Baltimore baseball history - David B. Stinson Author

Last month I spent the day with Ken Mars, Baltimore baseball historian, filmmaker, and now author. Earlier this year saw the publication of Ken’s first book, Baltimore Baseball: First Pitch to First Pennant. Ken’s wonderful new book takes the reader through the early days of baseball in Baltimore, up to the rise of the National League Orioles, one of the greatest teams of all time.

Ken and I share an affinity for Baltimore baseball history. Having read the book, I knew Ken was the person to ask for a lost ballpark tour of Baltimore’s earliest baseball sites.

Ken Mars at the Intersection of Madison Avenue and Lauren Street in Baltimore, Maryland, the Former Site of Madison Avenue Grounds

We settled on the former site of Flat Rock Diamond, the first baseball diamond in the State of Maryland, and Madison Avenue Grounds, the first enclosed baseball diamond with a grandstand and the first to charge admission to games.

Flat Rock Diamond, home of the Excelsior Base Ball Club, was in existence from 1858 to 1859, and was located in what is now Druid Hill Park in Northwest Baltimore. Although there is no known photograph of Flat Rock Diamond, the lithograph below from 1842 depicts the approximate location of what was to become Flat Rock Diamond.

Camp Baltimore Maryland, Lithograph by William M. Huddy and and Peter S. Duval, 1842 (courtesy of Ken Mars)

Construction of Druid Hill Park, one of the oldest urban parks in the country, began in 1858 and the park opened in 1860. The opening of Druid Hill Park was the death knell of Flat Rock Diamond, which soon became submerged by a new reservoir for the City of Baltimore and is now a portion of Druid Lake.

Iron Fence Surrounding Druid Lake, Former Site of Flat Rock Diamond

According to Ken’s diagram, the actual ball field site was located in the center of Druid Lake.

Diagram of Flat Rock Diamond and Druid Lake (courtesy of Ken Mars)

Jones Falls Parkway (I-83) runs along the Eastern most part of Druid Lake, while West 28th Street and Druid Hill Lake Park Drive parallel the southern portion of the lake, as well as the former site of Flat Rock Diamond.

Former Site of Flat Rock Diamond, Now Druid Lake

A storm drain in the middle of the lake marks the approximate location of Flat Rock Diamond’s infield.

Storm Drain in Middle of Druid Lake Marks Approximate Location of Flat Rock Diamond’s infield.

Home plate was located to the left of the storm drain, which , in the photo below, is near the banks of the lake.

Former Site of Home Plate and Infield, Flat Rock Diamond, Now Druid Lake

The lake includes reservoir tanks buried beneath the lake, and an earthen damn that surrounds the lake.

Druid Lake, Constructed 1871

Like Flat Rock Diamond, there is no known photograph of Madison Avenue Grounds, the site of the first intercity game played in Baltimore (the Baltimore Excelsior Base Ball Club vs. the Brooklyn Excelsiors, in September 1860), and the home park of both the Pastimes and the Marylands. Although no photo exits, there is a contemporaneous drawing of the ball park from the 1869 Saschse Bird’s Eye View of Baltimore.

Portion of the 1869 Sachse “Bird’s Eye View of Baltimore” depicting Madison Avenue Grounds (courtesy of Ken Mars)

Madison Avenue Grounds was constructed in 1860 and lasted into the 1870s. It was located East along Madison Avenue, just one mile south of Druid Lake. Indeed, Madison Avenue once ran north into Druid Hill Park and terminated at the former site of Flat Rock Diamond. That portion of Madison Avenue is now called Swann Drive.

Diagram of Madison Avenue Grounds (courtesy of Ken Mars)

The Southernmost point of Madison Avenue Grounds was located at the intersection of Madison Avenue and Laurens Street.

Madison Avenue and Lauren Street, the Southwest Corner of the Former Madison Avenue Grounds

Lauren Street Looking East, Southernmost Boundary of Former Madison Avenue Grounds

The ballpark ran north and south along the East side of Madison Avenue.

Madison Avenue, Baltimore, Looking Northwest from Lauren Street

Tiffany Alley runs through the former infield of Madison Avenue Grounds.

Tiffany Alley at Lauren Street, looking Northwest toward the Former Site of Madison Avenue Grounds Infield

Roberts Street intersects the former site East and West, from the outfield (East) toward home plate (West).

Intersection of Eutaw Street and Roberts Street, Former Site of Outfield, Madison Avenue Grounds

Eutaw Place marks the former site of left and right field.

Eutaw Street at Roberts Street, Looking South. Former Site of Outfield, Madison Avenue Grounds

Eutaw Street at Laurens Street, Looking South. Former Site of Outfield, Madison Avenue Grounds

The deepest part of Madison Avenue Grounds’ former center field is now open space at Arnold Sumpter Park.

Arnold Sumpter Park, Former Site of Center Field, Madison Avenue Grounds

Ken Mar’s new book peeked my interest in seeing first hand the former sites of the many historic baseball parks that existed before the Birds, and the advent of Oriole Parks I through IV. Ken’s knowledge of the history of those ballparks helped bring them back to life and I look forward to tracking down more of the former ballpark sites.

“Baltimore Baseball, First Pitch to First Pennant” is an in depth, essential read for any true Baltimore baseball fan. And fear not, this is not a dry read, for Ken Mars knows how to tell a good story well.

If you would like to purchase a copy directly from Ken, visit him at baltimorebaseballhistory.com.

It is not every day that you come across a previously unpublished photograph of a 16 year old future baseball Hall of Famer. This is especially true when considering that the picture was taken in Baltimore and depicts that future Hall of Famer wearing the uniform of a local sandlot company team.

A few months back, serendipity brought that picture to me, providing yet another Deadball Moment. Since 1998, I have been a Sunday-Plan Baltimore Orioles Season Ticket Holder, first in section 84, then section 78, and then, beginning in 2012, section 76. My move to section 76 introduced me almost immediately to the Sunday Mayor of Section 76, Rob Noel, who just happens to sit one row in front of me. As luck would have it, Rob likewise shares a passion for the Orioles, baseball stadiums, and lost ballparks, hosting baseballpanoramic.com, a website devoted to panoramic photos of ballparks.

As with any true politician, Mayor Rob has a cadre of friends dispersed throughout section 76, including Mark Tharle, who just happens to be married to Kathy Kaline. Which brings me back to the previously-unpublished, future-Hall-of-Famer-photograph. Turns out Kathy’s father George was the cousin of Westport/Baltimore native Al Kaline. After having read my post about Al Kaline’s boyhood home, Mark forwarded to me a family photo of Cousins George and Al Kaline donning their Gordon’s Stores baseball uniforms. After doing a bit of research, here is what I have found out about that photo. In 1951, the cousins played for a local team financed by Gordon’s Quality Dry Cleaning and Laundry and coached by one of Al Kaline’s Baltimore mentors, Sterling “Sheriff” Fowble .

Cousins George and Al Kaline (original photograph and image owned by Mark Tharle and Kathy Kaline – used by permission)

The Gordon’s Store jersey worn by Al Kaline is now on display at the Sports Legends Museum in Baltimore.

Al Kaline’s Gordon’s Store Jersey on Display at the Sports Legends Museum

According to Kathy Kaline, the picture of her father and Al Kaline was taken at Carroll Park, which is located in Baltimore just north of Interstate 95 at the intersection of Bush Street and Washington Boulevard. Carroll Park originally was part of Charles Carroll’s 2,000 acre Mount Clare Estate situated along the Patapsco River.

Mount Claire Estate with Montgomery Park Building (formerly Montgomery Wards) in Background

In the northeast section of the park, approximately two miles west of Oriole Park at Camden Yards are four youth baseball fields. Presumably the picture was taken somewhere in this section of the park.

Youth Baseball Fields at Carroll Park in Baltimore

The Kaline family home still stands in Westport, just two and a half miles south of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. According to Mayor Rob, Al Kaline’s father, Nicholas Kaline, worked at the Atlantic-Southwestern Broom Company. Al Kaline purportedly played on a baseball field located near that building as well. The building still stands at 3500 Boston Street in Baltimore and is known now as the Broom Factory, which has been repurposed to include restaurants, retail, and office space.

Former Atlantic Southwest Broom Company Building, Just a long fly ball from the old Natty Boh Factory on Brewery Hill

Former Atlantic Southwestern Broom Company Building, just a long fly ball from the old Natty Boh Factory on Brewery Hill

Al Kaline was a baseball phenomenon at Southern High School, once located in south Baltimore near the Inner Harbor on Warren Avenue between William Street and Riverside Avenue (thanks to Bob Neal for the clarification!), across the street from Federal Hill Park.

Former Southern High School Building at Intersection of Warren and Battery

Former Southern High School Building on Warren Avenue across from Battery Avenue

The three buildings that once comprised the high school are now apartments.

Former Southern High School Building at Warren Avenue and William Street

A new Southern HS building was constructed nearby at 1100 Covington Street – years after Kaline graduated – and is currently Digital Harbor High School.

Digital Harbor High School in Baltimore, formerly Southern High School

In 1953, two years after the Kaline Cousins photo was taken, Al Kaline signed a contract out of high school to play for the Detroit Tigers, never spending one day in the minor leagues before making his professional debut. As fate would have it, the American League Baltimore Orioles returned to the city the following year, but by then Kaline already had established himself as the Tiger’s every day center fielder. Perhaps because of his Baltimore connection, serendipity came into play on September 24, 1974, as well, when Kaline made his 3,000 hit at none other than Memorial Stadium in Baltimore.

Thanks to Mark and Kathy for sharing your family photo with me. Thanks also to serendipity and Mayor Rob.

Ken Mars and Early Baltimore Baseball History

A Serendipitous Al Kaline Deadball Moment

Buy Deadball, A Metaphysical Baseball Novel

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