In 1895 the Reds created the first "batter's eye" by painting the centerfield wall black, making it easier to see incoming pitches. Erected on the site of Cincinnati's original League Park, which saw its grandstand collapse on Opening Day 1884, killing one spectator, the second League Park burned down in 1901 and was rebuilt as Crosley Field. (SCL)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 1st, 1891: Cleveland opens new League Park at 66th and Lexington with Cy Young pitching the Spiders to a 12-3 victory over the Reds before a crowd of about 9,500. » April 3rd, 1899: The Robison brothers, owners of the Cleveland franchise, gain control of the St. Louis franchise as well, and redistribute players. St. Louis, which finished 12th in 1898, is enhanced with Cy Young, Jesse Burkett, Bobby Wallace, and manager-1B Patsy Tebeau. Cleveland is greatly weakened by the transfers. The new St. Louis owners change the name of Sportsman's Park to League Park. They also change the color of the team socks from brown to red. The team nickname becomes the Perfectos. » April 21st, 1910: League Park opens in Cleveland with a capacity of 21,000; 18,832 watch Detroit and Ed Willett beat the Naps 5-0. » April 13th, 1911: With Cleveland leading St. Louis 3-1 in the 9th inning at Cleveland's League Park, the game is stopped because of a severe storm. Many fans are bruised by hailstones.