Sportsman's Park

Sportsman’s Park was home to two different baseball teams during its existence. Baseball at the site where Sportman's Park stood dates back to 1866. The Brown Stockings of the National Association League played at the first Sportsmans Park in 1875 when the ballpark was known as Grand Avenue Grounds. It was located at the corner of Dodier Street and Grand Avenue. In 1880 Alfred Spink bought the team and tore down the ballpark, rebuilding a covered Sportsmans Park. The ballpark opened on May 21, 1881 but burned ten years later because it was built mainly of wood. In 1892, the National Association folded, the Browns were renamed the Cardinals, became part of the National League, and moved into a new Sportsman Park. However in 1898, fire swept through the ballpark destroying it and the Cardinals moved to Robison Field. After the 1901 season the St. Louis Browns were formed when the Milwaukee Brewers, charter members of the American League, moved to St. Louis.

The St. Louis Browns built a new ballpark where Sportsman’s Park burned in 1898. Consisting of about 8,000 wooden seats, the ballpark was named after its predecessor. In 1908 a new ballpark was constructed. Concrete and steel was used to build a double deck grandstand from first to third base with additional seating joining the lower level and extending down the lines. Bleachers were also built and placed in the outfield increasing the capacity to 18,000. The Browns played their first game at the new Sportsmans Park against Cleveland on April 14, 1909. For over two decades the Cardinals had played at Robinson Field, a 21,000 seat ballpark. In 1920 owner of the Cardinals, Sam Breadon, sold the ballpark for financial reasons. The Cardinals moved to Sportsmans Park, playing their first game there on July 1, 1920. By the 1925 season the grandstands were double decked to both foul poles and the bleachers in right field were covered, increasing the capacity to 30,500.