View source for Braves Field

{{short description|American baseball park}}
{{For|the stadium that is its reconfigured continuation |Nickerson Field}}
{{For|the current stadium of the Atlanta Braves|Truist Park}}
{{for|the minor league ballpark in [[Boise, Idaho]]|Airway Park}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name      = Braves Field
| nickname          = ''"The Wigwam"''<br>''"The Bee Hive"'' (1936–1941)
| image             = Boston braves field night postcard.jpg
| image_caption     = Postcard showing the lights<br> shortly after installation in 1946–47 
| location          = Commonwealth Avenue<br />and Babcock Street<br />[[Boston, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| coordinates       = {{Coord|42|21|12|N|71|7|9|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|display=it}}
| broke_ground      = March 20, 1915
| opened            = August 18, 1915<br>{{Years or months ago|1915}}
| renovated         = 1944, 1955
| expanded          = 
| closed            = September 21, 1952
| reconfigured        = 1955 &nbsp;(reconfigured<br>into [[Nickerson Field]])
| owner             = [[James E. Gaffney]] (1915–1932)<br>Estate of James E. Gaffney (1932–1949)<br>[[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]] (1949–1953)<br>[[Boston University]] (1953–1955)
| operator          = Boston Braves/Bees
| surface           = Natural grass
| architect         = [[Osborn Engineering]]
| construction_cost = $600,000
| former_names      = [[National League (baseball)|National League]] Park ([[1936 Boston Bees season|1936]]–[[1941 Boston Braves season|1941]])<br>[[Boston University]] Field (1953–1955)
| tenants           = '''Baseball'''<br>[[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]] ([[Major League Baseball|MLB]]) ([[1915 Boston Braves season|1915]]–[[1952 Boston Braves season|1952]])<br>'''Football'''<br>[[Boston Bulldogs (AFL)|Boston Bulldogs]] ([[American Football League (1926)|AFL]]) (1926)<br>[[Boston Bulldogs (NFL)|Boston Bulldogs]] (NFL) (1929)<br>[[Boston Braves (NFL)|Boston Braves]] ([[National Football League|NFL]]) ([[1932 Boston Braves (NFL) season|1932]])<br>[[Boston Shamrocks (AFL)|Boston Shamrocks]] (AFL) (1936–1937)<br> [[Boston Yanks]] (NFL) (1946)
| seating_capacity  = 40,000
| dimensions        = ''Final''<br>'''Left field''' – {{cvt|337|ft}}<br>'''Left-center''' – {{cvt|355|ft}}<br>'''Center field''' – {{cvt|390|ft|0}}<br>'''Right-center''' – {{cvt|355|ft}}<br>'''Right field''' – {{cvt|319|ft}}[[File:BravesFieldDimensions.svg|200px|]]
}}
'''Braves Field''' was a [[baseball park]] located in [[Boston]], Massachusetts. Today the site is home to [[Nickerson Field]] on the campus of [[Boston University]]. The stadium was home of the [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]] of the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] from [[1915 Boston Braves season|1915]] to [[1952 Boston Braves season|1952]], prior to the Braves' move to [[Milwaukee]] in [[1953 Milwaukee Braves season|1953]]. The stadium hosted the [[1936 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] and Braves home games during the [[1948 World Series]]. The [[Boston Red Sox]] used Braves Field for their home games in the [[1915 World Series|1915]] and [[1916 World Series]] since the stadium had a larger seating capacity than [[Fenway Park]]. Braves Field was the site of [[Babe Ruth]]'s final season, playing for the Braves in 1935.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BSN/1948.shtml |title=1948 Boston Braves Statistics |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=October 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025071215/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BSN/1948.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ruthba01.shtml |title=Babe Ruth Stats|website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=July 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712014016/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ruthba01.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> From 1929 to 1932, the Boston Red Sox played select regular season games periodically at Braves Field.<ref name="thisgreatgame.com">{{cite web |url=https://thisgreatgame.com/ballparks-braves-field/ |title=The Ballparks: Braves Field, Boston, Massachusetts |website=This Great Game |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810232234/https://thisgreatgame.com/ballparks-braves-field/ |url-status=live}}</ref> On May 1, 1920, Braves Field hosted the [[Brooklyn Dodgers 1, Boston Braves 1 (26 innings)|longest major league baseball game]] in history: 26 innings, which eventually ended in a 1–1 tie.<ref name="baseball-reference.com">{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN192005010.shtml |title=Brooklyn Robins at Boston Braves Box Score, May 1, 1920 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=October 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025005833/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN192005010.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref>

Braves Field was also home to multiple professional [[American football|football]] teams between 1929 and 1948, including the first home of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) franchise that became the [[Washington Commanders]]. The pro football Braves played at the ballpark in their inaugural season of [[1932 Boston Braves (NFL) season|1932]], then were at Fenway Park for four seasons as the [[1933 Boston Redskins season|Boston Redskins]] before the move south in [[1937 Washington Redskins season|1937]] to [[Griffith Stadium]] in Washington, D.C. After the stadium was purchased, Boston University leased it to the new American Football League's [[Boston Patriots]] for the 1960–1962 seasons, before, like the Redskins, the team relocated to Fenway Park.

Located on Commonwealth Avenue at Babcock Street, the baseball field was aligned northeast, much as Fenway Park has been since it opened in April 1912. Most of the stadium was demolished in 1955, but significant portions of the original structure still stand and make up part of the [[Nickerson Field]] sports complex on the campus of [[Boston University]].

==Professional football==
While built for baseball and having a rich baseball history, Braves Field briefly served as host for football teams. Braves Field was one of two homes (with [[Fenway Park]]) of the [[Boston Bulldogs (AFL)|Boston Bulldogs]] of the [[American Football League (1926)|first American Football League]] (in [[1926 American Football League season|1926]]) and the [[Boston Shamrocks (AFL)|Boston Shamrocks]] of the [[American Football League (1936)|second AFL]] (in 1936 and 1937). The [[National Football League]]'s [[Pottsville Maroons]] were sold and relocated to Braves Field in 1929 as the [[Boston Bulldogs (NFL)|Boston Bulldogs]]. In 1932, Braves Field became home of the football Boston Braves, a [[National Football League]] expansion franchise, owned by [[George Preston Marshall]]. The next year, after a 4–4–2 season, the Boston Braves Football franchise moved to [[Fenway Park]] and changed its name to the Redskins.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/wasbos/bosskins.html |title=Boston Redskins (1932-1936) |website=www.sportsecyclopedia.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=January 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113113553/https://sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/wasbos/bosskins.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1937 the franchise relocated and eventually became today's [[Washington Commanders]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/was/1932.htm |title=1932 Boston Braves Statistics & Players |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=April 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405171408/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/was/1932.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> Later, the [[Boston Yanks]] played a few games at Braves Field when [[Fenway Park]] was unavailable.

==Baseball history==
[[File:Crowds at Braves Field Loop, opening day, 1915.jpg|thumb|left|Crowds at the streetcar loop outside the field on August 18, 1915, the first day of baseball in the new park]]
Before the Braves became the first modern-era franchise to relocate, in 1952, the Boston Braves franchise had been in Boston since 1871. Before Braves Field, the franchise had played at [[South End Grounds]], with play at [[Congress Street Grounds]] in 1894 while [[South End Grounds]] was rebuilt following the May 15, 1894 Roxbury Fire.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ballparks.com/baseball/national/sthend.htm |title=South End Grounds |website=ballparks.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=January 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112220659/http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/national/sthend.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

Shortly after the [[Boston Red Sox]] opened [[Fenway Park]] in 1912, Braves owner [[James E. Gaffney|James Gaffney]] purchased the former Allston Golf Club, one mile west of [[Fenway Park]] to build a new park for the Braves. Construction of the $600,000 Braves Field began on March 20, 1915, and was completed before the end of the 1915 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/past/BravesField.htm |title=Braves Field – History, Photos and more of the Boston Braves former ballpark |website=ballparksofbaseball.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=November 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120035647/http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/past/BravesField.htm |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bahistory.org/BravesField.html |title=Braves Field |website=www.bahistory.org |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=April 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408070555/http://www.bahistory.org/BravesField.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The park was constructed entirely of steel (approx 750 tons) and an estimated {{convert|8|e6lbs}} of concrete.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sabr.org/research/braves-field-imperfect-history-perfect-ballpark |title=Braves Field: An Imperfect History of the Perfect Ballpark – Society for American Baseball Research |website=sabr.org |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=21 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221132331/http://sabr.org/research/braves-field-imperfect-history-perfect-ballpark |url-status=dead}}</ref> Braves Field officially opened on August 18, 1915, with 46,000 in attendance to see the Braves defeat the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] 3–1.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN191508180.shtml |title=St. Louis Cardinals at Boston Braves Box Score, August 18, 1915 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809171441/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN191508180.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> In his Opening Day coverage, J. C. O'Leary of ''The Boston Globe'' described brand new Braves Field as "the finest ballpark in the world. There is not another like it anywhere, and the probability is that it will stand preeminent for the next 25 years." Braves Park was the largest stadium built in that era, with 40,000 capacity and a trolley system leading to the park.<ref name="thisgreatgame.com" />

Braves Field was nicknamed ''The Wigwam'' by fans. Later it was nicknamed ''The Bee Hive'' and the name changed to '''National League Park''', from 1936 to 1941, a period during which the owners changed the nickname of the team to the Boston Bees. The renaming of the team and stadium were both eventually dropped. During this span, it hosted the fourth [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] in [[1936 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1936]]. With its capacity to hold more fans than [[Fenway Park]], Braves Field was used by the Red Sox in the [[1915 World Series|1915]] and [[1916 World Series]]; with Braves Field still under construction, the Braves had used Fenway Park for their World Series title in [[1914 World Series|1914]].

[[file:Boston bleachers, Braves Field 2nd game of World Series, 10-9-16 LOC 15215977465 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Braves Field during the 1916 World Series]]
Looking at design, [[James E. Gaffney|James Gaffney]] wanted to see the game played in a wide open field conducive to allowing numerous inside-the-park home runs. Thus, the stadium was built in what was, at the time, the outskirts of Boston, in a large rectangular plot, contrasting with the cozy and lopsided block containing Fenway Park. The stands were almost entirely in foul territory, leaving little beyond the fence into which players could hit home runs – with the fences over {{convert|400|ft|-1}} away down the lines and nearly {{convert|500|ft|-1}} to dead center, hitting the ball over the outer fences was all but impossible during the [[dead-ball era]]. A stiff breeze coming in from center field across the [[Charles River]] further lessened any chances of seeing home runs fly out of the park.<ref name="Diamonds Are Rough All Over">{{Cite magazine |last=Frank, Stanley |date=July 1947 |title=Diamonds Are Rough All Over |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ji4DAAAAMBAJ&q=baseball+digest+shanty+hogan&pg=PA24 |access-date=24 February 2012 |magazine=Baseball Digest}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The only possible target in the outfield was a small [[bleacher]] section, which came to be known as ''The Jury Box'' after a sportswriter noticed during one slow mid-week game that there were only twelve individuals sitting in the 2,000-seat stand. [[Ty Cobb]] visited the park and commented, "Nobody will ever hit a ball out of this park."<ref name="Diamonds Are Rough All Over" /> The large foul ground area further favored the pitchers.

It took seven years and a livelier ball before a batter hit a home run that cleared the outer wall on the fly. [[1922 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] catcher [[Frank Snyder (baseball)|Frank Snyder]] hit the first major league home run in the history of Braves Field in {{Baseball year|1922}} when he cleared the [[left field]] foul pole.<ref name="Diamonds Are Rough All Over" /> Meanwhile, it remained a pitchers' park, perhaps never more so than on May 1, 1920, when [[1920 Brooklyn Dodgers season|Brooklyn Dodgers]] pitcher [[Leon Cadore]] and Braves pitcher [[Joe Oeschger]] locked horns for a pair of complete-game performances that went on for [[Brooklyn Dodgers 1, Boston Braves 1 (26 innings)|a still-record 26 innings]]. After all that work, the game ended in a 1–1 tie, called on account of darkness.

At the advent of the lively ball era, it became clear that the fans were unhappy with Gaffney's vision of how baseball should be played, and inner fences were built, and regularly moved, being moved in and out based on whims. Later, the ownership of the team even went so far as to shift the entire field in a clockwise direction (towards right field) at one point. One year after opening Braves Field, Gaffney had sold the Braves, but kept Braves Field. Gaffney and his heirs then leased the stadium out to Braves owners until 1949, when his heirs sold it back to the Braves for approx. $750,000.<ref name="thisgreatgame.com" />

On Sunday, September 21, 1952, the Brooklyn Dodgers defeated the Braves, 8–2, before 8,822 fans in the final Major League game at Braves Field. [[Roy Campanella]] hit the last home run to help [[Joe Black]] defeat a Braves team with 20 year-old rookie [[Eddie Mathews]] hitting 3rd.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN195209210.shtml |title=Brooklyn Dodgers at Boston Braves Box Score, September 21, 1952 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809171803/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN195209210.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref>
[[Image:BUNickersonConcourse.jpg|thumb|left|The concourse under the ballpark's remaining seating area still exists almost exactly as it did when the Braves played there.]]
[[File:Yankees vs. Athletics at Municipal Stadium.jpg|thumb|Yankees vs. K.C. Athletics at Municipal Stadium, August 1966. Former Braves Field Scoreboard visible at right]]
[[File:NickersonField2.jpg|thumb|left|Nickerson Field, 2008, part of old Boston Braves Field]]
[[File:Bravesfieldplaque.JPG|thumb|left|Braves Field plaque]]

==Closing and renovation==
After purchasing the Braves from [[Bob Quinn (baseball, born 1870)|Bob Quinn]] in 1945, owner [[Lou Perini]], citing low attendance, moved the Braves to [[Milwaukee]] just prior to the 1953 season, leaving Braves Field vacant. The Braves had drawn fewer than 300,000 fans in 1952, after drawing over 1 million in 1947, 1948, and 1949. Milwaukee had been the home of a Braves Minor League team called the Brewers since 1902, and the Braves had earlier blocked an attempt by the [[St. Louis Browns]] to return to Milwaukee, the Browns' original home.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1953/march_3_1953_114332.html |title=Boston Braves, who own Milwaukee minor league... March 3 in History at BrainyHistory.com |website=brainyhistory.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=January 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107192627/http://www.brainyhistory.com/events/1953/march_3_1953_114332.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/ |title=Atlanta Braves Team History & Encyclopedia |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=March 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303113109/http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/ |url-status=live}}</ref> With the Braves gone, [[Boston University]] quickly purchased Braves Field on July 30, 1953, renaming it [[Boston University Field]] and utilizing it for their student athletes, a usage that remains today.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Former Boston ballparks: Braves Field |url=http://www.ballparktour.com/Former_Boston.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724062630/http://www.ballparktour.com/Former_Boston.html |archive-date=24 July 2012 |access-date=2011-08-06 |website=BallparkTour}}</ref> The remaining scoreboard was sold and was moved to [[Kansas City Municipal Stadium]], where it was in use until it was demolished along with the stadium in 1976.<ref name=Lowry>{{cite book |title=Green Cathedrals |last=Lowry |first=Philip |year=2006 |publisher=Walker & Company |isbn=978-0-8027-1608-8 |page=33 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Afo5vtVTz4wC&q=green%20cathedrals&pg=PP1}}</ref>

The old ballpark was used as-is until 1955, when [[Boston University]] began to reconfigure the stands and the grounds. By 1968, the remodel replaced all but the pavilion grandstand at the end of the right field line, which was retained as the seating core of a football, soccer, field hockey, and track-and-field stadium. The stadium was initially called "Boston University Field" and later renamed [[Nickerson Field]]. Along with the pavilion, the original outer wall was retained, though a portion of that wall along what is now Harry Agganis Way was replaced with wrought iron fencing in 2008. The stadium's ticket office was converted into the [[Boston University]] police station. The rest of the stadium structure was replaced by dormitories covering the former main grandstand; and the Case Physical Education Center, which houses [[Walter Brown Arena]] and [[Case Gym]] in the vicinity of what was the left field pavilion along Babcock Street. Of the demolished [[Baseball park#Jewel box ballparks|Jewel Box ballparks]], Braves Field has the largest proportion of visible remnants still standing, as no other former ballpark has any portion of its seating still in use.

{{clear}}

==World Series games==
[[File:Boston Braves Baseball Team of 1948 (78732).jpg|thumb|Boston Braves baseball team of 1948]]

[[World Series]] games were played at Braves Field in 1915, 1916, and 1948. The [[Boston Red Sox]] played their home games in the [[1915 World Series|1915]] and [[1916 World Series]] at the new Braves Field, as its capacity at the time was larger than [[Fenway Park]], while the Braves hosted three games of the [[1948 World Series]].
[[File:Braves Field Boston diagram 1916 10 06.jpg|thumb|left|Braves Field diagram, 1916 World Series]]

The Red Sox defeated the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] 4 games to 1 to win the 1915 World Series. On Monday, October 11, the Red Sox won Game 3 at Braves Field, 2–1, in front of 42,300. The next day, the Red Sox won Game 4 in front of 41,096, also 2–1.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1915_WS.shtml |title=1915 World Series – Boston Red Sox over Philadelphia Phillies (4-1) |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=October 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015152957/http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1915_WS.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> As a young pitcher on the Red Sox, [[Babe Ruth]] only appeared in the series once, as a pinch hitter, going 0–1 in Game 1.<ref>{{cite web |title=Babe Ruth World Series Stats |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/playerpost.php?p=ruthba01&ps=ws |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906021228/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/playerpost.php?p=ruthba01&ps=ws |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |access-date=17 March 2018 |website=Baseball Almanac}}</ref>

The following year, the Red Sox played the [[History of the Brooklyn Dodgers|Brooklyn Robins]] in the 1916 World Series. In Game 1, the Red Sox defeated Brooklyn, 6–5, at Braves Field in front of 36,117. On Monday, October 9, Boston left-hander Babe Ruth pitched against [[Sherry Smith]] in front of 47,373.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS191610090.shtml |title=1916 World Series Game 2, Brooklyn Robins at Boston Red Sox, October 9, 1916 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809171729/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS191610090.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> Ruth and Smith dueled for 14 innings, before Ruth and the Red Sox won in the bottom of the 14th, 2–1. The Red Sox won their second consecutive World Series with a 4–1 victory in Game 5 at Braves Field, with 43,620 in attendance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1916_WS.shtml |title=1916 World Series – Boston Red Sox over Brooklyn Robins (4–1) |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=February 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207001208/https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1916_WS.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Vern Bickford, Johnny Sain, Warren Spahn.png|thumb|Vern Bickford, Johnny Sain, Warren Spahn]]

In 1948, the Boston Braves captured the National League pennant with 91 wins. The Braves then played the [[Cleveland Indians]] in the World Series, losing 4 games to 2. Two future Hall-of-Famers led their teams as Managers, [[Lou Boudreau]] of Indians and [[Billy Southworth]] leading the Braves.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1948_WS.shtml |title=1948 World Series – Cleveland Indians over Boston Braves (42) |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=January 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102112134/https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1948_WS.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> The 1948 Braves were led by pitchers [[Johnny Sain]] and Hall-of-Famer [[Warren Spahn]]. In Game 1, on October 6, Sain beat [[Bob Feller]] of the Indians, 1–0, at Braves Field in front of 40,135. The Indians took Game 2, 4–1, the next day at Braves Field, with [[Bob Lemon]] beating Spahn with 39,633 in attendance.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Game 2 also made television history when a live broadcast of the game was shown to passengers of the B&O Railroad's train traveling between Washington, D.C., and New York City.<ref>{{cite news |title=Train Television Shows Ball Game |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 8, 1948}}</ref> The Braves and Indians returned to Boston for Game 6 on Monday October 11, 1948. The Indians defeated the Braves, 4–3, in front of 40,103 to capture the championship.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

==1936 All-Star Game==
On July 7, 1936, the [[1936 Major League Baseball All-Star Game]] was played at Braves Field, with 25,566 in attendance.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1936-allstar-game.shtml |title=1936 All-Star Game Box Score, July 7 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=November 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104191315/https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1936-allstar-game.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> The National League defeated the American League, 4–3, in the 4th All-Star game, featuring over 20 future [[Major League Baseball Hall of Fame]] members.

[[Lefty Grove]] and [[Dizzy Dean]] were the starting pitchers for managers [[Joe McCarthy (manager)|Joe McCarthy]] of the [[New York Yankees]] and [[Charlie Grimm]] of the [[Chicago Cubs]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/ |title=All-Star Game History and Leaders |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=January 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102185049/https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/ |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Lou Gehrig]] hit a home run for the American League, batting behind rookie [[Joe DiMaggio]] in the lineup. Among others, [[Luke Appling]], [[Bill Dickey]], [[Joe Cronin]], [[Schoolboy Rowe]], [[Jimmie Foxx]], [[Rick Ferrell]], [[Earl Averill]] and [[Charlie Gehringer]] were selected for the American League. The National League roster included [[Billy Herman]], [[Joe Medwick]], [[Gabby Hartnett]], [[Arky Vaughan]], [[Goose Goslin]], [[Leo Durocher]], [[Ernie Lombardi]], [[Mel Ott]] and [[Carl Hubbell]].<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

==Longest Major League game==
{{further|Brooklyn Dodgers 1, Boston Braves 1 (26 innings)}}
On Saturday, May 1, 1920, at Braves Field, the Braves and [[History of the Brooklyn Dodgers|Brooklyn Robins]] played 26 complete innings in a game that ended in a 1–1 tie, called due to darkness by home plate umpire [[Barry McCormick]].<ref name="baseball-reference.com"/><ref name="todayifoundout.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2012/11/the-longest-game-in-baseball-history/ |title=The Longest Game by Innings in Major League Baseball History |date=20 November 2012 |website=todayifoundout.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=December 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151202030338/http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2012/11/the-longest-game-in-baseball-history/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1920/B05010BSN1920.htm |title=Boston Braves 1, Brooklyn Robins 1 |website=[[Retrosheet]] |date=May 1, 1920 |access-date=October 21, 2017 |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212065915/https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1920/B05010BSN1920.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> It is the longest game, by innings, in Major League history.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_gmlg.shtml |title=Game Length Records |website=[[Baseball Almanac]] |access-date=October 20, 2017 |archive-date=July 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713231709/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_gmlg.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> Starting pitchers [[Leon Cadore]] (Brooklyn) and [[Joe Oeschger]] (Boston) both pitched the entire game in front of 4,500 fans. The 26 innings by both pitchers is also a record,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_ip.shtml |title=Innings Pitched Records |website=[[Baseball Almanac]] |access-date=October 20, 2017 |archive-date=October 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017080006/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_ip.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> and it is conservatively estimated that each threw at least 300 pitches.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/35687/the-day-the-pitchers-went-26-innings |title=The day the pitchers went 26 innings |date=2013-05-09 |website=go.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=October 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031203228/http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/35687/the-day-the-pitchers-went-26-innings |url-status=live}}</ref> Oeschager threw 21 consecutive scoreless innings in the game, Cadore threw 20. Second baseman [[Charlie Pick]] of the Braves went 0–11, the worst single day at the plate in MLB history.<ref name="todayifoundout.com" /> Cadore faced 95 Braves hitters, while Oeschager faced 90 hitters.<ref name="todayifoundout.com" />

Brooklyn and the Braves met again on Monday, May 3, after an off-day for the Braves. That game lasted another 19 innings, a 2–1 Boston win.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN192005030.shtml |title=Brooklyn Robins at Boston Braves Box Score, May 3, 1920 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809171351/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN192005030.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref> In between, on Sunday, May 2, Brooklyn played at home against Philadelphia (a 4–3 Brooklyn win) in a game that went 13 innings.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/games/standings.cgi?year=1920&month=5&day=2&submit=Submit+Date |title=MLB Scores, Standings, Box Scores for Sunday, May 2, 1920 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref> This gave Brooklyn 58 innings played in three days and three games.<ref name="todayifoundout.com" />

==No-hitters==
There were four [[no-hitter]]s pitched at Braves Field, none of them was a [[Perfect game (baseball)|perfect game]];
{| class="wikitable"
! Date || Pitcher || Team || Score || Opponent || Attendance || Ref.
|-
| June 16, 1916 || [[Tom Hughes (pitcher, born 1884)|Tom Hughes]] || Boston Braves || 2–0 || [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] || &nbsp;N/A ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN191606160.shtml |title=Pittsburgh Pirates at Boston Braves Box Score, June 16, 1916|website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=July 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729183635/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN191606160.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| April 27, 1944 || [[Jim Tobin]] || Boston Braves || 2–0 || [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] || &nbsp;1,447 ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN194404270.shtml |title=Brooklyn Dodgers at Boston Braves Box Score, April 27, 1944 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809171259/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN194404270.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14556331/jim_tobins_nohit_norun_game_sees/ |title=Jim Tobin's No-Hit, No-Run Game Sees Only 98 Pitches Delivered |newspaper=[[Sentinel & Enterprise|Fitchburg Sentinel]] |location=[[Fitchburg, Massachusetts]] |date=April 28, 1944 |access-date=October 20, 2017 |via=newspapers.com |archive-date=October 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021111907/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14556331/jim_tobins_nohit_norun_game_sees/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| August 11, 1950 || [[Vern Bickford]] || Boston Braves || 7–0 || Brooklyn Dodgers || 29,208 ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN195008110.shtml |title=Brooklyn Dodgers at Boston Braves Box Score, August 11, 1950 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=March 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311140251/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN195008110.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| May 6, 1951{{dagger}} || [[Cliff Chambers]] || Pittsburgh Pirates || 3–0 || Boston Braves || 15,492 ||<ref name="thisgreatgame.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN195105062.shtml |title=Pittsburgh Pirates at Boston Braves Box Score, May 6, 1951|website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809171359/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN195105062.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref>
|}
:{{dagger}} Second game of a [[Doubleheader (baseball)|doubleheader]]

==3-home-run games==
There were only two three-home-run games at Braves Field:<ref name="thisgreatgame.com"/>
{| class="wikitable"
! Date || Player || Team || Score || Opponent || Attendance || Ref.
|-
| June 2, 1928 || [[Les Bell]]{{dagger}} || Boston Braves || 12–20 || [[Cincinnati Reds]] || 18,000 ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN192806020.shtml |title=Cincinnati Reds at Boston Braves Box Score, June 2, 1928 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809171207/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN192806020.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| May 13, 1942 || [[Jim Tobin]]{{double dagger}} || Boston Braves || &nbsp;6–5 || [[Chicago Cubs]] || &nbsp;3,443 ||<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN194205130.shtml |title=Chicago Cubs at Boston Braves Box Score, May 13, 1942 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809170956/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN194205130.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref>
|}
:{{dagger}} Bell also hit a triple.
:{{double dagger}} Tobin is the only modern era (post-1900) pitcher to hit three home runs in one game.<ref name="thisgreatgame.com"/>

==Dimensions==
As noted above, the fences were moved repeatedly throughout the ballpark's existence, sometimes within a given season.{{cn|date=October 2017}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
! Year(s) || Left || Left-center || Center || Right-center || Right
|-
| '''1915–1920''' || 402' || 402' 6" (1915)<br>396' (1916) || 440' || 402' || 402' (1915)<br>375' (1916)
|-
| '''1921–1927''' || 375' (1921)<br>404' (1922)<br>403' (1926) || 402' 5" (1921)<br>404 (1922)<br>402' 6" (1926) || 440' || 402' || 365'
|-
| '''1928–29''' || 353' 6" || 330' (April 1928)<br>359' (July 1928) || 387' (April 1928)<br>417' (July 1928)<br>387' 2" (1929) || 402' || 364' (1928)<br>297' 9" (1929)
|-
| '''1930''' || 340' || 359' || 394' 6" || 402' || 297' 9"
|-
| '''1931–32''' || 353' 8" || 359' || 387' 3" || 402' || 297' 11"
|-
| '''1933–1935''' || 359' (1933)<br>353' 8" (1934) || 359' || 417' || 402' || 364'
|-
| '''1936–1939''' || 368' || 359' || 426' (1936)<br>407' (1937)<br>408' (1939) || 402' || 297' (1936)<br>376' (1937)<br>378' (1938)
|-
| '''1940–41''' || 350' (1940)<br>337' (1941) || 359' || 385' (1940)<br>401' (1941) || 402' || 350'
|-
| '''1942''' || 334' || 365' || 375' || 362' || 350'
|-
| '''1943''' || 340' || 355' || 370' || 355' || 340' (April 1943)<br>320' (July 1943)
|-
| '''1944–45''' || 337' || 355' || 390' (1944)<br>380' (1945) || 355' || 340' (April 1944)<br>320' (May 1944)
|-
| '''1946–1952''' || 337' || 355' || 370' (1946)<br>390' (1947) || 355' || 320' (1946)<br>320' (1947)<br>319' (1948)
|}
:Center field at the flag pole: 520'
:Deepest center field corner: 550' (1915), 401' (1942), 390' (1943)
:Backstop: 75' (1915), 60' (1936)

==Seating capacity==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Years || Capacity<ref name="bba">{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/stadium/st_brave.shtml |title=Braves Field Historical Analysis by Baseball Almanac |website=www.baseball-almanac.com |access-date=17 March 2018 |archive-date=October 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001000943/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/stadium/st_brave.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 1915–1927 || 40,000
|-
| 1928–1936 || 46,500
|-
| 1937–1938 || 41,700
|-
| 1939–1940 || 45,000
|-
| 1941–1946 || 37,746
|-
| 1947 || 36,706
|-
| 1948–1954 || 37,106
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* ''Lost Ballparks'', by Lawrence Ritter
* ''Green Cathedrals'', by Phil Lowry
* ''Ballparks of North America'', by Michael Benson
* ''Baseball Uniforms of the 20th Century'', by Marc Okkonen

==External links==
{{Commons category|Braves Field}}
* [http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/national/braves.htm Ballparks.com – Braves Field]

{{s-start-collapsible|header={{s-sta|et}}}}
{{succession box
|title = Home of the [[Boston Braves (baseball)|Boston Braves]]
|years = 1915–1952
|before = [[Fenway Park]]
|after = [[Milwaukee County Stadium]]
}}
{{succession box
|title = Home of the [[Boston Redskins]]
|years = 1932
|before = first stadium
|after = [[Fenway Park]]
}}
{{succession box
|title = Host of the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]]
|years = 1936
|before = [[Cleveland Stadium]]
|after = [[Griffith Stadium]]
}}
{{S-end}}

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