Huntington Avenue Grounds

Huntington Avenue Grounds 1901 - 1911

"Huntington Avenue American League Base Ball Grounds is the full name of the baseball stadium that formerly stood in Boston, Massachusetts and was the first home field for the Boston Red Sox (known informally as the 'Boston Americans' until 1908) from 1901-1911. The stadium, built for $35,000, was located across the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad tracks from the South End Grounds, home of the Boston Braves. ... The playing field was built on a former circus lot and was fairly large by modern standards-530 feet to center field, later expanded to 635 feet in 1908. It had many quirks not seen in modern baseball stadiums, including patches of sand in the outfield where grass would not grow, and a tool shed in deep center field that was actually in play."
Wikipedia

"... Sand, Wood and Smoke. It is said that the playing field, made up mostly of weeds and sand, sloped upward toward deep center. But this would have been only one of many hazards associated with playing here. Balls hit into a tool shed out there (which would have had to travel over 600 feet) were in play. Probably the most formidable obstacle might have been the fans who, when they weren't standing on the field behind ropes, apparently came out of the stands to aid in arguments with the umpires. That may be what happened to result in the unusual image shown below from a 1910 game against the Tigers. Despite wearing hats and coats to the games, it appears that this was a pretty rowdy bunch. It is well documented that they came primarily to gamble and drink (some things never change). They can be seen in photos to climb over fences both to get into the park -- and again to get out of it. There is only evidence of a single entry point for the entire structure yet it is apparent that those sitting in the distant centerfield bleachers could take a shortcut across the field to get to their seats. Given the bad field conditions, groundskeepers probably didn't mind."
Huntington Avenue Grounds

1904 Boston Americans Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox’s First Home Game, in 1901 at Huntington Avenue Grounds
"The Red Sox began life in Boston at Huntington Avenue Grounds, the predecessor to Fenway Park, on May 8, 1901. The next day’s Boston Globe wrote of the 12-4 win over Philadelphia, which gave the Sox a 6-5 record: 'It was the birth of a major league baseball club for Boston. Eleven thousand five hundred persons went to dedicate the new grounds on Huntington av and cheer for the members of Capt Collins’ team. The day was an ideal one for sport and the large crowd were the essence of good nature. It was a regular holiday attendance, and the peanut man was in high glee, as he sailed his paper bags among the joyous throngs on the bleachers. With new grounds, and practically new teams, the lovers of the sport were not too particular about the style of ball played, so long as the home team came out victorious.'"
Misc.Baseabll

"Fenway Park has been home to the century-old Red Sox franchise for over 90 years. And while the 'lyric little bandbox' is synonymous with Boston Red Sox baseball, few fans know about the predecessor to the current stadium, the ballpark that actually gave birth to the franchise. The American League began operations in 1901 with eight charter franchises, and with an announcement on January 28 of that year the team that would become known as the Red Sox was officially inducted into the League and the city. The announcement of the team was preceded by Connie Mack's mission to Boston to locate a tract of land within the city that would be used for a ballpark."
Boston's Pastime

Misc.Baseball: The First Game at Fenway Park: April 20, 1912

Misc.Baseball: The Duel Between Smoky Joe Wood and Walter Johnson at Fenway Park in September 1912


Huntington Avenue Grounds 1911