View source for Baltimore Memorial Stadium

{{Short description|Former sports stadium in Baltimore}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Baltimore Memorial Stadium
| nickname = "The Old Grey Lady of 33rd Street"
| image = File:Memorial Stadium (Baltimore).jpg
| image_size = 300 px
| image_caption = Memorial Stadium in 2000
| address = 900 East 33rd Street
| location = [[Baltimore, Maryland]]
| coordinates = {{coord|39|19|46|N|76|36|5|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=it}}
| broke_ground = 1921 (first version)<br>1949 (second version)
| opened = December 2, 1922 (first version)<br>April 20, 1950 (second version)
| closed = December 14, 1997
| demolished = April 2001–February 15, 2002<ref>{{cite web|title=Memorial Stadium|url=https://mdstad.com/projects/memorial-stadium|publisher=Maryland Stadium Authority|website=MDStad.com|access-date=January 21, 2024}}</ref>
| owner = [[Baltimore|City of Baltimore]]
| operator = [[Maryland Stadium Authority]]
| surface = Grass
| construction_cost = US$6.5 million<br>(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|6500000|1950}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})
| architect = Hall, Border, and Donaldson<ref>[https://placesjournal.org/article/the-demolition-and-afterlife-of-baltimore-memorial-stadium/?cn-reloaded=1 Eggener, Keith. "The Demolition and Afterlife of Baltimore Memorial Stadium," ''Places Journal'', October 2012.] Retrieved October 9, 2022.</ref>
| structural engineer = R. E. L. Williams (building construction), Faisant and Kooken (consulting)<ref>[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26937877/joseph-faisant/ "J. L. Faisant Dies at 60," ''The Baltimore Sun'', Monday, February 5, 1962.] Retrieved October 9, 2022.</ref>
| general_contractor = DeLucca-Davis & Carozza/Joseph F. Hughes<ref name="ballparks">{{cite web |title=Memorial Stadium|url=http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/memori.htm|publisher=Ballparks.com|access-date=March 1, 2012}}</ref>
| tenants = ; Baseball
[[Baltimore Orioles (minor league)|Baltimore Orioles]] ([[International League|IL]]) mid-season 1944–1953<br>[[Baltimore Orioles]] ([[Major League Baseball|MLB]]) 1954–1991<br>[[Bowie Baysox]] ([[Eastern League (1938–2020)|EL]]) 1993<br>
; Football
[[Baltimore Colts (1947-50)|Baltimore Colts]] ([[All-America Football Conference|AAFC]] / [[National Football League|NFL]]) 1947–1950<br>[[Baltimore Colts]] (NFL) 1953–1983<br>[[Baltimore Stallions]] ([[Canadian Football League|CFL]]) 1994–1995<br>[[Baltimore Ravens]] (NFL) 1996–1997<br>
; Soccer
[[Baltimore Bays]] ([[National Professional Soccer League (1967)|NPSL]] / [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|NASL]]) 1967–1968<br> [[Baltimore Comets]] ([[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|NASL]]) 1974–1975
| seating_capacity = 31,000 (1950)<br>47,855 (1953)<br>53,371 (1991)
| dimensions = '''Left Field''' – 309 ft<br>'''Left-Center''' – 446 ft (1954), 378 ft (1990)<br>'''Center Field''' – 445 ft (1954), 405 ft (1980)<br>'''Right-Center''' – 446 ft (1954), 378 ft (1990)<br>'''Right Field''' – 309 ft  [[File:BaltimoreMemorialStadium.svg|200px|]]
}}

'''Baltimore Memorial Stadium''' was a [[multi-purpose stadium]] in [[Baltimore]], Maryland, United States, that formerly stood on 33rd Street on an oversized block officially called [[Venable Park]], a former city park from the 1920s. The site was bound by Ellerslie Avenue to the west, 36th Street to the north, and Ednor Road to the east. 

Two stadiums were located here — a 1922 version known primarily as '''Baltimore Stadium''' or '''Municipal Stadium'''; and a rebuilt, double-deck, multi-sport stadium, completed in mid-1954, and rechristened Baltimore Memorial Stadium —  '''Memorial Stadium''' for short.

==History==
===Construction of the football stadium===
[[File:Baltimore Stadium, 33rd Street - Army Navy Game 1944 a.jpg|thumb|right|Municipal Stadium/Baltimore Stadium with the old [[Greek architecture|Greco]]&ndash;[[Roman architecture|Roman]] style colonnade and porticoes and 33rd Street boulevard to the south in the foreground – [[Army-Navy game|Army-Navy football game]] in 1944]]

Memorial Stadium was launched as Municipal Stadium, also sometimes known as Baltimore Stadium or Venable Stadium. Designed by Pleasants Pennington and Albert W. Lewis, it was built in 1922 over a six-month period at the urging of the [[List of mayors of Baltimore|Mayor]], [[William Frederick Broening|William F. Broening]] in a previously undeveloped area just north beyond the city's iconic rows of rowhouses. The stadium was constructed in what was formerly [[Venable Park]] and was operated by the city's Board of Park Commissioners. 

It was primarily a [[American football|football]] stadium, a large horseshoe with an earthen-mound exterior and its open end with a large stone gateway of a [[Greek architecture|Greek]]/[[Roman architecture|Roman]] colonnade and porticoes on the open-faced south side facing the new 33rd Street boulevard/parkway which had just recently been cut through east to west. In this configuration, it seated anywhere from 70,000 to 80,000 people.<ref name="Cathedrals">{{cite book|last=Lowry|first=Phillip|title=Green Cathedrals|year=2005|publisher=Walker & Company|location=New York City|isbn=0-8027-1562-1 |page=16 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Afo5vtVTz4wC&q=%22Venable+Stadium%22 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>

In its early years it hosted various public and private [[high school]] and [[college football|college-level]] games, including the annual "City - Poly Game" on the regular Thanksgiving Day "double-header where the "Collegians" (later known as the "Black Knights" in reference to their iconic "Castle on the Hill") of [[Baltimore City College]] opposed its rival [[Baltimore Polytechnic Institute]] "Engineers" (since 1889), along with the [[Roman Catholic]] high schools' "Loyola - Calvert Hall" Game pitting the Cardinals of [[Calvert Hall College]] against [[Loyola Blakefield|Loyola High School at Blakefield]]'s Dons. 

Home games for the [[University of Maryland|University of Maryland at College Park]]'s Terrapins football and the  [[United States Naval Academy]] Midshipmen were sometimes held at the stadium, attracting a national audience and media coverage.

===Baseball park===

In July 1944, Municipal Stadium was pressed into service as a baseball park by the [[Baltimore Orioles (minor league)|Baltimore Orioles]] of the [[International League]], when their previous home, "[[Oriole Park]]," located in the [[Abell, Baltimore|Abell]] neighborhood to the southwest, was destroyed by fire. 

The minor league Orioles went on to win the [[International League]] championship and the [[Junior World Series]] that year. The large post-season crowds in attendance at Municipal Stadium, which would not have been possible at Oriole Park, even surpassing the attendance of [[Major League Baseball]]'s [[1944 World Series]], caught the attention of professional team owners, and Baltimore suddenly became regarded as a viable option for teams looking to relocate.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Baseball in Baltimore|last=Flynn|first=Tom|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|year=2008|isbn=9780738553252|location=Maryland|pages=67 |via=[[Google Books]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q5iTozrMruwC&q=baseball+in+baltimore&pg=PA67}}</ref>

[[File:Claire Ruth.jpg|thumb|right|[[Babe Ruth]]'s widow, [[Claire Merritt Ruth|Claire]], at the unveiling of a memorial plaque to his memory in Memorial Stadium (1955)]]

Further momentum for sports in Baltimore was spurred when the failing [[Miami Seahawks]] franchise of the fledgling [[All-America Football Conference]] (AAFC) was relaunched in the fall of 1947 as the [[Baltimore Colts (AAFC)|Baltimore Colts]]. 

The presence of professional football and the prospect of professional baseball spurred the city to rebuild Municipal Stadium into a facility of "major league caliber." This reconstructed stadium was to be renamed Baltimore Memorial Stadium in honor of the thousands of the city's dead of the recently concluded World War II.<ref name="BaltimoreMemorialStadiumTitleApproved">{{cite news |date=December 6, 1949 |title=Memorial Stadium Title Approved |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-evening-sun-baltimore-memorial-stadi/129922847/ |work=The Baltimore Sun |access-date=August 13, 2023 |quote=The municipal stadium was today named Baltimore Memorial Stadium as a tribute to the city's World War II dead.}}</ref> Baltimore [[List of mayors of Baltimore|mayor]] [[Thomas D'Alesandro Jr.]] championed the new stadium project and overcame various legal and political hurdles which delayed progress on the project.

The initial plan called for a single, horseshoe-shaped deck to be built, with the open end facing north, and was designed to host [[American football|football]] as well as [[baseball]]. It was engineered with enough strength to eventually support a second deck and a roof.

The lower deck reconstruction began in the spring/early summer of 1949 and was done in stages, first at the previously open south end of the stadium, and slowly obliterating the old Municipal Stadium stands, even as the [[International League]] Orioles continued playing on their makeshift diamond, along with the new Baltimore Colts of the former [[All-America Football Conference]] merged with the reorganized [[National Football League]].

The old seating at the north end was retained for the pro and college football seasons that fall. By year's end, the horseshoe was sufficiently completed to allow the baseball infield to be relocated from the northwest corner of the field to the south end, and the Orioles opened the 1950 season at the newly oriented diamond. Construction continued on the single deck, until finally all the remnants of the old stadium were gone. The new facility could seat around 31,000.

===Second deck===

The first Baltimore Colts franchise terminated operations for financial reasons at the end of the 1950 season. Community support for a second NFL franchise remained strong, however, and late in 1952 a group of Baltimore businessmen pooled their resources in a bid to win a new league franchise.<ref name=53Guide>"A Dedication," [https://archive.org/details/colts-1953-media-guide-baltimore ''The Baltimore Colts: 1953 Press, TV, and Radio Guide.''] Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Colts, 1953; p. 3.</ref> A "Bring Back the Colts" drive launched in December 1952 generated the presale of 15,000 season tickets in just six weeks.<ref name=53Guide /> The campaign made an impression and Baltimore, then the sixth largest city in the United States, was awarded an expansion team for the [[1953 NFL season]].<ref name=53Guide />

With the NFL back and realistic rumors simultaneously circulating of the arrival of major league baseball, the second deck construction was begun during the summer of 1953. First, two groups of sections were built facing the 50 yard line. Then they were extended toward the south end, completing the upper deck horseshoe. Additional plans to fully enclose the stadium and add a roof to the upper tier were never implemented, although an extra upper deck section would be added on each side in 1964.

Work accelerated in November 1953 when the [[St. Louis Browns]] of the [[American League]] were announced to be moving to Baltimore to become the new [[major league baseball|major league]] version of the [[Baltimore Orioles]], to begin play in April 1954, the city's first major league franchise in over 50 years (not counting the [[Federal League]] experiment). The total cost of the multi-phase project was $6.5&nbsp;million.

The expanded stadium was still under construction as of baseball's opening day in 1954, with the new entrance plaza and the new outfield lighting not yet finished. Work was finally completed at the start of the summer.

On April 15, 1954, thousands of Baltimoreans jammed city streets as the new Orioles paraded from downtown at the [[Baltimore City Hall]] to Memorial Stadium for their first home game. During the 90-minute parade, the new "Birds" signed autographs, handed out pictures and threw styrofoam balls to the crowd as the throngs marched down several major city streets ending on East 33rd Street. Inside, more than 46,000 watched the Orioles beat the [[1954 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]], 3–1, to win their home opener and move into first place (although temporarily) in the American League.<ref>[http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/chronology/1954APRIL.stm APRIL, 1954 | BaseballLibrary.com<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223112712/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/chronology/1954APRIL.stm |date=December 23, 2007 }}</ref>

[[File:BaltimoreMemorialStadium1991.jpg|thumb|right|The Orioles playing one of the last [[Major League Baseball|major league]] home night games at the stadium, September 14, 1991]]
[[File:Last game Memorial Stadium.jpg|thumb|right|Scoreboard before the final Orioles home game, October 6, 1991]]

Both the new Orioles and the Colts had some great successes over coming years, with both teams becoming among the winningest and competitive franchises in their respective leagues during the late 1950s and throughout the decade of the 1960s.

===Abandonment===
The dual-use stadium was not without its critics, however. Traffic and a parking shortage made accessing the stadium difficult. Concrete poles blocked views, and unsheltered areas grew hot in the summer. Most of the seats were bench-style, with few having chair backs — let alone more modern amenities.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Dedford|first=Frank|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1971/04/12/best-damn-team-in-baseball|title=Best Damn Team in Baseball|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=April 12, 1971|access-date=January 14, 2021}}</ref>

The NFL's Baltimore Colts were the first to express deep dissatisfaction and to seek a new venue. In addition to sub-optimal conditions at Memorial Stadium, capacity was a concern, with the Colts selling out every home game from the start of the 1964 season to the end of 1970 and unable to meet demand for season tickets.<ref>"Attendance Records," [https://archive.org/details/colts-1971-media-guide-baltimore ''The Baltimore Colts: 1971 Media Guide,''] p. 91.</ref>

In 1970, Colts owner [[Carroll Rosenbloom]] announced that he was seeking a 500 acre parcel in one of three suburban Baltimore counties for construction of a new stadium.<ref name=Day>James P. Day, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-sun-colts-owner-carroll-rose/139536575/ "Rosenbloom Seeking Site in Three Suburban Counties,"] ''Baltimore Evening Sun,'' Oct. 28, 1970; p. C2.</ref> A new $20 million football-only facility was planned, with Rosenbloom adamant that the team would be leaving Memorial Stadium expeditiously due to unhappiness with stadium conditions and ongoing irritation over a September legal dispute with the city over whether a [[Monday Night Football]] game could be hosted at the site — a dispute which Rosenbloom characterized as "the end of the road."<ref name=Day />

No stadium deal was ever completed by Rosenbloom.

On July 13, 1972, businessman [[Robert Irsay]] made a last-minute bid of $19 million to purchase the [[Los Angeles Rams]] from the [[estate (law)|estate]] of [[Dan Reeves (American football executive)|Dan Reeves]].<ref name=Beard>Gordon Beard, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2202&dat=19720714&id=anhbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IVENAAAAIBAJ&pg=6603,1011196 "Heating Firm Owner Gets Baltimore Colts While Carroll Rosenbloom Secures Rams In A Big $16,000,000 Transcontinental Deal,"] Associated Press, July 14, 1972.</ref> He immediately swapped franchises with Colts owner Rosenbloom, becoming the controlling partner of the Baltimore franchise that same day.<ref name=Beard /> Rosenbloom's stadium problem became Irsay's stadium problem, with the former becoming the new tenant of the capacious [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]].

Memorial Stadium's limitations remained and its amenities continued to deteriorate over time. A decade passed and still neither Irsay nor the city could agree to desperately-needed improvements to the aging and tattered stadium. Irsay began to visit other cities, moving various civic leaders to put together stadium packages that would provide a better financial and physical situation for the Colts. [[Indianapolis]] was chosen.

In the middle of a snowy night on March 29, 1984, under threat of a measure introduced into the [[Maryland General Assembly|state legislature]] to initiate condemnation proceedings for the city and state assert [[eminent domain]] and take ownership of the Colts franchise, moving vans rolled in and the Colts rolled out for their new Indiana home.

Loss of the Colts left the Orioles as Memorial Stadium's sole major league tenant and dramatically increased the level of urgency of the political establishment regarding necessary stadium upgrades.

===Community reaction===
[[File:Baltimore Memorial Stadium 1991.jpg|thumb|The residential neighborhood of [[Ednor Gardens-Lakeside, Baltimore|Ednor Gardens-Lakeside]] surrounding Memorial Stadium to the north was visible just beyond the outfield, pictured here in 1991]]
When the decision to abandon Memorial Stadium (in favor of the new downtown ballpark) became imminent, various citizen groups began to organize opposition to the decision. In particular, the neighborhoods surrounding Memorial Stadium became anxious about the impact on their area of an abandoned "[[white elephant]]": there simply wasn't any other use that would generate the funds to properly maintain the site, and there were no funds for demolition and redevelopment. While the stadium events may have created periodic disruptions to local life, it did provide easy access to major league sports and special attention from the city for maintenance of the area.

The mayor and other power brokers knew of strong general public opposition to subsidizing a new ballpark. City-wide and local community leaders also knew of this potential, but there was also a shortage of leaders willing to take on this task (although this was never stated, and may not have been known by [[Mayor of Baltimore|Mayor Schaefer]]). During this pivotal period, local community leaders decided to "bargain away the petition drive" for certain considerations. To do this, area community groups formed the "Stadium Neighborhoods Coalition" (SNC) and negotiated the following: (1) Establishment of an official Memorial Redevelopment Stadium Task Force with public meetings and minutes; and, (2) a written pledge by then [[William Donald Schaefer|Mayor Schaefer]] to provide upfront funding for any demolition and redevelopment resulting from this community process.

The Orioles played their final game at the stadium on October 6, 1991, which ended in a defeat at the hands of the Detroit Tigers, 7-1; a postgame ceremony was held with 78 past Oriole players meeting, and  ended with home plate being removed by the grounds crew and placed in a stretch limousine. It was sent across town to Camden Yards under police escort where it would be placed at the new stadium minutes later.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/october-6-1991-orioles-play-their-final-game-at-memorial-stadium |title=October 6, 1991: Orioles play their final game at Memorial Stadium |last=Brown, Jr. |first=Thomas |publisher=Society of American Baseball Research |website=sabr.org |access-date=March 14, 2023}}</ref>

For the next decade, while the community input process lumbered on, Memorial Stadium hosted a minor league baseball team and two new professional football teams. The [[Bowie Baysox]], a [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] affiliate of the Orioles, played their inaugural 1993 season at Memorial Stadium while [[Prince George's Stadium|their permanent home ballpark]] was being built. As the Orioles were then in their second season at Camden Yards, this gave Baltimore the rare distinction of hosting both major league and minor league teams simultaneously; currently, New York City has that honor with the presence of the [[Brooklyn Cyclones]], who are affiliated with the [[New York Mets|Mets]].

The [[Baltimore Stallions]] played during the [[Canadian Football League]]'s [[Canadian Football League in the United States|"southern expansion" experiment to the United States]] for two seasons in 1994 and 1995. The team was originally known as the "Baltimore CFL Colts", but they were forced to change their name to the Stallions (after one year of playing without an official name) when the [[National Football League|NFL]] was granted a legal court injunction which prevented the [[Canadian Football League|CFL]] franchise from reclaiming the "Colts" name.  Owner [[Jim Speros]] took over the facility, exchanging tickets to contractors for renovations to help bring the dilapidated stadium to workable condition.<ref name=OralHistory>{{cite web|url=http://cnsmaryland.org/interactives/baltimore-stallions-oral-history|title=Baltimore's Forgotten Champions: An Oral History|author=Capital News Service|work=cnsmaryland.org}}</ref>  Memorial Stadium was unique in that it was one of the few U. S. stadiums that could accommodate the full 65-yard width and 150-yard length of a regulation [[Canadian football]] field (most likely since it had been designed for baseball as well as American football).  They had winning records in each of the 1994 and 1995 seasons, and in both years advanced to the championship game. Averaging more than 30,000 spectators a game for two years, the Stallions would eventually become the only American team to win the [[Grey Cup]] in 1995.<ref name="OralHistory"/>

The CFL Stallions were ultimately forced out of town when [[Cleveland Browns]] owner [[Art Modell]] announced he was moving his team to Baltimore. Following protracted negotiations between Modell, the two cities and the NFL, it was decided that Modell would be allowed to take his players and organization to Baltimore as the [[Baltimore Ravens|Ravens]], while leaving the Browns name and legacy for a replacement team that returned in 1999. The Ravens were tenants of the stadium until the end of the 1997 NFL regular season, when they moved to what is now [[M&T Bank Stadium]]. It was bid farewell in style by both the Orioles (in a field-encircling ceremony staged by many former Oriole players and hosted by [[Baseball Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] announcer [[Ernie Harwell]], who began his announcing career here) and the Ravens (who had many former Colts assemble for a final play, run by Unitas. The play had Unitas hand the ball off to Lydell Mitchell, who then handed the ball to Lenny Moore in a reverse and Moore ran in for a touchdown).

Through all of this, the official Redevelopment Task Force met off and on, deliberating on prospects for long-term use. The community remained quite sensitized about any inappropriate use of this center-of-the-neighborhood structure. When word leaked that the stadium was being considered for staging rock concerts, a group of neighbors organized the group "People Against Concerts at Memorial Stadium" (PACAMS). As Baltimore was deciding to confirm or deny this story—with no immediate answer—a large public opposition developed. With the resulting outpouring of anger, the City publicly confirmed its decision not to lease the site for rock concerts.

In resolving the rock concert problem, a new spirit of proactive advocacy was ignited in the community. In fact, there had been developing a division within established neighborhood groups about the best tactics in securing a good future for the stadium. Should the groups make further use of the direct action tactics of PACAMS, or use quiet lobbying by established groups?

That division was never resolved, as individuals continued to work in different paths. In fact, PACAMS, after its success in preventing the stadium's use for concerts, reconstituted itself as "People Advocating a Community Agenda for Memorial Stadium"—continuing with the successful PACAMS acronym. With PACAMS' public advocacy, and the established groups' holding fast to more traditional lines of community, there ultimately resulted in a large, and well attended, public meeting where several redevelopment proposals were presented. The resulting community preference for a mixed used development led to the successful development now on site.

===Demolition and redevelopment===
[[Image:1memorialstadiumdemolished.JPG|thumb|right|Demolition of stadium, summer 2001]]
[[File:2007 Seniors apartment complex, Ednor Gardens-Lakeside, Baltimore.jpg|thumb|right|2007 Seniors apartment complex now standing in what used to be right field]]

The City of Baltimore solicited proposals for development of the site. Most proposals preserved some or all of the stadium, including the memorial to World War II veterans and words on the facade.  One proposal even had a school occupying the former offices of Memorial Stadium and the field used as a recreational facility for the school. Mayor [[Martin J. O'Malley]], however, favored the proposal that resulted in the total razing of the stadium, an act that many fought and protested. Former mayor and governor [[William Donald Schaefer]] protested that the stadium was razed for political reasons. The venerable and historic stadium was demolished over a 10-month period beginning in April 2001.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} Approximately {{convert|10000|yd3}} of [[concrete]] rubble from it was used to build an [[artificial reef]] over a {{convert|6|acre|adj=on}} site in the [[Chesapeake Bay]] {{convert|3|mi}} west of [[Tolchester Beach, Maryland|Tolchester Beach]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite news|last=Meany|first=Eric|title=Placement of reef balls on Memorial Stadium rubble to continue for at least five more years|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/outdoors/bs-sp-outdoors-rail-reef-ball-20131229,0,1437304.story|access-date=December 31, 2013|newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|date=December 28, 2013}}</ref>

As of 2005, the former site of Memorial Stadium housed Maryland's largest YMCA facility and the developing vision of "Stadium Place", a mixed income community for seniors in Baltimore City. Currently there are four senior apartment complexes up and running on site.
All of this, the political wranglings, the sports history and the city's attachment to a doomed landmark was captured in a documentary, "The Last Season, The Life and Demolition of Memorial Stadium."

There was also a plan initially to keep the front of the stadium as a dedication to commemorate all who served America during both World Wars, but it had to also be taken down because alone, it was structurally unsafe.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Memorial Stadium is still here, just look around|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/featured/memorial-stadium-is-still-here-just-look-around|access-date=2022-01-09|website=MLB.com|language=en}}</ref>

===New field===
In 2010, work started on developing a new recreational baseball/football field on the site (Cal Ripken Senior Youth Development Field), with home plate being in the same exact location as it was when Memorial Stadium existed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ripkendesign.com/portfolio/nonprofit/stadiumplace/|title=Stadium Place YMCA|publisher=Ripken Design|access-date=March 1, 2012|archive-date=March 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313054214/http://ripkendesign.com/portfolio/nonprofit/stadiumplace/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The field was completed in December 2010. A ribbon-cutting ceremony on December 7 was attended by [[Billy Ripken|Billy]] and [[Cal Ripken Jr.|Cal Ripken]], and [[Governor of Maryland|Governor]] [[Martin O'Malley]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/region/baltimore_city/joy-of-sports-coming-back-to-the-old-memorial-stadium|title=Joy of sports coming back to the Old Memorial Stadium|work=[[WMAR-TV|WMAR]]|location=Baltimore|date=December 7, 2010|access-date=March 1, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311025237/http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/region/baltimore_city/joy-of-sports-coming-back-to-the-old-memorial-stadium|archive-date=March 11, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2010/12/07/ripken-sr-foundation-completes.html|first=Ryan|last=Sharrow|title=Ripken Sr. Foundation completes Memorial Stadium youth field|work=Baltimore Business Journal|date=December 7, 2010}}</ref>

==Layout==
The general layout of Memorial Stadium resembled a somewhat scaled-down version of [[Cleveland Stadium]] (then home of the MLB [[Cleveland Indians|Indians]] and NFL [[Cleveland Browns|Browns]]). Due to the need to fit a football field on the premises, the playing area was initially quite large, especially in center field and foul territory. The construction of inner fences after 1958, however, reduced the size of the outfield. The addition of several rows of box seats also reduced the foul ground, ultimately making the stadium much more of a hitters' park than it was originally. It did host the [[1958 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] that year. Memorial Stadium was one of the nation's few venues to host a World Series, an MLB All-Star Game, and an NFL Championship game.

===Incidents===
At least two serious incidents occurred within Baltimore Memorial Stadium.

====Fatal escalator accident====
On May 2, 1964, a freak accident involving a stadium [[escalator]] caused the death of a teenaged girl and injuries to 46 other children. That day, the Orioles held "Safety Patrol Day" to honor schoolchildren who served in their schools' safety patrols, in which they helped their fellow students travel to and from school safely. For the event, 20,000 schoolchildren from around the state of Maryland were given free admission to the Orioles' game against the [[Cleveland Indians]].

While the national anthem was playing before the start of the game, hundreds of children began getting onto an escalator that traveled from the lower deck to the upper deck on the stadium's third base side. Unfortunately, while three or four children at a time were getting on the escalator at the bottom, the top of the escalator was partially blocked by a narrow metal gate that allowed only one person to pass through. The mass of children was thus blocked at the top, and children began falling back on top of one another in a crush of bodies as other children continued to get on at the bottom and as the jagged metal steps of the escalator continued to move beneath all of them. The moving steps cut and mutilated the children until a stadium usher, 65-year-old Melville Gibson, finally reached the escalator's emergency shut-off switch and turned the escalator off. Previously, the shut-off switch had been moved to a wall across from the escalator in order to prevent pranksters from turning it off while people were on it.

A 14-year-old girl named Annette S. Costantine was killed in the accident. 46 other children were injured, some more seriously than others.<ref name="Sun-1991"/>

The gate at the top of the escalator — called a "people channeler" — had apparently been left there after a previous event, when the escalator's direction had been switched to move people downward. The gate's purpose was to control the flow of people getting onto the escalator. Shortly before the tragedy, Orioles management had decided to open the stadium's upper deck to Safety Patrol members who were still arriving by game time, after early-arriving children had filled the bleachers. Children heading for the upper deck then got onto the escalator.<ref name="Sun-1991">{{cite news |last=Alvarez |first=Rafael |date=July 28, 1991 |title=In fans' memories, tragedies echo among the cheers |page=1B |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1991/07/28/in-fans-memories-tragedies-echo-among-the-cheers/ |access-date=February 26, 2014 |newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=46 hurt; 1 dead in escalator jam Saturday|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2202&dat=19640504&id=jSImAAAAIBAJ&pg=3898,4346066 |access-date=February 26, 2014|newspaper=[[The Gettysburg Times]]|date=May 4, 1964|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Child Dies in Escalator Accident|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19640503&id=iG1PAAAAIBAJ&pg=3922,265268 |access-date=May 23, 2014|newspaper=[[Star-Banner]]|location=[[Ocala, Florida]]|date=May 3, 1964|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Girl Killed in Escalator Jam|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19640504&id=Bp4tAAAAIBAJ&pg=5427,527692 |access-date=May 23, 2014|newspaper=[[The Gazette (Montreal)|Montreal Gazette]]|date=May 4, 1964|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> It was considered the worst accident in the history of the stadium.<ref name="Sun-1991"/>

====Airplane crash====
A small private airplane crashed on the stadium premises on December 19, [[1976 Baltimore Colts season|1976]], just minutes after the conclusion of an [[1976–77 NFL playoffs|NFL playoff game]] of the Colts' game with the [[1976 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]. The airplane, a [[Piper Cherokee]], buzzed the stadium, and then crashed into the upper deck overlooking the south end zone.<ref name=sivph>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/issue/41219/47 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |title=A year in sports |agency=(photo)|date=February 17, 1977 |page=47}}</ref> The Steelers had won the game handily (40–14), and most of the fans had already exited the stadium by the time the game ended. There were only four light injuries, and the pilot was arrested for "reckless flying".<ref name="Sun-Kroner">{{cite news |date=December 20, 1976 |title=Plane slams into Stadium after Colts loss |page=A1 |work=The Baltimore Sun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-plane-slams-into-stadi/160319098/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=December 4, 2024}}</ref><ref name=ergplcr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yO5XAAAAIBAJ&pg=4745%2C6047602 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=UPI |title=Rout was a blessing when plane crashed |date=December 20, 1976 |page=1B}}</ref><ref name=smplc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GS1PAAAAIBAJ&pg=4721%2C5429461 |work=Toledo Blade |agency=Associated Press |title=Small plane crashes into stand minutes after 60,000 leave|date=December 20, 1976 |page=1}}</ref> Donald Kroner was the 33-year-old pilot charged with reckless flying, littering, and making a bomb threat against former Baltimore Colts linebacker [[Bill Pellington]], who owned a bar and restaurant from which Kroner was once ejected for using foul language.<ref name="Sun-Kroner"/>

==Teams hosted==
===Baseball===
*[[Baltimore Orioles (minor league)|Baltimore Orioles]], [[International League]], July 1944–1953
*[[Baltimore Orioles]], [[American League]], 1954–1991
*[[United States Congressional Baseball Game]], 1973–1976
*[[Bowie Baysox]], [[Eastern League (1938–present)|Eastern League]] (Orioles farm club), 1993

===Football===
:'''Professional'''
:*[[Baltimore Colts (1947-50)|Baltimore Colts]], [[All-America Football Conference]] 1947–1949, [[National Football League|NFL]] 1950
:*[[History of the Indianapolis Colts|Baltimore Colts]], [[National Football League]], [[1953 NFL season|1953]]–[[1983 NFL season|1983]]
:*[[Baltimore Stallions|Baltimore CFL Colts]]/Stallions, [[Canadian Football League]], 1994–1995
:*[[Baltimore Ravens]], [[National Football League]], [[1996 NFL season|1996]]–[[1997 NFL season|1997]]

:'''College/University/Military Academies'''
:* [[Maryland Terrapins football|University of Maryland Terrapins]] (big games, 1920s-1930s)
:* [[Navy Midshipmen football]] (big games, 1920s-1933, 1935-60, 1986, 1988)

===Soccer===
* [[Baltimore Bays]] (1967–1968), [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|North American Soccer League]] (NASL)
* [[San Diego Sockers (NASL)|Baltimore Comets]] (1974), NASL

==Attendance==
{| cellpadding="1" style="width:300px; font-size:90%; border:2px solid #DF4601;"
|- style="text-align:center; font-size:larger;"
| colspan=5 style="{{Baseball primary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|'''Baltimore Orioles Attendance at Memorial Stadium'''<ref name="attendance figures">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/attend.shtml |title=Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=October 6, 2022}}</ref>
|- style={{Baseball secondary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"
| '''Year''' || '''Total attendance''' || '''Game average''' || '''AL rank'''
|-
| [[1954 Baltimore Orioles season|1954]]
| 1,060,910
| 13,778
| 5th
|-
| [[1955 Baltimore Orioles season|1955]]
| 852,039
| 10,785
| 7th
|-
| [[1956 Baltimore Orioles season|1956]]
| 901,201
| 11,704
| 6th
|-
| [[1957 Baltimore Orioles season|1957]]
| 1,029,581
| 13,371
| 5th
|-
| [[1958 Baltimore Orioles season|1958]]
| 829,991
| 10,641
| 5th
|-
| [[1959 Baltimore Orioles season|1959]]
| 891,926
| 11,435
| 7th
|-
| [[1960 Baltimore Orioles season|1960]]
| 1,187,849
| 15,427
| 3rd
|-
| [[1961 Baltimore Orioles season|1961]]
| 951,089
| 11,599
| 5th
|-
| [[1962 Baltimore Orioles season|1962]]
| 790,254
| 9,637
| 6th
|-
| [[1963 Baltimore Orioles season|1963]]
| 774,343
| 9,560
| 7th
|-
| [[1964 Baltimore Orioles season|1964]]
| 1,116,215
| 13,612
| 4th
|-
| [[1965 Baltimore Orioles season|1965]]
| 781,649
| 9,894
| 6th
|-
| [[1966 Baltimore Orioles season|1966]]
| 1,203,366
| 15,232
| 3rd
|-
| [[1967 Baltimore Orioles season|1967]]
| 955,053
| 12,403
| 6th
|-
| [[1968 Baltimore Orioles season|1968]]
| 943,977
| 11,800
| 6th
|-
| [[1969 Baltimore Orioles season|1969]]
| 1,062,069
| 13,112
| 5th
|-
| [[1970 Baltimore Orioles season|1970]]
| 1,057,069
| 13,050
| 6th
|-
| [[1971 Baltimore Orioles season|1971]]
| 1,023,037
| 13,286
| 3rd
|-
| [[1972 Baltimore Orioles season|1972]]
| 899,950
| 11,688
| 6th
|-
| [[1973 Baltimore Orioles season|1973]]
| 958,667
| 11,835
| 9th
|-
| [[1974 Baltimore Orioles season|1974]]
| 962,572
| 11,884
| 8th
|-
| [[1975 Baltimore Orioles season|1975]]
| 1,002,157
| 13,015
| 9th
|-
| [[1976 Baltimore Orioles season|1976]]
| 1,058,609
| 13,069
| 6th
|-
| [[1977 Baltimore Orioles season|1977]]
| 1,195,769
| 14,763
| 10th
|-
| [[1978 Baltimore Orioles season|1978]]
| 1,051,724
| 12,984
| 10th
|-
| [[1979 Baltimore Orioles season|1979]]
| 1,681,009
| 21,279
| 6th
|-
| [[1980 Baltimore Orioles season|1980]]
| 1,797,438
| 22,191
| 6th
|-
| [[1981 Baltimore Orioles season|1981]]
| 1,024,247
| 18,623
| 8th
|-
| [[1982 Baltimore Orioles season|1982]]
| 1,613,031
| 19,671
| 8th
|-
| [[1983 Baltimore Orioles season|1983]]
| 2,042,071
| 25,211
| 5th
|-
| [[1984 Baltimore Orioles season|1984]]
| 2,045,784
| 25,257
| 5th
|-
| [[1985 Baltimore Orioles season|1985]]
| 2,132,387
| 26,326
| 6th
|-
| [[1986 Baltimore Orioles season|1986]]
| 1,973,176
| 24,977
| 6th
|-
| [[1987 Baltimore Orioles season|1987]]
| 1,835,692
| 22,386
| 9th
|-
| [[1988 Baltimore Orioles season|1988]]
| 1,660,738
| 20,759
| 10th
|-
| [[1989 Baltimore Orioles season|1989]]
| 2,535,208
| 31,299
| 4th
|-
| [[1990 Baltimore Orioles season|1990]]
| 2,415,189
| 30,190
| 5th
|-
| [[1991 Baltimore Orioles season|1991]]
| 2,552,753
| 31,515
| 5th
|}

==Seating capacity==
{{col-begin}}{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Baseball
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball primary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|Years
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball primary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|Capacity
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|1950–1952
| 31,000<ref name="ballparks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|1953–1956
| 47,866<ref name="ballparks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|1957–1960
| 47,778<ref name="ballparks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|1961
| 49,375<ref name="ballparks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|1962–1963
| 49,373<ref name="ballparks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|1964
| 51,991<ref name="ballparks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|1965
| 52,184<ref name="ballparks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|1966–1968
| 52,185<ref name="ballparks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|1969–1977
| 52,137<ref name="ballparks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|1978–1979
| 52,860<ref name="ballparks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|1980–1981
| 52,696<ref name="ballparks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|1982–1984
| 53,208<ref name="ballparks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|1985
| 54,062<ref name="ballparks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|1986
| 54,076<ref name="ballparks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|1987
| 54,002<ref name="ballparks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|1988–1990
| 54,017<ref name="ballparks"/>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{Baseball secondary style|Baltimore Orioles}};"|1991–1997
| 53,371<ref name="ballparks"/>
|}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Football
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts}};"|Years
! scope="row" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts}};"|Capacity
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts}};"|1950–1952
| 31,000<ref>{{cite web |title=Memorial Stadium|url=http://www.stadiumsofprofootball.com/past/MemorialStadium.htm|publisher=Stadiums of Pro Football|access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts}};"|1953–1957
| 52,060<ref>{{cite news |title=N.F.L. Sets Crowd Mark|first=James C.|last=Elliot|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1688841182.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+11%2C+1957&author=&pub=The+Sun+(1837-1985)&desc=N.F.L.+SETS+CROWD+MARK&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131161815/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1688841182.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+11,+1957&author=&pub=The+Sun+(1837-1985)&desc=N.F.L.+SETS+CROWD+MARK&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|date=November 11, 1957|access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts}};"|1958–1959
| 57,557<ref>{{cite news |title=Explosive Teams Meet For Pro Football Title|first=George|last=Bowen|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1842&dat=19591227&id=FCUsAAAAIBAJ&pg=5518,6730528|newspaper=Times Daily|date=December 27, 1959}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts}};"|1960
| 57,808<ref>{{cite news |title=Colts Defeat Rams, 31 to 17|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/574915672.html?dids=574915672:574915672&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+17%2C+1960&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=COLTS+DEFEAT+RAMS%2C+31+TO+17&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712194113/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/574915672.html?dids=574915672:574915672&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+17,+1960&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=COLTS+DEFEAT+RAMS,+31+TO+17&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 12, 2012|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=October 17, 1960|access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts}};"|1961
| 57,641<ref>{{cite news |title=Packers Lose, Bears "Boot" Chance|first=Cooper|last=Rollow|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/573975662.html?dids=573975662:573975662&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+06%2C+1961&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=PACKERS+LOSE%2C+BEARS+%27BOOT%27+CHANCE!&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130201004612/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/573975662.html?dids=573975662:573975662&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+06,+1961&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=PACKERS+LOSE,+BEARS+'BOOT'+CHANCE!&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 1, 2013|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=November 6, 1961|access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts}};"|1962
| 57,966<ref>{{cite news |title=Green Bay Wins; Giants Stop Redskins|first=Cooper|last=Rollow|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/577099852.html?dids=577099852:577099852&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+29%2C+1962&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Green+Bay+Wins%3B+Giants+Stop+Redskins&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722202441/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/577099852.html?dids=577099852:577099852&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Oct+29,+1962&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=Green+Bay+Wins;+Giants+Stop+Redskins&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 22, 2012|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=October 29, 1962|access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts}};"|1963
| 60,065<ref>{{cite news |title=Pro Football Headed for a Banner Season|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=JJgrAAAAIBAJ&pg=7049,4549399&dq=en|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=August 18, 1963|access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts}};"|1964
| 60,213<ref>{{cite news |title=Colts-Vikings Game Sold Out|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/11/07/archives/coltsvikings-game-sold-out.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=November 7, 1964|access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts}};"|1965–1969
| 60,238<ref>{{cite news |title=Colts Favored By 14 Over Cardinals Here Today|first=Cameron C.|last=Snyder|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1795997412.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+17%2C+1968&author=&pub=The+Sun+(1837-1985)&desc=Colts+Favored+By+14+Points+Over+Cardinals+Here+Today&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131164524/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1795997412.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+17,+1968&author=&pub=The+Sun+(1837-1985)&desc=Colts+Favored+By+14+Points+Over+Cardinals+Here+Today&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|date=November 17, 1968|access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts}};"|1970–1975
| 60,240<ref>{{cite news |title=Facts of AFC Game|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/01/03/archives/facts-on-afc-game.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 3, 1971|access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts}};"|1976–1980
| 60,020<ref>{{cite web |title=National Football League (NFL) – Indianapolis Colts|url=http://www.rauzulusstreet.com/football/profootball/indianapolis.html|work=Rauzulu's Street|access-date=March 1, 2012}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts}};"|1981–1995
| 60,586<ref>{{cite book|title=The NFL Media Information Book, 1983|publisher=Workman Publishing Company|isbn=978-0-89-480367-3|year=1983|page=[https://archive.org/details/nflmediainformat00nfl/page/38 38]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/nflmediainformat00nfl/page/38}}</ref>
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Ravens}};"|Years
! scope="row" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Ravens}};"|Capacity
|-
! scope="row" style="{{NFLAltPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Ravens}};"|1996–1997
| 65,248<ref>{{cite news |title=Ravens' Prices Among NFL Elite $243.11 for Family of Four Is 4th Highest in League, Survey Says|first=Jon|last=Morgan|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1996/08/28/ravens-prices-among-nfl-elite-24311-for-family-of-four-is-4th-highest-in-league-survey-says/|newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|date=August 28, 1996|access-date=June 15, 2018}}</ref>
|}
{{col-end}}

==Gallery==
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ghostsofbaltimore.org/2014/03/03/ghosts-old-memorial-stadium/|title=The Ghosts of Old Memorial Stadium|last=Tom|date=2014-03-03|website=Ghosts of Baltimore|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-19}}</ref>
<gallery>
Image:Baltimore Memorial Stadium abandoned 1.jpg
Image:Baltimore Memorial Stadium abandoned 2.jpg
Image:Baltimore Memorial Stadium abandoned 3.jpg
Image:Baltimore Memorial Stadium abandoned 4.jpg
Image:Baltimore Memorial Stadium abandoned 5.jpg
Image:Baltimore Memorial Stadium abandoned 6.jpg
Image:Baltimore Memorial Stadium abandoned 7.jpg
Image:Baltimore Memorial Stadium abandoned 8.jpg
Image:Baltimore Memorial Stadium abandoned 9.jpg
Image:Baltimore Memorial Stadium abandoned 10.jpg
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Wild Bill Hagy]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
*''House of Magic'', by the Baltimore Orioles
*''The Home Team'', by James H. Bready

==External links==
{{Commons category|Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)}}
*[http://www.memorialstadium.org/ Memorial Stadium Demolition]
*{{HABS |survey=MD-1111 |id=md1542 |title=Baltimore Memorial Stadium, 1000 East Thirty-third Street, Baltimore, Baltimore (Independent City), MD}}
*[https://ghostsofbaltimore.org/2014/03/03/ghosts-old-memorial-stadium/ The Ghosts of Old Memorial Stadium] - Series of old photographs from Ghosts of Baltimore blog

{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-sta|et}}}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the [[Baltimore Orioles (minor league)]] 
 | years = July 4, 1944–1953
 | before = [[Oriole Park]]
 | after = Final stadium
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the [[Baltimore Colts]] 
 | years = 1953–1983
 | before = First stadium
 | after = [[Hoosier Dome]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the [[Baltimore Orioles]] 
 | years = 1954–1991
 | before = [[Sportsman's Park]] 
 | after = [[Oriole Park at Camden Yards]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Host of the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] 
 | years = 1958
 | before = [[Sportsman's Park]]
 | after = [[Forbes Field]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the<br>[[United States Congressional Baseball Game]]
 | years = 1973–1976
 | before = [[Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium|RFK Stadium]]
 | after = [[Langley High School (Fairfax County, Virginia)|Langley High School]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the [[Bowie Baysox]] 
 | years = 1993
 | before = [[Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown)|Municipal Stadium]]
 | after = [[Prince George's Stadium]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the [[Baltimore Stallions]] 
 | years = 1994–1995
 | before = First stadium
 | after = [[Olympic Stadium (Montreal)|Olympic Stadium]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Home of the [[Baltimore Ravens]] 
 | years = 1996–1997
 | before = first stadium
 | after = [[M&T Bank Stadium|Ravens Stadium at Camden Yards]]
}}
{{succession box
 | title = Host of [[AFC Championship Game]]
 | years = 1971
 | before = First stadium
 | after = [[Miami Orange Bowl]]
}}
{{end}}

{{Baltimore}}
{{Baltimore Orioles}}
{{Baltimore Ravens}}
{{Baltimore Colts}}
{{Indianapolis Colts}}
{{Baltimore Stallions}}
{{Baltimore Bays}}
{{Baltimore Elite Giants}}
{{Defunct NFL stadiums}}
{{Defunct MLB Ballparks}}

[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1950]]
[[Category:Sports venues demolished in 2001]]
[[Category:Sports venues demolished in 2002]]
[[Category:1950 establishments in Maryland]]
[[Category:1997 disestablishments in Maryland]]
[[Category:Baltimore Orioles stadiums]]
[[Category:Baltimore Ravens stadiums]]
[[Category:Baltimore Colts stadiums]]
[[Category:Baltimore Bays sports facilities|m]]
[[Category:Canadian Football League venues]]
[[Category:Demolished sports venues in Maryland]]
[[Category:Defunct American football venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct baseball venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct multi-purpose stadiums in the United States]]   
[[Category:Defunct college football venues]]
[[Category:Defunct NFL venues]]
[[Category:Defunct Canadian football venues]]
[[Category:Defunct Major League Baseball venues]]
[[Category:Defunct minor league baseball venues]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Baltimore]]
[[Category:College football venues in Maryland]]
[[Category:Baseball venues in Maryland]]
[[Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in the United States]]
[[Category:Maryland Terrapins football venues]]
[[Category:Navy Midshipmen football venues]]
[[Category:Historic American Buildings Survey in Baltimore]]
[[Category:North American Soccer League (1968–1984) stadiums]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Baltimore]]
[[Category:Canadian football venues in the United States]]
[[Category:Escalator accidents]]