Clearwater in Pinellas County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Clearwater Athletic Field
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, June 25, 2016
1. Clearwater Athletic Field Marker
Inscription.
Clearwater Athletic Field. . In 1922, the Brooklyn Dodgers agreed to hold their spring training in Clearwater with the provision that the city would create an appropriate venue. The city broke ground on the Clearwater Athletic Field in December 1922 following the City Council’s decision to issue $25,000 in bonds to construct the field and a 2,000-seat wooden grandstand. Home plate was located at what is now the intersection of Pennsylvania Ave. and Seminole St., left field ran parallel to Palmetto St., and right field ran parallel to N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. Players dressed in a wooden clubhouse off the third-base line, stayed downtown at the New Fort Harrison Hotel, and walked to and from practice. Professional and minor league teams that made the field their training home included the Brooklyn Dodgers (1923-32; 1936-41), Clearwater Pelicans (1924), Newark Bears (1933-35), Cleveland Indians (1942 and 1946), Clearwater Bombers professional softball (1945-54), Philadelphia Phillies (1947-54) and the Negro League Clearwater Black Sox (1952). The athletic field grandstand was destroyed by fire in 1956, but this remaining field was sometimes used for team practice and as a parking lot for games at nearby Jack Russell Stadium.
In 1922, the Brooklyn Dodgers agreed to hold their spring training in Clearwater with the provision that the city would create an appropriate venue. The city broke ground on the Clearwater Athletic Field in December 1922 following the City Council’s decision to issue $25,000 in bonds to construct the field and a 2,000-seat wooden grandstand. Home plate was located at what is now the intersection of Pennsylvania Ave. and Seminole St., left field ran parallel to Palmetto St., and right field ran parallel to N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. Players dressed in a wooden clubhouse off the third-base line, stayed downtown at the New Fort Harrison Hotel, and walked to and from practice. Professional and minor league teams that made the field their training home included the Brooklyn Dodgers (1923-32; 1936-41), Clearwater Pelicans (1924), Newark Bears (1933-35), Cleveland Indians (1942 and 1946), Clearwater Bombers professional softball (1945-54), Philadelphia Phillies (1947-54) and the Negro League Clearwater Black Sox (1952). The athletic field grandstand was destroyed by fire in 1956, but this remaining field was sometimes used for team practice and as a parking lot for games at nearby Jack Russell Stadium.
Erected 2015 by City of Clearwater, The Philadelphia Phillies, and the Florida Department of
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State. (Marker Number F-879.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1922.
Location. 27° 58.471′ N, 82° 47.515′ W. Marker is in Clearwater, Florida, in Pinellas County. Marker is on North Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue just south of Palmetto Street, on the left when traveling north. Marker is in front of the North Greenwood Recreation/Aquatic Complex. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 900 North Martin Luther King, Jr Avenue, Clearwater FL 33755, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. Clearwater Athletic Field Marker and front of Rec Complex
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, June 25, 2016
3. Rec Complex Entrance Sign
Credits. This page was last revised on April 13, 2017. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 446 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on April 12, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
