Offermann Stadium

Last updated
Offermann Stadium
Logo of the demolished Offermann Stadium in Buffalo, New York.jpg
Offermann Stadium
Former namesBison Stadium (1924–1934)
Address1515 Michigan Ave.
Location Buffalo, New York
Coordinates 42°54′54″N78°51′43″W / 42.915114°N 78.862009°W / 42.915114; -78.862009
Owner Sportservice
Capacity 15,012
Record attendanceOverall: 25,000
Alf Landon rally, 8/28/1936
Sports: 23,386
Bisons vs. Red Wings, 9/22/1933
Field sizeLeft field: 321 ft (98 m)
Left-center field: 346 ft (105 m)
Center field: 400 ft (120 m)
Right-center field: 366 ft (112 m)
Right field: 297 ft (91 m)
Backstop: 21 ft (6.4 m)
SurfaceNatural grass
Construction
Broke ground1923
OpenedApril 30, 1924
ClosedSeptember 17, 1960
Demolished1961
Construction costUS$265,000
($4.53 million in 2022 dollars [1] )
Tenants
Buffalo Bisons (IL) 1924–1960
Buffalo Bisons/Rangers (NFL) 1924–1929
Indianapolis Clowns (NAL) 1951–1955

Offermann Stadium was an outdoor baseball and football stadium in Buffalo, New York. Opened in 1924 as Bison Stadium, it was home to the Buffalo Bisons (IL), Buffalo Bisons/Rangers (NFL) and Indianapolis Clowns (NAL).

Contents

The stadium hosted notable events including the Little World Series (1927) and Junior World Series (1933, 1936 and 1957). The venue also hosted summer boxing cards, most famously the 1930 bout between future International Boxing Hall of Fame members Jimmy Slattery and Maxie Rosenbloom.

The venue was demolished in 1961 and is now the site of Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts.

History

Planning and construction

Bison Stadium was built on the former site of Buffalo Baseball Park for $265,000. [2] [3] The wooden grandstands from the prior venue, designed by famed architect Louise Blanchard Bethune, were preserved and incorporated into the new steel and concrete facility.

The ballpark was built in the middle of a residential neighborhood on a rectangular block, and was known as a hitter's park because of its small dimensions.

National Baseball Hall of Fame member Tommy Lasorda described how the small dimensions of the venue were unfavorable to pitchers like himself in a May 1997 interview:

I used to curse Offermann Stadium. I'd look over my shoulder and the left-field wall was right behind me. [4]

Homeowners on Masten Avenue behind left field and Woodlawn Avenue behind right field erected wildcat bleachers on their rooftops, charging fans admission to watch games. [5]

Opening and reception

Ollie Carnegie Ollie Carnegie 1930.jpg
Ollie Carnegie

The first event at the venue was a baseball game between the Buffalo Bisons and Baltimore Orioles on April 30, 1924. [6] John H. Meahl, commissioner of the Buffalo Parks Department, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

The 1927 Bisons were recognized as one of The National Baseball Association's top 100 minor league teams of all time after amassing a 112–56 record, winning the International League championship, and appearing in the Little World Series. [7]

The Buffalo Bisons/Rangers of the National Football League called the stadium home from 1924 to 1927, and again in 1929 before ceasing operations.

During a June 1930 boxing card at the venue, reigning NBA Light Heavyweight Champion Maxie Rosenbloom upset Jimmy Slattery to become undisputed champion, winning the NYSAC Light Heavyweight Title and vacant The Ring Light Heavyweight Title. [8]

The first night game in International League history took place at the venue in July 1930, and saw the Montreal Royals defeat the Buffalo Bisons 5–4. [9]

The Buffalo Bisons defeated the Rochester Red Wings in Game 6 of their best-of-seven series to win the International League championship before a record crowd of 23,386 at the venue in September 1933. [10]

Luke Easter in Yankee Stadium Luke Easter 1953.jpg
Luke Easter in Yankee Stadium

The venue was renamed to Offermann Stadium in 1935 following the death of Bisons owner Frank J. Offermann. [11]

Alf Landon drew a record crowd of 25,000 for a political rally in August 1936 to promote his candidacy in the 1936 United States presidential election. [12]

Ollie Carnegie of the Buffalo Bisons led the International League in home runs in 1938 and 1939, and was named league MVP for the 1938 season. [13]

The Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League played at Offermann Stadium from 1951 to 1955. Hank Aaron was discovered while playing for the Clowns in 1952, and his contract was bought out by the Boston Braves for $10,000. [14] Toni Stone signed with the Clowns in 1953 for $12,000, becoming the first woman to sign a professional baseball contract. [15]

Luke Easter of the Bisons became the first player to hit a home run over the venue's center field scoreboard on June 14, 1957. [16] The Bisons would win the International League championship that season, and Easter was named league MVP.

The inaugural Buffalo Jazz Festival was held at the venue over two nights in August 1960, headlined by Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck and Count Basie. [17] [18]

The venue's final event was an International League playoff game between the Buffalo Bisons and Toronto Maple Leafs on September 17, 1960. The Bisons lost Game 4 of their best-of-seven series and were eliminated from the playoffs. [19]

Closing and demolition

Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts School192Buffalo.JPG
Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts

In January 1960, the City of Buffalo condemned Offermann Stadium and ordered its demolition. [20] [21] The stadium was demolished in 1961. Woodlawn Junior High School was built in its place, later becoming Buffalo Traditional School in 1977 and Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts in 2007.

The closure left Buffalo with only one large stadium, Civic Stadium, which at the time had been operating as an auto racetrack. A hasty renovation removed the stadium's racetrack and refit the stadium for the Bisons baseball team as well as the incoming Buffalo Bills of the American Football League; with the renovations, the venue became War Memorial Stadium and hosted the Bills until 1972 and the Bisons until 1970 (and again from 1979 until Pilot Field was finished in 1988).

In August 2012, a historical marker was placed at the school in remembrance of the site's 72-year history of hosting professional baseball by Buffalo Sports Historian John Boutet of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame. [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buffalo Bisons</span> Minor League Baseball (AAA) team in Buffalo, New York

The Buffalo Bisons are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen Field, the highest-capacity Triple-A ballpark in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sahlen Field</span> Baseball stadium in Buffalo, New York

Sahlen Field is a baseball park in Buffalo, New York, United States. Originally known as Pilot Field, the venue has since been named Downtown Ballpark, North AmeriCare Park, Dunn Tire Park, and Coca-Cola Field. Home to the Buffalo Bisons of the International League, it opened on April 14, 1988, and can seat up to 16,600 people, making it the highest-capacity Triple-A ballpark in the United States. It replaced the Bisons' former home, War Memorial Stadium, where the team played from 1979 to 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maxie Rosenbloom</span> American boxer and actor (1907–1976)

Max Everitt Rosenbloom was an American professional boxer, actor, and television personality. Nicknamed "Slapsie Maxie", he was inducted into The Ring's Boxing Hall of Fame in 1972, the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1984, the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1985, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993. He was sometimes billed as Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom for film appearances.

The Negro American League was one of the several Negro leagues created during the time organized American baseball was segregated. The league was established in 1937, and disbanded after its 1962 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkansas Travelers</span> Minor league baseball team

The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The Travelers are affiliated with the Seattle Mariners as members of the Texas League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo, New York)</span> Former football, baseball and soccer stadium in Buffalo, New York

War Memorial Stadium, colloquially known as The Rockpile, was an outdoor football, baseball and soccer stadium in Buffalo, New York. Opened in 1937 as Roesch Memorial Stadium, the venue was later known as Grover Cleveland Stadium and Civic Stadium. The stadium was home to the Canisius Golden Griffins (NCAA), Buffalo Indians-Tigers (AFL), Buffalo Bills (AAFC), Buffalo Bulls (NCAA), Buffalo Bills (AFL/NFL), Buffalo Bisons (IL), Buffalo White Eagles (ECPSL), Buffalo Blazers (NSL), Buffalo Bisons (EL/AA) and Canisius Golden Griffins (NCAA). It also had a race track and hosted several NASCAR events. The venue was demolished in 1989 and replaced with the Johnnie B. Wiley Amateur Athletic Sports Pavilion, which retains entrances from the original stadium.

Olympic Park is the name shared by two former baseball grounds located in Buffalo, New York, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luke Easter (baseball)</span> American baseball player (1915–1979)

Luscious"Luke"Easter was a professional baseball player in Major League Baseball and the Negro leagues. He batted left-handed, threw right-handed, was 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m), and weighed 240 lb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International League</span> US professional baseball league

The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball (MLB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Slattery</span> American boxer

James Edward Slattery was an American professional boxer in the light heavyweight division. He was inducted into the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 1992, Buffalo Veteran Boxers Association Ring #44 in 1997 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indianapolis Clowns</span> Former professional baseball team in the Negro American League

The Indianapolis Clowns were a professional baseball team in the Negro American League. Tracing their origins back to the 1930s, the Clowns were the last of the Negro league teams to disband, continuing to play exhibition games into the 1980s. They began play as the independent Ethiopian Clowns, joined the Negro American League as the Cincinnati Clowns and, after a couple of years, relocated to Indianapolis. Hank Aaron was a Clown for a short period, and the Clowns were also one of the first professional baseball teams to hire a female player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triple-A (baseball)</span> Highest level of competition in Minor League Baseball

Triple-A has been the highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States since 1946. Currently, two leagues operate at the Triple-A level, the International League (IL) and the Pacific Coast League (PCL). There are 30 teams, one per each Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise, with 20 in the IL and 10 in the PCL. Triple-A teams are generally located in smaller cities as well as larger metropolitan areas without MLB teams, such as Austin, Jacksonville, Columbus, and Indianapolis. Four Triple-A teams play in the same metro areas as their parent clubs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buck Crouse</span> American baseball player (1897-1983)

Clyde Ellsworth "Buck" Crouse was an American catcher in Major League Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ollie Carnegie</span> Italian-American professional baseball player

Oliver Angelo Carnegie was an Italian American professional baseball player whose playing career spanned 15 seasons. Over that time, Carnegie played in the minor leagues with the Class-B Flint Vehicles (1922) of the Michigan–Ontario League; the Class-B Hazleton Mountaineers (1931) of the New York–Penn League; the Double-A Buffalo Bisons of the International League; and the Class-D Lockport White Sox (1942) and the Class-D Jamestown Falcons (1944) of the Pennsylvania–Ontario–New York League. In 1,539 career games played, Carnegie batted .309 with 1665 hits, 302 doubles, 48 triples and 297 home runs. Carnegie batted and threw right-handed. Carnegie also managed the Class-D Jamestown Falcons in 1944. Officially a player-manager since he also played 96 games that season, Carnegie led the Falcons to a 70–54 record which was good enough for second overall in the PONY League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Negrych</span> Baseball player

James William Negrych is an American professional baseball infielder for the Chinatrust Brother Elephants of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Dakota State Bison baseball</span>

The North Dakota State Bison baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate baseball program of North Dakota State Bison in Fargo, North Dakota, United States. The program's first season was in 1909, and it has been a member of the NCAA Division I Summit League since the start of the 2008 season. Its home venue is Newman Outdoor Field, located on North Dakota State's campus. Tyler Oakes is the team's head coach in his second season. The program has appeared in 2 NCAA tournaments. It has won 5 conference tournament championships and 2 regular season conference titles. As of the start of the 2023 Major League Baseball season, 2 former Bison have appeared in Major League Baseball and 4 have appeared in Minor League Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sports in Buffalo</span>

Buffalo, New York and its greater metropolitan area is currently home to two major league sports teams. The Buffalo Sabres play in the City of Buffalo, and the Buffalo Bills play in the suburb of Orchard Park. Buffalo is also home to several other major and minor league sports teams, including the Buffalo Bisons, Buffalo Bandits and FC Buffalo. Several local colleges and universities are active in college athletics, including Canisius College, Niagara University and The State University of New York at Buffalo at the NCAA Division I level. Buffalo was host city for the 1993 World University Games, for which Burt Flickinger Center and University at Buffalo Stadium were built.

References

  1. ↑ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Buffalo Bisons: About". buffalo.bisons.milb.com. April 13, 2008. Archived from the original on April 13, 2008. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  3. ↑ When Baseball came to Richmond Avenue richomndavenue.org Archived 2008-08-28 at the Wayback Machine accessed 19-APR-2008
  4. ↑ "Lasorda Personifies The Best Baseball Has To Offer". Buffalo News.
  5. ↑ "Torn-Down Tuesday: Offermann Stadium neighbors built 'bootleg bleachers' | History | buffalonews.com".
  6. ↑ "Buffalo Courier from Buffalo, New York on April 30, 1924 · 10".
  7. ↑ "Top 100 Teams". MiLB.com. 2001. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York on June 26, 1930 · Page 21".
  9. ↑ MILB History [ dead link ]
  10. ↑ "HerdChronicles: '33 Bisons amazing playoff run".
  11. ↑ "Montreal Gazette" Feb 4, 1935
  12. ↑ "Journal Gazette from Mattoon, Illinois on August 28, 1936 · Page 10".
  13. ↑ "The Pittsburgh Press - Google News Archive Search".
  14. ↑ Graham, Tim (22 September 2004). "Class Clowns The Indianapolis Clowns Have A Rich Place In Buffalo Baseball History; For Example, Hank Aaron Was "Discovered" At Offermann Stadium". The Buffalo News.
  15. ↑ Richard, A.J. "Playing With The Boys: Gender, Race, and Baseball in Post-War America". SABR.org. Society for American Baseball Research.
  16. ↑ "This Day in Buffalo Sports History, June 14, 1957: Luke Easter hits legendary home run in Offermann Stadium".
  17. ↑ "Buffalo in the 60s: Satchmo, Basie, Duke, Brubeck headline Buffalo Jazz festival".
  18. ↑ "Aug. 26, 1960: Satchmo, Basie, Duke, Brubeck headline Buffalo jazz festival".
  19. ↑ "The Last Game at Offermann Stadium".
  20. ↑ "Monroe Morning World Archives, Jan 17, 1960, p. 23". 17 January 1960.
  21. ↑ Bailey, Budd (29 January 2011). "This Day in Buffalo Sports History: The majors in Buffalo?". The Buffalo News.
  22. ↑ "Offermann site marked".
Events and tenants
Preceded by Home of the
Buffalo Bisons
1924 – 1960		Succeeded by
Preceded by Home of the
Buffalo Bisons/Rangers
1924 – 1929		Succeeded by
–
Preceded by Home of the
Indianapolis Clowns
1951 – 1955		Succeeded by
Various
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.