Few people consider Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium one of the classic parks of baseball. One of the first of the multi-purpose facilities, it looks basically the same from any aerial view, it has uniform outfield dimensions (335 feet to left and right, 385 feet in the power alleys, and 405 feet to center), and it winessed almost no memorable games. But when RFK reopens for baseball in April 2005, it will achieve a notable distinction: it will become the second oldest stadium in the National League.
The oldest park is, of course, Chicago's Wrigley Field, which celebrated its ninetieth birthday in 2004. Dodger Stadium is currently the second oldest. The park opened for baseball on April 10, 1962. One day earlier, however, the Senators played their first game at RFK (then known as District of Columbia Stadium). Thus, when the 2005 baseball season opens, RFK will relegate Dodger Stadium to third oldest among National League stadiums.
» John Paul Hill has followed baseball since 1983 and has published two articles in historical journals on Commissioner A. B. "Happy" Chandler.
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Copyright © 2004 by John Paul Hill. Posted February 8, 2005.
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