SHIBE PARK (1909-1952) ********************** Also Known as: Connie Mack Stadium (1953-1970) ******************************* HOME OF THE: PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS 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 1924. You can also use this park in 1968 (Connie Mack Stadium). LFL L LFG C RFG R RFL *** *** *** *** *** *** *** DISTANCE: 334 352 380 468 393 371 307 HEIGHT: 12 12 12 12 34 34 34 PARK FACTORS FOR 1924 ********************* LEFT HANDED BATTERS RIGHT HANDED BATTERS ******************* ******************** S D T HR S D T HR *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** 94 104 100 114 94 104 100 114 PARK FACTORS FOR 1968 ********************* LEFT HANDED BATTERS RIGHT HANDED BATTERS ******************* ******************** S D T HR S D T HR *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** 95 96 100 106 95 97 100 106 SURFACE: Natural Grass FOUL TERRITORY: Large *** Note: The Philadelphia Athletics played in this park from 1909 to 1953. And the Philadelphia Phillies played here, from May 16th to May 28th, 1927 and from 1938 to 1970. Named after it's owner, Ben Shibe, Shibe Park was erected only a short stroll from Philadelphia's other ballpark, the Baker Bowl. It was the first all-concrete-and steel ballpark (Shibe opened eleven weeks prior to Forbes Field, which was also an all-concrete-and-steel facility). Prior to Shibe Park and Forbes Field all major league ballparks were made predominately of wood. In 1913, Connie Mack (real name, Cornelius McGillicuddy) purchased fifty percent of the Athletics's, with Ben Shibe controlling the other fifty percent. Mack managed the Athletics from 1901 to the end of the 1950 season, when he was eighty-three years of age. His lifetime managerial record is: 3,731 Wins and 3,948 Defeats, both records. Connie Mack's A's won seven pennants and five World Series while domiciled at Shibe Park. His 1910-1914 team, winner of four pennants and three World Series, featured such immortals as infielders Frank "Home Run" Baker and Eddie Collins, and pitchers Chief Bender and Eddie Plank. And his 1929-1931 team was, if anything, even better, with Mickey Cochrane, Jimmie Foxx, Lefty Grove and Al Simmons. In 1953 Shibe Park was renamed Connie Mack Stadium. Some memorable moments at this park, ... May 18th, 1912: The Detroit Tigers refuse to play a scheduled game because Ty Cobb was suspended for going into the stands and assaulting a fan. To avoid forfeit and a fine, Detroit management recruits amateur players, who put on Detroit uniforms and are clobbered by the Athletics, 24-2. June 15th, 1925: Trailing the Cleveland Indians, 15-3, after six-and-a-half innings and 15-4 after seven-and-a-half, the Athletics score 13 runs in the eighth inning to win, 17-15. (The 12-run deficit is still the most runs a team has ever overcome to win a game). October 12th, 1929: In the fourth game of the World Series, and losing to the Chicago Cubs, 8-0, after six-and-a-half innings, the Athletics score 10 runs in the bottom half of the seventh to win, 10-8. (The eight run deficit is still the most runs a team has ever overcome to win a World Series game). June 3rd, 1932: New York Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig hits four consecutive home runs, driving in six runs, as the Yankees trounce the Athletics, 20-13. May 24th, 1936: New York Yankees second baseman Tony Lazzeri hits two grand-slam home runs, a solo homer, and a triple, driving in an American League record 11 runs in a 25-2 rout of the Athletics. September 28th, 1941: On the last day of the season (a doubleheader), Boston Red Sox outfielder Ted Williams gets six hits in eight times at bat against the Athletics to raise his league-leading batting average to .406. (It's the last time anyone has hit .400). The above comments are from the book: "Lost Ballparks - A Celebration of Baseball's Legendary Fields," by Lawrence S. Ritter. *********************************** SHIBE PARK 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