocked to Senators games. ... Griffith alienated black fans.
  61. [61]
    Remembering segregated Griffith Stadium - The Washington Post
    Nov 2, 2019 · Griffith Stadium was in a predominantly African American neighborhood, at Georgia Avenue and Fifth Street NW near Howard University.
  62. [62]
    Late in the Game: The Integration of the Washington Senators
    In the aftermath of the war, public protest against this exclusionary policy was evident at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C., as well as other ballparks ...
  63. [63]
    September 6, 1954: Carlos Paula integrates the Washington Senators
    Mar 8, 2022 · Trotting out to left field was Carlos Paula, who was about to become the first Black ballplayer to play for the Senators. Seven years after ...
  64. [64]
    ESPN.com - Page2 - Civil Rights on the Gridiron
    "We'll start signing Negroes," Washington Redskins owner George Preston Marshall once quipped, "when the Harlem Globetrotters start signing whites.".Missing: delay | Show results with:delay
  65. [65]
    Ol' Ricky's Redskins Tales - George Preston Marshall
    May 19, 2020 · Marshall is chiefly remembered for his racist stance of not signing African American players until forced by the federal government in 1962. The ...Missing: black | Show results with:black
  66. [66]
    A 'Showdown' That Changed Football's Racial History - NPR
    Sep 4, 2011 · He told Marshall to sign or trade for a black player, turning the 1962 draft into a showdown. Marshall refused to draft an African-American, so ...<|separator|>
  67. [67]
    1962: The Year That Changed the Redskins - Washingtonian
    Oct 10, 2011 · The Redskins were all white, and owner George Preston Marshall liked it that way. When the JFK administration turned up the heat to integrate, the maneuvering ...
  68. [68]
    Washington Senators (1901-1960)*(1960-1971) - Fun While It Lasted
    Jul 31, 2025 · Griffith Stadium (1911-1960) Opened: April 12 ... It became official on October 26, as Griffith announced the team was moving to Minnesota.
  69. [69]
    The Washington Senators Begin a New Term
    On April 10, 1961, the Washington Senators took the field at Griffith Stadium once again, this time for Opening Day.
  70. [70]
    Senators lose to Twins in final baseball game at Griffith Stadium
    Apr 26, 2022 · September 21, 1961: A farewell with few mourners: Senators lose to Twins in final baseball game at Griffith Stadium – Society for American ...
  71. [71]
    Washington Nationals Ballparks History - MLB.com
    The expansion Washington Senators played their inaugural season at Griffith Stadium in 1961 before moving into District of Columbia Stadium for the 1962 season.
  72. [72]
    Home Plate at the Hospital - The Twin Bill
    ... right field wall that jutted in at a right angle to accommodate several houses and a large tree (“the Tree”) into which sluggers like Babe Ruth hit home runs.