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ALL-STAR GAMES: 1943, 1952 LIGHTS: 1939
Like most of the Early 20th century ballparks, Shibe Park was laid out on a rectangular street grid that imposed no unusual constraints on the shape of the outfield. It resembled most closely Sportsmans Park, but also shared with Ebbets Field the characteristic of double-decked stands in left field and an open right field. Named for Ben Shibe, one of the Athletics' owners, it was renowned as a first class ballpark and was the first true modern stadium of the 20th century, constructed entirely of concrete and steel. Although ordinary in terms of the nearly symmetrical field dimensions and perpendicular angles, it did have intricate architectural details such as columns along the outside of the grandstand, as well as a tower topped off by a cupola, where the executive offices were located. The elaborate design and features were fitting, as the Athletics were among the greatest teams in baseball under Manager Connie Mack (Cornelius MacGillacuddy), and they played in three straight World Series from 1929 to 1931, winning the first two. Not until 1972 did the Athletics get that far again, and by that time they were in Oakland.
Shibe Park was nearly symmetrical for most of its lifetime, but the very deep center field (where there was a slight rise) created opportunities for interesting plays. Originally, the grandstand was double decked around the infield, and uncovered pavilion sections extended down to each foul pole. This was typical of ballparks built before World War I. For the first four years, the scoreboard was in the left field corner, nine feet in front of the perimeter wall. If the left field line had extended all the way to that wall, the distance would have been 387 feet rather than 378 feet; this can be determined though trigonometry. In 1913, the pavilions were roofed, and bleachers were installed in left field. According to Ron Selter of SABR, there was a gap of about 15 feet between the bleachers and the foul line that was closed off by a fence or gate for at least part of 1917, and may have remained in place until 1921. On the other end of those bleachers, in center field, there was a gap of about fifty feet to the right field wall. A low fence in that gap (see 1913 diagram) would account for the drop in distance from 515 to 502 feet that was originally given by Lowry for late 1909. There is also some question about the distance to the backstop in the early years: Selter indicates that it was 85 feet from 1909 until 1926, whereas I estimate that it was originally about 77 feet, and rose to 90 feet in 1922. Finally, the scoreboard was moved from the left field corner to the right side of center field in 1913, but it is not certain whether this affected the distance down the left field line.
Based on a significant drop in home runs, Selter estimates that home plate must have been moved back 21 feet in 1923, which would raise the distances down both foul lines by 15 feet. In 1925, the upper deck of the grandstand was extended to both corners, and the roof in this section was at least ten feet higher than the original portion of the grandstand. At the same time, permanent double-decked bleachers were built all the way along the left field wall (note the second profile in the diagrams above). The roof over that bleacher section was more than 20 feet lower than the adjoining grandstand roof. Interestingly, the extended portions of the upper deck were parallel to the foul line, not the lower deck, and then they bent inward at a 45 degree angle, forming a partial octagon. This was really the signature architectural feature of Shibe Park. A substantial amount of foul territory was actually covered by the upper deck near the corners, and a tiny amount of fair territory in the left field corner was covered. From 1926 through 1929 the distances to the corners were reduced to 312 feet (left field) and 307 feet (right field), as home plate was apparently moved about 65 feet (!) forward, creating a backstop distance of over 120 feet! There was a "return to normalcy" (dimension-wise) in 1930, as home plate was moved back about 32 feet, after which the outfield dimensions remained quite stable. My estimate of the "true" power alley distances during this period -- 358 to left center and 355 to right center -- differ from the figures of 387-390 that are given by Lowry. It is not certain why the "400" and "405" distance markers were placed so close to center field, other than to make way for advertising signs and the scoreboard.
In 1929, a "mezzanine" level of press boxes and elite seating was installed above the upper deck, as the original roof was raised to the same level as the roof on the extended portion of the grandstand. In 1935 the Athletics built a huge corrugated metal wall in right field to stop freeloading neighbors from watching games for free. This was during the Depression, and the team needed all the revenue it could get. With the addition of lights for night games in 1939 came two large protrusions in the right field wall, where the light towers stood. Some time in the 1930s or 1940s, several rows of box seats were added to the front of the grandstand, and I have a hunch that the playing field may have been lowered by two or three feet to make room for the extra rows. In addition, the far ends of the grandstand were rebuilt so that the rows of seats faced toward the diamond rather than toward center field. This was just like they did at Wrigley Field at about the same time. The amount of "covered" foul territory shrank after this alteration, and the bullpens were moved to the narrow "alleys" between the foul line and the grandstand. There was a proposal to add bleachers in right field during the late 1940s, but nothing came of this plan.
In July 1938 the National League Phillies abandoned the dilapidated Baker Bowl (just a few blocks away), and moved into Shibe Park as tenants of the Athletics. The two teams shared the stadium for 17 years. (See Anomalous stadiums, shared.) The only year the Phillies made it to the World Series during the 32 years they played here was in 1950, when they lost to the Yankees. In 1950 a fence was installed in center field to keep the batting practice backstop out of play. For the next few years, this fence was shifted back and forth, settling down at 447 feet in 1956. That was the year the big old scoreboard from Yankee Stadium was installed in right field. Additional rows of box seats were added around the infield in 1960, reducing the distance to the backstop from 78 feet to 64 feet. In 1969 the center field fence was moved in, so that the distance for the final two years of the stadium's useful life was 410 feet.
The Philadelphia Eagles used Shibe Park as their home field in 1940, 1942, and from 1944 until 1957, after which they took up residence in the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field. See Football use.
In 1953, soon after Connie Mack retired, Shibe Park was renamed in his honor. Two years later he and his family sold their beloved Athletics, who then left town and headed west to Kansas City. With hardly any parking in the neighborhood, this grand old ballpark's days were numbered, and the Phillies moved into the huge Veterans' Stadium in 1971. Connie Mack Stadium was damaged by fire in 1971, and was finally demolished in 1976. A church now stands on the site, which is appropriate.
SOURCES: Lowry (2006), Ritter (1992), Gershman (1993), Rosen (2001), Ron Selter (SABR); Bruce Kuklick, To Every Thing a Season: Shibe Park and Urban Philadelphia, 1909-1976 (Princeton University Press, 1991)
WEB LINKS: philadelphiaathletics.org, temple.edu (article and book by Rich Westcott; thanks to Bruce Orser for those links and archival photos)
