EVOLUTION OF SHIBE PARK

by Max Silberman

One of the little games we enjoy at the museum on a slow day is to look at a newly acquired photo of Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium and figure out the year. We look for clues such as the scoreboard which was mechanical prior to l955 and electrical more recently.The stadium changed greatly from l909 when it opened until its demise in l970 (although it was not fully demolished until l976).

The chronology of these changes was featured in the team's inaugural yearbook in l949. At that time the Athletics planned to buy and raze the homes on 20th Street to add right field stands and increase the capacity of the stadium to over 40,000. Of course the zoning changes never took place due to neighborhood protest. One wonders where all those extra people would have parked and there would have certainly been terrible traffic jams created by additional fans.

According to the yearbook, 1909 fans saw a main grandstand and two bleachers (uncovered) in right field and left field. The A's flushed with the success of the first dynasty began to expand in l9l3. "The uncovered bleacher were roofed and called pavilions while another unprotected stand was added, stretching from left field to the center field flagpole."

Every year thereafter brought changes of a minor nature but in l925, $400,000 was spent on major innovations, quite a sum of money in those days. "Two new stands were erected and the grandstand was enlarged into a doubledecker."

In l928 750 box seats were added on a mezzanine level and 3500 more seats were added in l929.Light towers costing $105,000 went up in l939, the first in the American League. On July 4, 1938 the Phillies left the decrepit Baker Bowl to share Shibe Park with the A's so the stadium was in use daily.

Cosmetic changes would have to wait until l945 when the war ended and after the l948 season 2,500 new box seats appeared along the first and third base lines.

By l953 the name "Shibe Park" gave way officially to "Connie Mack Stadium" and soon the electric scoreboard would arrive from New York, outfield advertising would appear on the walls and roof, the seats would be painted red and during the l960s both the ball park and neighborhood would decline.

For those thrilled by the new Citizens Bank Park (and well they should be) it should be remembered the feeling of being at Veteran's Stadium in l971 after leaving a tattered and torn old stadium at 21st and Lehigh was equally awesome.

Whether Baker Bowl, Shibe Park, Connie Mack Stadium or the Vet was the site of your childhood, the memories will always be pleasant decades later!