Clipping:The Chicago grounds; orientation of the field; early use of 'back stop'
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| Date | Saturday, June 4, 1870 |
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| Text | It is located on Dexter Park, near Chicago inside the racing course, where ample space has been set apart for the purposes of base ball. The field is laid out precisely west of the grand stand, and the batting plate will be nearly on a line with, and immediately beyond, the club-house. The diamond-shaped space which the base lines enclose will front to the southwest, which is an admirable arrangement, as the sun will thereby be at the backs of the pitcher, second baseman, short stop, and fielders, and upon the side faces of both the first and third basemen, the catcher being the only player who must squarely face the sun at any time. About sixty feet behind the home plate will be placed the back stop, and directly in the rear, and circling on either side, will be erected the tiers of seats, made somewhat after the style of circus seats, portable, so that the upper tiers may be taken down when the park is used for facing purposes. In addition to these, it is contemplated to construct a low tier of permanent benches around the right and left circumferences of a circle 650 feet in diameter, which is sufficiently large for the purposes of the entire field. Back of these seats will be ample room for carriages around the entire circle. The plan provides for the comfortable and eligible seating of about 12,000 persons. Add to this the carriage room, the balconies of the club house, the ladies’ stand overlooking the race course, and a portion of the grand stand itself, and the total facilities for viewing the game of base ball are such as to provide for an attendance of over 30,000 people. The calculations are on a grand scale, but it is believed that nothing short of the vast provisions to be made at Dexter Park would be adequate for the accommodation of the multitude which will assemble there on the occasion of the contest between the two great stocking nines, the Whites and the Reds. By means of filling, grading, and rolling, together with a complete system of drainage, the surface of the field has been splendidly adapted to the uses of the game. The ground is smooth, level, and compact, and is covered with a fine sward of grass. In fact, the whole arrangement is as nearly perfect as could be desired by either players or spectators. No objection can be urged upon the score of distance, as there is no spot in or about Chicago for reaching separate lines of steam railway, a well-equipped street railroad, and a smooth attractive carriage-way over the entire distance, the five miles between Dexter Park and Chicago, are rendered a very easy, short and comfortable trip. |
| Source | National Chronicle |
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| Submitted by | Richard Hershberger |
| Origin | Initial Hershberger Clippings |
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