Ballparks of Indianapolis, Part I: Perry Stadium
Spring 2023
Volume 19, Number 1
The American Association Almanac
Ballparks of Indianapolis, Part I
Perry Stadium, Origins: 1931-1932
Published May 2023
This volume, available in print form only, is another of the American Association Almanac's "Ballparks of the American Association" series. It offers an in-depth look into the origins of the stadium originally known as Perry Stadium, its construction and issues related to its replacing the long-time home of the Indianapolis Indians, Washington Park which later became known as West Washington Street Park (in order to differentiate it from the original home of the Indians on the opposite end of the city called Washington Park, or East Washington Street Park as it is known by baseball historians today). The volume boasts a variety of interesting angles to the story of Perry Stadium, including how the land for the park was obtained, dangers associated with the park's early days, the first American Association game played at the park and the various "firsts" involved, etc. Virtually no stone is left unturned in this comprehensive edition. In its 56 pages this issue of the Almanac consists of over 30,000 words and includes a color centerfold depicting items of interest associated with the park's early days.
From the Introduction to this issue of the American Association Almanac:
"As it approaches its 93rd year, the Indianapolis baseball plant located at 16th Street and Harding is thriving in its new role. Known by a variety of names through the years, it was originally Perry Stadium in 1931 as the home of the Indianapolis Indians, becoming Victory Field in 1942, and finally Bush Stadium in 1967. In 2013 the facility was completely renovated into the Stadium Lofts and Flats apartment complex using the park's original infrastructure, even preserving its original grand entrance facade. This issue of the Almanac serves as a tribute to its historical preservation as well as to the Indianapolis Indians.
It also stands as a return to the Almanac's focus on ballparks of the American Association. Internet access to three Indianapolis newspapers gives this issue a comprehensive dimension that elevates its value as a historical publication. As work began for this issue during December of 2022, box scores from the Indianapolis Star provided the basis for the statistical portion of this work. Using the web service newspapers.com historical volumes of the Indianapolis Times were also available, as was the Indianapolis News, each of which provided thorough coverage of American Association baseball for the period of the early 1930s. Having this level of access is a major boon for the quality of the work comprising the Almanac.
What started out to be a one-issue treatment of the subject of the Indianapolis ballparks of the American Association has become a two-part issue. The current issue, Part One, includes a history of the events that led to the construction of Perry Stadium. A statistical overview of the Indians' first games at the new ballpark introduces the issue. Because the team opened the ballpark mid-season in 1931, its early statistical history is organized into two sections. The first 14 games at Perry were played in September 1931; hence an overview is presented concerning the "firsts" achieved by the Indians and their opponents. Part Two will revolve around the statistical history of the Indians' first full season at their new venue and will be published in the spring of 2024."
From this introduction it becomes clear that the intention of this article is to present a detailed look at the origins of Perry Stadium. A glimpse at the Perry family history familiarizes readers with events, including the tragic death of James A. Perry, surrounding the first games played at the new facility in the late summer of 1931.
The table of contents as it appears on page 2.
As listed, a number of graphics provide balance for the text, making this issue of the Almanac a well-balanced document intended to provide a comprehensive history into the American Association and the various teams that comprised the league from 1902 to 1962.
Unique photographs, such as that depicting an exhibition contest being played May 15, 1949 at what was then called Victory Field, make this issue of the Almanac a very special one. There have been a number of exceptional vintage photographs of American Association ballparks selected for inclusion in the Almanac over the years but few match the historical integrity of the interior view of Perry Stadium taken in the days prior to the actual first game on Sept. 5, 1931.
The cover photo:
Careful research by the Almanac led to the discover that the photo above shows a match-up between the Negro League's Homestead Grays and the traveling professional baseball team known as the House of David. The date of the photo is May 15, 1949.
In addition to these images are others showing items unique to the history of Perry Stadium from the days prior to the park being renamed Victory Field in 1942.
The following content samples provide a sense of the overall quality of the publication.
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Copies Available
Copies of this edition of the American Association Almanac are available through the editor for the cost of $15.00 postpaid. To place your order, contact:
Rex Hamann
14201 Crosstown Blvd. NW
Andover, MN 55304-3311
Or contact the Almanac by email at:
rex457@gmail.com
Accepted forms of payment:
Paypal, check or money order.
Current Subscription Rates
Private Individual: $26.00/ 1 year or $44.00/ 2 yrs.
Institutional: $64.00 / 1 year or $110.00 / 2 yrs.
(as of Dec. 2023):
Back Issues
(Please check with the editor for availability before ordering)
Almanac
Comments