Cincinnati’s Crosley Field: A Gem in the Queen City

April 11, 1912, marked a new era in the history of the Cincinnati Reds. On that day the team inaugurated
the season by playing its first game at Redland Field, which was renamed Crosley Field in 1934 in honor
of the team's owner, Powel Crosley. The new steel and concrete ballpark was located at the site of its
predecessor, the outdated wooden Palace of the Fans at the intersection of Findlay Street and Western
Avenue. For almost six decades, Crosley Field beckoned like a shining gem surrounded by warehouses
and industrial complexes in the Queensgate neighborhood of the Queen City. The Reds closed the book
on Crosley Field on June 24, 1970, and moved into Riverfront Stadium, a modern all-purpose sports
venue that held almost twice as many spectators.
This book evokes memories of Crosley Field through detailed summaries of more than 85 historic and
monumental games played there, and 10 insightful feature essays about the history of the ballpark.
Former Reds players Johnny Edwards and Art Shamsky share their memories of the park in introductions.
Among the exciting contests recounted here are an Opening Day no-hitter in 1918, action from the
infamous 1919 World Series, Negro Leagues games, Joe DiMaggio's 1939 World Series heroics, Johnny
Van Der Meer's incredible summer of two no-hitters, and no-hitters by Lon Warneke and Clyde Shoun.
Hank Aaron's 3000th hit took place at Crosley Field, as did indelible performances by Pete Rose, Roberto
Clemente, and Frank Robinson.