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North of downtown · 12 photographs

Griffith Stadium

The Senators' ballpark at Georgia Avenue and Florida Avenue, where Washington won the 1924 World Series.

A crowded baseball grandstand with a single player in the outfield, houses behind
c. 1909–32 A packed grandstand watches a game at Griffith Stadium, a lone fielder standing on the grass and rooftops of nearby houses behind the stands.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LOT 12344-1 [item] [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

History

Washington’s American League team played at National Park, between Georgia Avenue and Florida Avenue. After the wooden ballpark burned in March 1911 a steel-and-concrete grandstand was ready in time for Opening Day; the park was renamed in 1923 for the team’s owner, Clark Griffith. In October 1924 the Senators won the World Series there, beating the New York Giants in twelve innings of the seventh game.

What's there now

The stadium was demolished in 1965. Howard University Hospital stands on the site.

Then and now

Nothing of the ballpark remains; its outline is lost under the hospital.

Photographs 12, oldest first

Burned timber framework of a grandstand under smoke
1911 The charred wreck of the wooden grandstand after National Park burned, March 17, 1911.Harris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H261- 181 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A baseball player in uniform swinging a bat in front of a crowded grandstand
1913 Clark Griffith, the Senators' manager, takes a swing at National Park, the team's new concrete ballpark, with the grandstand behind him.Bain News Service, Library of Congress · LC-B2- 2403-3 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A crowded baseball grandstand with a single player in the outfield, houses behind
c. 1909–32 A packed grandstand watches a game at Griffith Stadium, a lone fielder standing on the grass and rooftops of nearby houses behind the stands.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LOT 12344-1 [item] [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Men in the stands of a ballpark, one pointing
1921 Spectators in the grandstand at the police home-defense benefit game, 1921. place uncertainNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 15757 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A baseball game with a large grandstand behind
1921 Players on the field at the police home-defense game, 1921. place uncertainNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 15759 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A huge crowd of children on a sports field around a pavilion, grandstand at left
June 1923 Thousands of children in white crowd the field around a decorated stand at a stadium in June 1923. place uncertainHarris & Ewing Collection, Library of Congress · LC-H234- A-5817 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Spectators in straw hats in the foreground watching a baseball pitcher, packed stands beyond
1924 Fans in straw boaters watch a pitcher wind up during the 1924 World Series in Washington. place probableNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 32319 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A man in a flag-draped box raising his arm to throw a ball, people around him
September 13, 1924 President Coolidge raises a ball to throw out the first pitch at the police and firemen's benefit game, September 13, 1924. place probableNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 32331 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Packed stands seen across a baseball field
October 1924 Crowds in the stands at Griffith Stadium for the 1924 World Series.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 32316 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Packed double-deck grandstand and a baseball field
1925 The crowd at Griffith Stadium for the 1925 World Series.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 37813 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
Men leading a military band across a ballfield in front of a crowded grandstand
April 22, 1925 Kellogg and Griffith lead a marching band across the field before packed stands, April 22, 1925. place probableNational Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 35009 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication
A baseball pitcher mid-throw in front of a packed stand
1926 A pitcher warms up before a full grandstand at Griffith Stadium, 1926.National Photo Company Collection, Library of Congress · LC-F8- 40316 [P&P] · No known restrictions on publication

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