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DETAILS |
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Name |
East End
Park |
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Years Active |
1891 |
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Tenants |
Cincinnati
Reds IV (Kelly's Killers) |
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Seating Capacity |
5,000 |
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Other Names Used |
Association
Park |
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Contractor |
Al Marcus |
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Architect |
(?) Soter |
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Construction Cost |
$12,000 |
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Location |
Ridgley
Street (W) |
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Humbert
Street (s) |
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Babb Alley
(N) |
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Watson
Street (E) |
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What Is There Now |
Paul Kramer
Field |
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C.L.
Harrison Field |
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None |
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The East End
Reds' ballpark was located within
Pendleton Park, off of Eastern Avenue (modern
day Riverside Drive) in the East End. It would
be the first and last attempt to have major
league ball in this part of town.
The location of the
park was not easily accessible and prior to its
construction the
Reds' ownership explored
building the ballpark in Covington Kentucky by
the Licking River or in Oakley Ohio but both
sites were eventually scrapped and the Reds
settled for the romantic setting of Pendleton
Grounds. With the rolling hills of Kentucky
visible in the background and steamboats
chugging up and down the Ohio River, Pendleton
Grounds was a lovely riverboat atmosphere that
was so popular during its time.
The ballpark was built in the northwest corner
of the East End Grounds, running 461 feet along
Ridgley street and 543 feet parallel with modern
day Babb Alley. The northwest location was
favorable because during the afternoon, the sun
would not be obstructive to spectators and the
players. The grandstand were octagon in shape
and faced southeast, in the direction of the
Ohio River & Dayton Kentucky. The grandstand
were located about 70 feet from the baseball
diamond and had a seating capacity of about
1,000 spectators. 270 of those seats were
handsome settees purchased from James L. Raven &
Co. Each section was about 16 feet wide and had
13 tiers of seats. The ballpark also had a
pavilion with adjoining bleachers.
The problem with
East End Park was its location. Streetcars
pulled by mules were used but they were very
slow and crowded. Spectators coming from the
city either had to catch a fifteen to
twenty-five minute train ride on the
Pennsylvania from Broadway Street and Court
Street. Or pick up a train ride on the
Pennsylvania at the Front Street connection
track just west of the Suspension Bridge at the
foot of Vine Street. A connection track was a
wooden viaduct for trains between the riverfront
and riverfront buildings. Front Street is where
modern day Mehring Way is located and the foot
of Vine Street is now called Stadium Drive.
The Pennsylvania would drop passengers off just
north of the ballparks main entrance.
Another means
for fans to get to the park was by way of the
Ohio River. Coming from the city, fans could
take a steamboat ride. Game time was always at
3:00 PM, so on game day the Coney Island
steamers,
Missouri and
Guilding Star
picked up passengers at 2:30 PM from the
foot of Sycamore Street. East End Park was one
of a few major league ballparks in the USA where
fans could attend games in this manner.
Despite
transportation being readily available and the
fantastic scenery that surrounded East End Park,
the remote location still proved to be
inconvenient. Midway through the 1891 baseball
season, Reds ownership began to explore new
locations for their club on the west side of
Cincinnati. It was all for naught. This Reds
team never made it to the 1892 season, playing
it's final game on August 18th against St.
Louis.
After the east-side
Reds' vacated the park, East End Park never
hosted another major league club again. However,
the current
Cincinnati Reds team explored
relocating to the park for the 1900 baseball
season when a fire erupted at League Park on May
28th, destroying the main grandstand, part of
the pavilion and the teams clubhouse. Instead
the Reds decided to play a handful of home games
on the road while some adjustments to their
ballpark were made to finish out the season.
C.L. Harrison Field & Paul Kramer Field, in the
Schmidt Recreation Complex Center is located
where the ballpark once stood. C.L. Harrison
Field is located where the grandstand & baseball
diamond once were located, and Paul Kramer Field
is the site where the outfield once sat.
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