Melrose Park in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Joseph A. Maggio Baseball Field
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, January 16, 2025
1. Joseph A. Maggio Baseball Field Marker
Erected by Veterans Park District.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Sports • War, Vietnam. A significant historical date for this entry is May 25, 1967.
Location. 41° 53.98′ N, 87° 50.69′ W. Memorial is in Melrose Park, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on 9th Avenue south of Division Street. The sign is affixed to the backstop of the northeast baseball field at Bataan Park. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 1220 9th Avenue, Melrose Park IL 60160, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is in Greater Chicago. It is also in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Veterans Park District (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Joseph I. Bulger Jr. Memorial Park and Auditorium (approx. half a mile away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); First School Building in Melrose Park, Illinois (approx. 0.6 miles away); Casa Jalisco (approx. 0.7 miles away); Kiddieland Amusement Park (approx. 0.7 miles away); Jacob Bohlander House
this page online
Another marker is no longer nearby. Recognizing the Architects (was approx. half a mile away but has been confirmed missing).
Regarding Joseph A. Maggio Baseball Field. Pvt. Joseph Maggio Jr. was from Melrose Park and graduated from Proviso East High School in neighboring Maywood in 1965. A Marine rifleman, Pvt. Maggio had been on tour in Vietnam for 12 days when he was killed by friendly fire on May 25, 1967, while his company was under attack by the North Vietnamese Army. He was 19 years old. He is buried in Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.
Also see . . . Wall of Faces: Joseph Maggio Jr. From the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (Submitted on June 12, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, January 16, 2025
2. Maggio Field
Credits. This page was last revised on June 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 265 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 16, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
