Washington Park, Brooklyn

Long before Dodger Stadium, before California, even before Ebbets Field, the Brooklyn Dodgers played for a while in South Brooklyn. Their home was Washington Park. It was a small structure that fit into the grid street pattern of the neighborhood, at the intersection of a pair of trolley lines. This was the park in which Casey Stengel made his Dodger playing debut. This park also serves as one-half of the first (pre) subway double hitter between the Giants and Dodgers. For many years, many individuals have passed this inconspicuous wall not knowing the significance of it. In a city that rebuilds itself on a continual basis, it is amazing that this bit of history has survived. In a borough where they still, to this day, bemoan the departure of "Dem Bums", most people would not know that a ballpark wall still stands.

There are not many (clear) pictures of old Washington Park, the most widely seen view is from this postcard from 1909. After the Dodgers moved out, Washington Park was used by the Brooklyn entry in the Federal League. Called at times the Brooklyn Federals or the Brooklyn Tip-Tops (a bit of self promotion for the owner's bread line- Tip Top White Bread), the league only lasted a couple of years, before folding. The park also hosted local high school football games as well as serving as an ice skating rink.

Commissioner's Note: There has been some discussion as to whether the Dodgers ever played in the Washington Park depicted on this page. There were several incarnations of the ballpark in the area. The issue came to light as the wall is part of an electric company utility yard, and was scheduled for demolition. The wall may have been built as part of the renovation of the ballpark after the Dodgers left. The staff of ebaseballparks.com is still researching the issue in old newspapers looking for a definitive answer.