IN THE BALLPARK: We were “in the ballpark” – but still a
half-block off – when we reported on the location of Bradford’s old
Community Ball Park on Bolivar Drive.
Tony Pascale of Scottsdale, Ariz., writes, “Community Ball Park
was located where the canning company is currently (used to be R.C.
Can).” For newcomers, that’s Graham Packaging.
Tony goes on, “At that time, the lot that Speer Resistor (now
KOA Speer) is on was an empty lot that is the lot that the circuses
used to set up on. They may have also set up in the ballpark
parking lot but that was after they built Speer Resistor.”
“It was a beautiful little ballpark with right and left field
foul poles at 358 feet from home plate and center field at 402
feet. Those dimensions are bigger than most major league parks then
and now.
“The caretaker for the field was ‘Pop’ Baily and he took
exceptional pride in its condition. I can always remember night
games there when the twilight was ebbing and the public address
announcer would say ‘Lights, please, Mr. Baily.’
“I have many great memories involving that ballpark that could
fill several columns since when we were kids, we spent a lot of
time there (mostly trying to figure out how we could sneak in).
Also, I attended St. Bernard High School and we played all our home
games at that field (much to the concern of ‘Pop’ Baily).”
We also heard from George Howard of Peachtree City, Ga.: “Your
item about Bradford baseball brought back some nice memories. The
Bradford Bees were part of the Class D PONY league. The ballpark
was near the end of Seaward Avenue. Prior to baseball this field
was used for the annual visit of the RB&B circus. My father
took me to many games and in one game I saw Warren Spahn make his
debut as a professional pitcher.”
Finally for today, we hear from Fred Mackendrick of Petersburg,
Ill.: “I remember the baseball field was in Foster Brook near an
open field where they had the circus and carnival rides in the
summer. This was in the ’40s. When I was kid I belonged to the
‘knothole’ gang and watch the games through knotholes in the wood
fence around the field. Remember that, old timers?”
