We started off with a small goal… to see every single standing ballpark in the world. - Eric and Wendy Pastore.
Yesterday, a poster at the Washington Nationals board at Dugout Chatter passed along a link to a site I had never seen before. Digital Ballparks, an “online digital baseball museum, ” is definitely worth checking out.
Of particular interest to me was their rare photos of the Polo Grounds (courtesy of Doak Ewing and RARE Sportsfilms INC., from the DVD Summer of 1957). The third photograph in their series of 23 shots is a photograph of a NY GIANTS metal sign that sat on top of the clubhouse behind the centerfield bleachers. I believe it is the same one that was used this past summer during pre-game ceremonies at SBC Park. On the evening of Saturday, July 31 (Cardinals), the Giants commemorated the 50th anniversary of the 1954 team's World Series title. 18 members of the squad (plus Daryl Spencer who was in the Army in ‘54) were honored.
I wasn’t at the game but learned about the event and the sign in the latest issue of FOREVER GIANTS, The Official Newsletter of the San Francisco Giants Alumni. The article includes a picture of the team standing behind the sign on the infield. The Giants recently acquired the "structure of 10-foot-tall gold-painted metal letters spelling the word GIANTS" and will integrate it into SBC Park.
As I was browsing through this website, and thinking about the Polo Grounds, a place I never visited, I was reminded of a trip my family took to New York City in 1964. We drove from North Carolina to visit my Mom’s relatives in New Jersey and see the World's Fair. For a kid of seven who had been out of the county a few times but not the state, this was an unbelievably exciting trip.
I don’t remember a lot about that visit to the land of skyscrapers, but I do recall the sight of Shea Stadium at night. In later years, I would reflect back on our trip and wish that somehow our itinerary could have included the Polo Grounds.
But that would have been too late. We went during the summer when me and my siblings were out of school. The Polo Grounds had been demolished in April.
Anyway, great job Eric and Wendy and thanks for your on going project. And if anyone knows where the Giants have planted or plan to put that sign, please let me know.
GO GIANTS!!
If you want a quick way to get the Giants news, this site aggregates it all nice http://www.sportspyder.com/teams/mlb/giants/
Has BayAres,SFgate,espn,si.com,sacrementobee,mercury news and a bunch more
Posted by: Dana | May 25, 2005 at 04:46 PM