Ebbets Field in Flatbush, home of the Brooklyn Dodgers, 1913-1957

Ebbets Field was a stadium in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York. It is mainly known for having been the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team of the National League (1913–1957).  Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958.

1913, Charles Ebbets' daughter throws out the first pitch, at an exhibition game on April 5, 1913.

The stadium had nicknames, 

As with Boston's Fenway Park and Detroit's Tiger Stadium, two ballparks that opened one year earlier than Ebbets Field, the intimate configuration prompted some baseball writers to refer to Ebbets Field as a "cigar box" or a "bandbox."

When Ebbets Field first opened it was a very large ballpark for its time, with center field being 508 ft away, left field 419 ft and right field was only 301 ft away, although with additional seating and the size of the playing field shrinking, it soon became a very small park, at its peak, it was 406 ft to center, 356 ft to left and 297 ft to right and held around 32,000.

1940, Ebbets Field.  Thanks to Time Magazine.

1940s, It was once a garbage dump, a site called Pigtown as swine rooted through the detritus. From it sprang the beating heart of Brooklyn. Ebbets Field saw its share of misery as home to the Dodgers. But it also saw stars and legendary events. SN returns to the block bound by Bedford Avenue, Sullivan Place, McKeever Place, and Montgomery Street.  Thanks to SportingNews.

 

1950s, Vin Scully talks to Gil Hodges and other Dodgers in their dugout at Ebbets Field. 

1957, April 13, 1957, a CBS camera in center field at Ebbets Field. 

1950s, [Posted on Thursday, December 5, 2024.]  Ebbets Field, located in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, is best remembered as the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team from 1913 to 1957. In addition to its baseball legacy, the stadium hosted five professional football teams, including three NFL teams, from 1921 to 1948. After being demolished in 1960, the site was redeveloped into Ebbets Field Apartments, which occupy the space today. The stadium remains a cherished part of Brooklyn’s history, symbolizing the city's deep connection to the Dodgers and its vibrant sports culture during the 20th century.

Thank you to Colyton, old pictures.

The construction of Ebbets Field was a long and challenging process, initiated by Dodgers owner Charles Ebbets in 1908 when he began purchasing lots to acquire the land. This land, once a garbage dump known as "Pigtown," was far from ideal for a baseball stadium, with old houses, shanties, and livestock scattered across the area. Despite these difficulties, work began in 1912, and the cornerstone was laid in July of that year. Ebbets had hoped to open the stadium by September 1, 1913, but due to construction delays, including a strike by ironworkers, the project was not completed on time. The McKeever brothers, who had invested in the team, helped accelerate the construction, ensuring the stadium was ready for the Dodgers’ first game in 1913.

Upon its completion, Ebbets Field was hailed as a "Monument to the National Game" in the press, with many anticipating it would stand for centuries. However, the stadium’s actual lifespan was far shorter, lasting just 47 years before being demolished in 1960. During those decades, Ebbets Field hosted some of baseball's most iconic moments, becoming a symbol of Brooklyn’s identity and an enduring part of baseball history. The stadium’s legacy lives on in the memories of fans and the continued importance of the Dodgers' time in Brooklyn, even after their relocation to Los Angeles.

1956, No caption or date to this photo, but we can assume that it's 1956 and that the man in the pic is Marvin Katter.  

Thanks to Dutch Baseball Hangout,

Today in 1956, Brooklyn Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley sold the home of the Dodgers, Ebbets Field, to real estate developer Marvin Kratter. Looking back, this was the omen of the Dodgers’ move after the 1957 season.

The sale to Kratter included a three-year lease, with an additional two years to be added in January, to stay and play at the Flatbush facility. This meant the ‘Bums’ had a potential home in the borough until 1961.

But we all know that O’Malley was two-faced here. He played like he wanted to stay in Brooklyn but in the meantime he was hammering out a deal with the city of Los Angeles. 

After the Dodgers left, Ebbets Field was used for car races and other events. Eventually, the ballpark was demolished in 1961 and apartment buildings were constructed on the very same spot. 

A much-heard joke about Walter O’Malley among Brooklynites after the move of the Dodgers to Los Angeles was: If you had a gun with two bullets and you faced Hitler, Stalin, and Walter O’Malley, who would you shoot?  The answer: O’Malley, twice.