Roosevelt in Fresno in Fresno County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Frank Chance Field 1935-1941

Photographed by Lester J Letson, July 8, 2010

1. Frank Chance Field 1935-1941 Marker

Inscription. Located at this corner was a 20-acre baseball field named for the legendary Frank Chance. Constructed in 1935, the park served as the spring training grounds for the San Francisco Seals as well as for games played by Fresno's Twilight League. Frank Chance was born in Salida, California in 1876 and was raised in Fresno here he played for the Fresno Tigers. In 1898 he joined the Chicago Cubs. In 1905 he became the Cubs Manager and also continued to play first base. Chance led the Cubs to two World Series Championships in 1907 and 1908 and four league pennants. His name was memorialized in the poem "Baseball's Sad Lexicon" which quoted the double play made famous by the Cubs. "Tinker to Evers to Chance." Frank Chance died in 1924 from injuries sustained from baseball and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946.

Erected 2010 by Redevelopement Agency, City of Fresno.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical year for this entry is 1935.

Location. 36° 44.142′ N, 119° 45.331′ W. Marker is in Fresno, California, in Fresno County. It is in Roosevelt. It is on Ventura Avenue 0.1 miles east of Cedar Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Located on the parkstrip next to Sunnyside Car Wash. Touch for map.

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Marker is at or near this postal address: 4130 Ventura Avenue, Fresno CA 93702, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Joaquin Valley,

specifically in the Central Valley,

and in the Sierra Nevada.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Fresno Assembly Center (approx. 0.4 miles away); Fresno Traction Company (approx. 0.9 miles away); The Fresno Brewing Company (approx. 1.3 miles away); Billy Vukovich Memorial (approx. 1.6 miles away); Young Corbett III (approx. 1.6 miles away); George M. Bowman (approx. 1.8 miles away); The Fresno Water Tower (approx. 1.8 miles away); Site of Church-Sperry Mill and Mill Ditch (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fresno.

More about this marker. The corner of Cedar and Ventura Avenue was the corner of Chance Field.

Regarding Frank Chance Field 1935-1941. The marker includes 6 tiles showing Frank Chance playing for the Cubs, for the Fresno Expositors, for the Fresno Tigers, and two of Chance Field.

Also see . . .
1. Frank Chance. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on May 22, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Frank Chance Field. A Guide to Historic Architecture in Fresno, California website entry (Submitted on May 22, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed by Lester J Letson, July 8, 2010

2. Frank Chance Field 1935-1941 Marker

3. Frank Chance Field - Fresno, CA at YouTube. (Submitted on July 8, 2024.)

Frank Chance 1913 image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress, 1913

3. Frank Chance 1913

Close-Up of Photo Displayed on Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Claude C "Pop" Laval, March 14, 1935

4. Close-Up of Photo Displayed on Marker

Frank Chance Field 1935 Opening Day

Fresno Republican Tigers 1897 image. Click for full size.

Fresno Historical Society Archives, 1897

5. Fresno Republican Tigers 1897

In 1889, he was a member of the Fresno Expositor Newspaper baseball team, but by 1897 he now played for the rival Fresno Republican Newspaper baseball team.

Reverse Side of Frank Chance Field 1935-1941 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Lester J Letson, July 8, 2010

6. Reverse Side of Frank Chance Field 1935-1941 Marker

Displays a listing of marker sponsors and contributors, and three photos.

Frank Chance 1909 image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress, 1909

7. Frank Chance 1909

Fresno Expositors 1889 image. Click for full size.

Fresno Historical Society Archives, 1889

8. Fresno Expositors 1889

Credits. This page was last revised on May 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 19, 2011, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. This page has been viewed 1,770 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on September 19, 2011, by Lester J Letson of Fresno, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.