MEMORIAL STADIUM (1950-) ************************ HOME OF THE: BALTIMORE ORIOLES This home-made ball park has been created for use with Diamond Mind Baseball v8. The dimensions and image are to depict the stadium as it looked in 1968. LFL L LFG C RFG R RFL *** *** *** *** *** *** *** DISTANCE: 309 339 370 410 370 339 309 HEIGHT: 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 PARK FACTORS LEFT HANDED BATTERS RIGHT HANDED BATTERS ************ ******************* ******************** S D T HR S D T HR *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** 104 101 100 89 105 101 101 89 SURFACE: Natural Grass FOUL TERRITORY: Large Memorial Stadium, a multipurpose stadium seating 30,000 in an oval shaped uncovered single deck, was constructed in 1949-50. It was designed mainly for professional football (the Baltimore Colts of the NFL), but also the Baltimore Orioles of the International League, in hope that major league baseball might be tempted. In 1954 that became a reality, as the St. Louis Browns became the Baltimore Orioles. Memorial Stadium was no hitter's heaven, as the distance increased rapidly past the foul poles, so that the power alleys were a healthy 360-370 feet in both left and right fields. During the thirty-eight years the Orioles called Memorial Stadium home, the team won six American League pennants and three World Series. Some memorable moments at Memorial Stadium, ... April 15th, 1954: On opening day, and returning to the American League after a 51-year absence, the Orioles celebrate by beating the visiting Chicago White Sox, 3-1, before a capacity crowd of 46,354. September 12th, 1962: Washington Senators pitcher Tom Cheney strikes out a record 21 batters in a 16-inning game, beating the Orioles, 2-1. May 8th, 1966: Orioles outfielder Frank Robinson drives a pitch thrown by Cleveland Indians, Luis Tiant completely over the left-field bleachers and into the parking lot. It is the only fair ball ever hit entirely out of Memorial Stadium. October 9th, 1966: The fourth and final game of the 1966 World Series see's Dave McNally's four-hit pitching and Frank Robinson's home run beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 1-0, giving Baltimore it's first World Series championship in the twentieth century. October 13th, 1970: The third game of the 1970 World Series see's Baltimore defeat the Cincinnati Reds, 9-3, on a grand-slam home run by pitcher Dave McNally, and a host of fielding gems by third baseman Brooks Robinson. October 3rd, 1982: On the last day of the season the Milwaukee Brewers snatch the American League East flag from Baltimore by defeating the Orioles, 10-2. Nevertheless, a capacity crowd gives retiring Baltimore manager Earl Weaver an emotional twenty-minute postgame standing ovation, featuring numerous curtain calls. May 2nd, 1988: Despite the Orioles dismal record of 23 losses and only one win, a crowd of over 50,000 shows up at Memorial Stadium to welcome the team home from a road trip, - and Baltimore responds by beating the Texas Rangers, 9-4. The above comments are from the book: "Lost Ballparks - A Celebration of Baseball's Legendary Fields," by Lawrence S. Ritter. ***************************************** MEMORIAL STADIUM IS FROM THE CREATORS OF: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Baseball's Analytical Search Engine +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/tdmilne Ron Gudykunst - ronlg@aol.com Tom Milne - tdmilne@compuserve.com