For several years I have wondered about the precise location of old Oriole Park’s home plate. From 1914-1915 the ballpark was known as Terrapin Park and later Oriole Park (V). The ballpark burned down in 1944 and is now the site of Peabody Heights Brewery.
Terrapin Park Postcard (Chessler Company, Baltimore, Maryland)
This past Thursday, the mystery was solved. Richard O’Keefe and J. Hollis B. Albert III of Peabody Heights Brewery (which sits on a portion of the former ballpark site) arranged for a survey of the site to determine the location of home plate, as well as the infield and the outfield.
Anne Leininger of S.J. Martenet Company, Surveying Former Site of Old Oriole Park, Baltimore, Maryland
Home plate was located on what is now a grass strip along Barclay Street, just south of the brewery and across the Street from the entrance to the Barclay School.
J. Hollis B. Albert III , Bernard McKenna, and Richard O’Keefe Standing at Former Site of Home Plate, Old Oriole Park, Baltimore, Maryland
The surveyors also determined the former site of the pitcher’s mound, which was located in a grassy patch of land just south of Peabody Heights Brewery.
Site of Old Oriole Park Pitcher’s Mound, Located Behind Peabody Heights Brewery, Baltimore, Maryland
Site of Old Oriole Park Pitcher’s Mound Looking Toward Home Plate, Baltimore, Maryland
The left field foul line ran parallel to what is now Barclay Street.
Left Field Foul Line marker, old Oriole Park, Baltimore, Maryland
Third base was located next to what is now a loading dock for Peabody Heights Brewery on Barclay Street.
J. Hollis B. Albert III standing next to former location of third base, old Oriole Park, Baltimore, Maryland
Peabody Heights Brewery is in the process of putting together a display about old Oriole Park. Second base was located inside the brewery and Peabody Heights Brewery plans to include it as part of its brewery tour.
Peabody Heights Brewery at Old Oriole Park, Baltimore, Maryland
The tap room/tasting room will include a recreation of the old Oriole Park grandstand with a display and information about old Oriole Park, as well as information about several other former professional ballparks that once dotted the area nearby. The Baltimore Sun’s Jacques Kelly, a baseball fan and historian who grew up nearby, wrote this fine article about the surveying at old Oriole Park. Be sure to stay tuned for more information.
There was also a stadium across the street from there at the southwest corner of Greenmount Avenue and 29th Street. It was the old American League Park and home of Jack Dunn’s Eastern League Orioles and the park where Babe Ruth made his professional debut. The Terp’s built their park right across the street.
Hello Bob
You are correct. And just to complete the history of that corner of Baltimore, it was also the site of Oriole Park II, which was the home of the American Association Baltimore Orioles from 1890 to 1891. Of course, now it is a McDonald’s restaurant. Too bad there isn’t a plaque there marking the history of that plot of land. Thanks for the comment. DBS