I’ve been thinking about ballparks a lot recently. Here’s a question you’ll be glad I didn’t ask: What four major ballparks in which Babe Ruth played remain? Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Koshien Stadium in Kobe, Japan, and Meiji Jingu Stadium in Tokyo. Meiji Jingu Stadium is where Ruth played in 1934 on a barnstorming tour with other U.S. stars that included Lou Gehrig, Lefty Gomez and Jimmie Foxx. Ruth homered several times before 60,000 fans in games at the stadium, which is still home to the Japanese League champion Yakult Swallows. How many Negro Leagues home parks remain? There are five, and the oldest is also the oldest ballpark in the United States: Rickwood Field, located in Birmingham, Alabama. Rickwood dates to 1910, making it older than Wrigley and Fenway. It was the home of Satchel Paige and Willie Mays. It continues to serve as a playing field for high school and college teams. Good stuff, huh? Today’s quiz probably has a lot of questions (and answers) you might miss. However, I know that you will have fun and learn a lot.
1. On April 29, 1953, Joe Adcock of the Milwaukee Braves became the first player in major-league history to blast a home run into the center-field bleachers at the Polo Grounds. The ball traveled an estimated 475 feet. What three teams at one time or another called the Polo Grounds home?
