Philadelphia'S Old Ballparks C

• Foreword -- Allen Lewis Introduction 1. Early Parks: Philadelphia's Oldest Pro Baseball Fields 2. Recreation Park: Birthplace of the Phillies 3. Columbia Park: First Home of the Athletics 4. Philadelphia Park/Baker Bowl: Unusual in Almost Every Way A Grand Opening * The Wall of Horrors * A Hitter's Paradise * Special Effects * Not Much Was Ever Constant * Outside the Park * The Paying Customers * Gentlemen of the Press * The Best of Times * Some Other Memorable Days * The Great Catastrophes * A Touch of Comedy * Beautifully Decrepit * Not Just a Baseball Park * The End Finally Arrives 5. Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium: An Enduring Favorite A Park for the Masses * The Big Day Arrives * Some Things Changed * Idiosyncrasies * A Wall of Its Own * A Player's Park * The Phillies Arrive * The World Series * All-Star Games * Great Games by the Visitors * Other Memorable Games * Around the Edges * Inside Jobs * As Tough As There Is * The Fourth Estate * A Park for Many Occasions * Farewell to a Ballpark Bibliography About the Author Index

"This is a brilliant story written by a baseball writer in love with Philadelphia's old ballparks and the players. The parks seem to talk to you as the book describes the history of baseball development in Philadelphia and the U.S.A. If you love baseball, it's a page turner." --Danny Litwhiler, former Phillies star "Rich's exhaustive research is evident throughout. His interviews with fans and those who lived, worked, and played in these baseball stadiums make for a fascinating read spiced with humorous and incredible stories about baseball's monuments of the past." --Harry Kalas, long-time Phillies broadcaster "I love the smell of creosote in the afternoon...Westcott's reconstruction of ballyards past suggests the Sunday aromas of the Connie Mack Stadium press box baking in July doubleheader heat. Under the bubbling tarpaper of the old firetrap was mingled the aroma of sweating scribes, dogs, and burgers sizzling on Mike and Laura's grill and the toxic haze from the tobacco we used to inhale in that innocent time." --Bill Conlin, sports columnist, Philadelphia Daily News (and the Phillies beat writer the final five seasons of Connie Mack Stadium "Rich Westcott has written a very interesting book. I couldn't put it down. I think the book is terrific, just like I thought Connie Mack Stadium was terrific. After reading the book, I learned I'm walking in some pretty good company. Philadelphia's Old Ballparks is really well done. I enjoyed it thoroughly. It gets an A plus from me." --Dick Allen, former Phillies star