Sovereign Bank Stadium at least the fifth home field for York-area pro baseball teams
York, Pa.’s, Penn Park field?
This photo is presumed to be the ballfield or stadium at York, Pa.’s Penn Park, the first in a series of baseball parks to serve as the homefield for York-area baseball teams. West Manchester Township Historical Society’s Mel Miller scanned this image from a glass plate. Also of interest: Sol and Brooks lead long York County sports parade and West Manchester book contains valuable gold coins and Penn Park’s American War Mothers’ monument overlooked.
The opening of spring training Monday in preparation for the York Revolution’s fourth season brings to mind the major home fields for York-area baseball teams.
Mel Miller helped raise the question about where the pros have played by providing a rare photo of what is believed to be the stadium at Penn Park.
Here is what admittedly may be an incomplete list of major professional ballfields. (Readers are urged to flesh out with information.)
1. Penn Park – Early 1900s. Penn Park ran much farther south before development so a conjecture is that the stadium was located in the Cleveland Avenue area. There, night baseball came to York.
2. Eagles Park – 1920s. That was in Manchester Township near White Oak Park. It’s been described as in the area of the PennDOT shed and yard. The terrain has changed much over the years because of the Interstate 83 interchange. Babe Ruth played there.
3. Martin-Parry Field – 1930s-1940s. This was located across from the Viking Club on Adams Street in West York, behind the war memorial. West York School District now uses this flat lot for a sports field, but nothing is left of the grandstand or other fixtures.
4. Memorial Stadium – The York White Roses played at this field, later named after York Barbell’s Bob Hoffman, in the post-World War II era through the 1969 season. Here, Brooks Robinson made his professional debut.
5. Sovereign Bank Stadium – The Revs prepare for their fourth season at a stadium site that has proven to be just right. Professional baseball seekers landed on The Swamp site after examining Smurfit-Stone, Ohio Blenders and even a revamped Memorial Stadium.
In a moment that tied together two baseball threads, a White Oak Park reunion was held at Sovereign Bank Stadium in 2008.
*Updated, 4/13/10
