 Main stadium entrance, ca. 1940 | |
 Interactive map of Roosevelt Stadium | |
| Full name | Jersey City Roosevelt Stadium |
|---|---|
| Location | Danforth Ave. &New Jersey Route 1 (nowNJ Route 440) Jersey City, New Jersey |
| Coordinates | 40°42′23″N74°6′18″W / 40.70639°N 74.10500°W /40.70639; -74.10500 |
| Owner | Jersey City |
| Operator | Jersey City |
| Capacity | 24,000 |
| Field size | Left – 330 ft (100 m) Left Center – 377 ft (115 m) Center – 411 ft (125 m) Right Center – 377 ft (115 m) Right – 330 ft (100 m) Backstop – 60 ft (18 m) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | December 10, 1935 |
| Built | 1935–1937 |
| Opened | April 23, 1937 |
| Renovated | 1970 |
| Closed | 1981 |
| Demolished | 1985 |
| Construction cost | $1.5 million ($136 million in 2024 dollars[1]) |
| Architect | Christian H. Ziegler |
| Tenants | |
| Brooklyn Dodgers (MLB) (1956–1957, 15 games) Jersey City Giants (IL) (1937–1950) Jersey City Giants (AA) (1938–1950) Jersey City Jerseys (IL) (1960–1961) Jersey City State College (NCAA) (1966–1976) Jersey Jays (ACFL) (1970) Saint Peter's Peacocks (NCAA) (1971–1981) Jersey City Indians (EL) (1977) Jersey City A's (EL) (1978) | |
Roosevelt Stadium was abaseballstadium atDroyer's Point inJersey City, New Jersey. It opened on April 23, 1937, and was the home of theJersey City Giants of theInternational League (IL), theTriple-A farm team of theNew York Giants, from 1937 to 1950 and later hosted other high-minor league baseball teams. It also hosted 15Major League Baseball (MLB) home games for theBrooklyn Dodgers from 1956 to 1957, plus championshipboxing matches, top-name musical acts, an annual championship drum and bugle corps competition known as "The Dream" (1946–1983), professional wrestling matches, important regional high school football games, college and minor league football games, soccer matches and evenNASCAR races. The stadium was demolished in 1985 and replaced by the Society Hill housing development.
On June 5, 1929, Jersey City MayorFrank Hague announced his plans to construct a 50,000-seat municipal stadium in Jersey City to surround a field 500 feet (150 m) long by 400 feet (120 m) wide, that would be dedicated to the memory of the city's war dead. It was expected to cost $500,000 and be built by Spring 1930. Mayor Hague planned for the stadium to have 35,000 permanent seats with ground space for an additional 15,000. It would be a multi-purpose stadium for baseball, football, track and field events, and boxing.[2]
The stadium was envisioned as aWorks Progress Administration (WPA) project on the grounds of what was theJersey City Airport at Droyer's Point. The airport was built and first operated by notedaviatorClarence D. Chamberlin in 1928 and then later operated by aviatorEddie August Schneider starting in 1935.[3][4] By 1935, Jersey City was suffering from the effects of theGreat Depression and Mayor Hague was looking to create construction jobs for Hudson County's working class. He applied for federal funds through the Civil Works Administration and the WPA of PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt'sNew Deal program. Under the terms of the grant program, the money received could not be used to purchase land so the city had to contribute land for the project. According to the Mayor, Droyers Point was the only available city-owned property and better suited for a municipal sports stadium than a municipal airport which would have eventually been a financial liability to the city. He boasted that the stadium would be a self-sufficient operation and would employ 250 people on a seasonal basis.[5][6]
On December 10, 1935, Mayor Hague, with nearly 2,000 people in attendance, turned the first shovel of earth to officially break ground on the stadium. At the ceremony, Mayor Hague said, “We owe to President Roosevelt’s efforts the realization of our dream. He has been considerate of Jersey City in giving us this beautiful stadium. Besides the stadium, I am happy that its construction will provide work for nearly 1,000 men and through them hundreds of our citizens will benefit. This is a very happy occasion for all of us." Jersey City was awarded $1.5 million in federal WPA funds for the construction of the stadium which provided 2,400 jobs and in recognition of the award, Mayor Hague named the ballpark "Roosevelt Stadium" in honor of the president.[7]
Architect Christian H. Ziegler designed the stadium in theArt Deco style, a style he used in designing the formerJersey City Medical Center, to emphasize Jersey City's strength and influence.[6] Considered the best minor league baseball park of the time, the 24,000-seat stadium was constructed of steel and concrete and featured marble sourced fromPennsylvania andTennessee. The stadium washorse shoe and bowl shaped surrounded by a concrete wall with aterra-cottafaçade. Terrazzo flooring was featured on the first floor and concourse, in bathrooms, locker rooms, showers and corridors. The grandstand was 60 feet (18 m) high and consisted of terraced seating of 35 rows and bleachers. Multiple well-placed ramps gave patrons easy access to their seats.[7]
The ballpark's home opener was scheduled for April 22, 1937, with the opening of the 1937International League season. Mayor Hague declared a half-holiday for the city's schools and employees. New York Giants ownerHorace Stoneham was expected at the opener along withSenator Harry Moore.[8] Rain washed out the planned events and the opening game was moved back to April 23 with Mayor Hague throwing out the first pitch and Sen. Moore and owner Horace Stoneham on hand for the ballpark's dedication.[9] The Jersey City Giants took on theRochester Red Wings with the Red Wings defeating the Giants 4–3 in front of an over capacity crowd of 31,234, a then minor league record.[5][7]
Roosevelt Stadium was constructed to serve as the home field of theJersey City Giants, the Triple-AInternational League (IL) farm team of theNew York Giants, from 1937 to 1950. The Giants won theInternational League regular-season pennant in 1939 and 1947 and were runners-up to theSyracuse Chiefs (formerly theJersey City Skeeters) in the Governors' Cup playoffs in 1942, but no Giants team would ever win a pennant in postseason play. Hague routinely hawked opening day tickets for "Little Giants" games, selling 40,000 seats in a stadium that held only 24,000. When asked about the discrepancy, he was reported to have said "Hell of a crowd in the men's rooms."
On April 18, 1946, Roosevelt Stadium hosted the historic Jersey City Giants' season opener against theMontreal Royals, the Triple-A IL farm team of theBrooklyn Dodgers, marking the professional debut of the Royals'Jackie Robinson and the breaking of professional baseball'scolor barrier. Mayor Hague declared the day a half-day school holiday and threw out the ceremonial first pitch. A sold-out over capacity crowd of 51,872 witnessed Robinson's debut. In five trips to the plate he got four hits, including a three-run homer, scored four runs and drove in three; he also stole two bases in the Royals' 14–1 victory over the Giants. After the game, Robinson was mobbed by fans and well-wishers, Black and white, who wanted to congratulate him. Some people even followed him through thedugout tunnel and into the locker room.[10][11][12] Robinson recalled his debut in his autobiography,My Own Story, saying "Although I was wearing the colors of the enemy, the Jersey City fans gave me a fine ovation. And my teammates were shouting, 'Come on, Jackie, start it off. This guy can't pitch. Get a-hold of one!'"[13]
Between 1949 and 1950, futureHall of FamerMonte Irvin played several games with the Jersey City Giants in between being called up to the New York Giants. With Jersey City, he batted .373 in 1949 and .510 with ten home runs in eighteen games in 1950. In an interview with theJersey Journal, Irvin reflected on his time playing at Roosevelt Stadium and said "What a wonderful stadium," "It was the class of the International League and better than many [Major League] stadiums. I had a lot of thrills there."[10]
Following the 1950 season, the New York Giants decided to move the club toOttawa due to recent drops in attendance. Like their former neighbors and rivals, theNewark Bears, they found that rather than attending local minor league affiliate games, fans in New Jersey, due to the growth oftelevision afterWorld War II, were increasingly watching Giants, Dodgers andYankees games from the comfort of their own homes.[14]
On July 8, 1960, it was announced high-minor league baseball would return to Roosevelt Stadium with theJersey City Jerseys of the IL for the 1960 and 1961 season. The Jerseys, the Triple-A team for theCincinnati Reds, had moved fromHavana, Cuba where they were known as theHavana Sugar Kings and had just won the 1959 International League title. The Sugar Kings move was forced byFidel Castro nationalizing all U.S.-owned enterprises in Cuba andBaseball CommissionerFord Frick feeling political pressure at home fromSecretary of StateChristian Herter to protect the “safety and welfare” of club personnel and baseball's interests.[15][16] On July 15, the club arrived in Jersey City and was greeted by its residents as it took part in an eight-car twenty-milemotorcade through the city on their way to the stadium to play theColumbus Jets.[17]
The stadium would see the last high-minor league baseball competition with theJersey City Indians of theDouble-AEastern League (EL) in 1977 and following a change in minor-league affiliation from theCleveland Indians to theOakland A's, theJersey City A's of the EL in 1978 led by future Hall of FamerRickey Henderson.
From 1956 to 1957, the stadium hosted 15 "home" games by the Brooklyn Dodgers during their last two seasons inBrooklyn – seven in1956 and eight in1957.[18] The games were played partly as a negotiating tactic with theCity of New York and the Borough of Brooklyn, in pursuit of anew stadium to replaceEbbets Field.[19] While it had just 24,000 seats as opposed to Ebbets Field's 31,497, Roosevelt Stadium had 10,000 parking spaces compared to Ebbets Field's 700. The agreement between Jersey City and the Dodgers stipulated that the club would rent Roosevelt Stadium from the city for an annual fee of $10,000. The Dodgers also agreed to absorb the cost of making the stadium ready for major league baseball. In return, the Dodgers received all parking and ticket revenue. Team owner,Walter O'Malley, added that if by 1958 their new stadium in Brooklyn was still under construction, the Dodgers would not play at Ebbets Field and could play the entire season in Jersey City.[20] The Dodgers' negotiations with the City of New York came to naught, and the team moved toLos Angeles in 1958.[21]
During their time at Roosevelt Stadium, the Dodgers played in several memorable games.
On April 19, 1956, the Dodgers played thePhiladelphia Phillies in their first game at Roosevelt Stadium. A pregame ceremony was held with the club raising their1955 World Series Championship banner which was displayed at both Roosevelt Stadium and Ebbets Field. The ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by Jersey City mayorBernard Berry, andEddie Fisher sang the National Anthem. Jersey City's St. Patrick's Drum and Bugle Corps also took part in the festivities. The game went to extra innings tied 3–3. Down 4–3 in the bottom of 10th inning, the Dodgers would tie the game and with the bases loaded,Rube Walker hit asacrifice fly to center field that allowedDon Zimmer to score the winning run and give the Dodgers a 5–4 victory over the Phillies.[22]
On July 25, 1956,Carl Furillo hit the Dodgers' first home run at the stadium off ofBrooks Lawrence. The game ended with a walk-off home run by future Hall of FamerDuke Snider to give the Dodgers the 2–1 victory over theCincinnati Redlegs.[23]
On August 15, 1956, the Dodgers hosted their rival, the New York Giants, at the stadium. The Giants had built a large following in Jersey City after being the home of their Triple-A affiliate, the Jersey City Giants, for 13 years. Jackie Robinson went 0–4 and was booed by the sold-out pro Giants crowd of 26,385. The most memorable moment of the game occurred in fourth inning when future Hall of FamerWillie Mays hit the only home run ever hit completely out of Roosevelt Stadium off ofDon Newcombe. That home run gave the Giants the 1–0 victory over the Dodgers.[10][24]
On June 5, 1957, future Hall of FamerDon Drysdale pitched the first of his 49 Major League shutouts at the stadium defeating theChicago Cubs 4–0.[18][25]
Boxing matches were also a big draw at the stadium. In 1940, former heavyweight championMax Baer beat"Two Ton Tony" Galento at Roosevelt Stadium. A few months later, Baer stopped Pat Comiskey in the first round at the Stadium. On September 21, 1948, European championMarcel Cerdan of France defeatedTony Zale for the world middleweight championship title in one of the Tournament of Champions bouts held at the stadium. On August 9, 1950,Sugar Ray Robinson defeated the former 3-time New Jersey State ChampionCharley Fusari to defend his welterweight title.[5][26]
Although, initially constructed as a home field for the Jersey City Giants, the stadium later saw its most common use for high school football, as Jersey City'sWilliam L. Dickinson,James J. Ferris,Abraham Lincoln,Henry Snyder high schools and the city's major parochial schools,Hudson Catholic andSt. Peter's Prep, all used the stadium, particularly onThanksgiving Day, when Dickinson and St. Peter's would play before soldout crowds.[7] On September 28, 1974, it was the site of the game that set the New Jersey state record for consecutive losses by a high school football team at 42, when Dickinson High School lost to Hudson Catholic, 22–0. The Hawks offense was led by quarterback Steven Neri and halfback Tony Cavallo and Dickinson was held to -2 yards rushing and 18 passing by a Hudson defense led by Steve Cuccinelli, Ray Parente and Bruce Bock. Neri, Bock, Parente and Cuccinelli have all been inducted into the Hudson Catholic Football program's Wall of Fame.[27]
From 1938 to 1950, the stadium hosted the Jersey City Giants of theAmerican Football Association (AA), a farm team of theNew York Football Giants.Tim Mara purchased the team and moved them to Jersey City in 1938 making the Jersey City Giants the firstminor league team in professional football. Coached by Jersey City nativeEd Franco, the Jersey City Giants would go on to win the league title a record three times (1938, 1940, 1946).[7]
In 1960, the stadium hosted a pre-seasonNFL game between theGreen Bay Packers and New York Football Giants to celebrate the city’s 300th anniversary. The game was arranged by the Packers futureHall of Fame coachVince Lombardi and Ed Franco who were teammates on theFordham University'sSeven Blocks of Graniteoffensive line.[28]
The stadium hosted college football with Jersey City State College (nowNew Jersey City University) playing their home games on Friday nights at the stadium from 1966 to 1976 prior to the opening of theThomas M. Gerrity Sports Complex on the adjacent tidelands.[5][29]Saint Peter's College also played their home games at the stadium from 1971 until the stadium's closure.[28]
In 1970, the stadium hosted theJersey Jays of theAtlantic Coast Football League (ACFL), a farm team of theCleveland Browns.
During the1973 NFL season, the New York Football Giants practiced at the stadium while they were playing their home games inNew Haven, Connecticut at theYale Bowl. During this time, their future home,Giants Stadium, was under construction at theMeadowlands Sports Complex.[7]
In the 1960s and 1970s, Roosevelt Stadium became a top venue for several domestic and international soccer matches.
In 1960, the stadium hosted several matches for theInternational Soccer League (ISL), an affiliate league of theAmerican Soccer League, including the leagues' debut matches that it co-hosted with thePolo Grounds.[30]
On June 19, 1960, the stadium hosted a double header for the first section title of the ISL. The first match featuredBurnley F.C. againstOGC Nice with Burnley winning 4–0. The second match sawKilmarnock F.C. defeat theNew York Americans 3–1 in front of 11,704 fans. Kilmarnock won their first section title with a 4–0–1 record and Burnley finished as runner-up.[31]
On June 20, 1971, the stadium hosted aNorth American Soccer League (NASL) and international soccer double-header. TheNew York Cosmos played theDallas Tornado in the opener where the Cosmos rallied to beat the Tornado 3–1.Bologna took onWest Ham United in the second match with Bologna winning 2–1 in front of 9,000 fans.[32] The first game of the doubleheader was set forYankee Stadium in theBronx but the contract that the Cosmos had with the Yankees allowed for a "weather clause" in which the baseball team could cancel if bad weather conditions posed a potential threat to the field.[33]
A week later on June 27, 1971,Santos FC, led by the legendaryPelé, played Bologna in an exhibition match in front of raucous crowd of 21,414 fans. When Pelé stepped on to the field, hundreds of fans stormed the field to get close to him for pictures and autographs. The Jersey City Police Department's mounted police gained control of the crowd but not before kickoff was delayed for thirty-five minutes. The match ended in a 1–1 draw.[34][35]
On May 25, 1973, Santos FC and Pelé returned to Roosevelt Stadium to take onLazio in front of passionate sold-out crowd of 26,145 fans. Pelé was swarmed by fans on his way into the stadium looking for autographs and pictures. The game was repeatedly stopped by fans, who threw beer cans, bottles and even chairs onto the field. In the ninth minute, Pelé scored on afree kick through a wall of seven players. With two minutes left in the match, Lazio was setup to take apenalty kick, but fans stormed the field and the referees called the game with Lazio never taking the shot and Santos FC winning 3–0.[36]
In 1975, the stadium hosted threeprofessional wrestling matches held by theInternational Wrestling Association (IWA). The first and most notable match took place on October 7, 1975, featuring formerWWWF World Heavyweight ChampionIvan Koloff taking onMil Máscaras for the IWA World Heavyweight Championship with Máscaras winning on adouble count out in front of 14,000 fans.[37][38]
From 1972 to 1976, Roosevelt Stadium saw a second life as a premier outdoor concert venue for national touring acts. The stadium hosted multiple concerts by notable performers such asEric Clapton,Rod Stewart,Alice Cooper,The J. Geils Band,Flash,Chicago,The Beach Boys,The Kinks,Looking Glass,Joe Cocker,Mark Almond Band,Patto,Leon Russell,New Riders of the Purple Sage,Three Dog Night,T.Rex,The Band,Santana,Tower of Power,Grand Funk Railroad,Blue Öyster Cult,Lee Michaels,Poco,The Allman Brothers Band,The Marshall Tucker Band,Emerson, Lake & Palmer,Seals and Crofts,America,The Eagles,Yes,Lynyrd Skynyrd,The Doobie Brothers,KISS,Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band,Boz Scaggs, andRandy Meisner.[39]
On August 8, 1974,Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young played their first New York area concert in four years to a crowd of about 50,000 people at the stadium. During the band's intermission former presidentRichard Nixon announced he was resigning from office due to his role in theWatergate scandal.Graham Nash took to the stage and announced the news to the capacity crowd. The crowd cheered and set off a few fireworks in celebration. The first song the band played after the announcement wasDavid Crosby's“Long Time Gone” to mark the occasion.[40][41]
Pink Floyd played four concerts at Roosevelt Stadium: June 14 & 16, 1973; July 18, 1974; and June 14, 1975.[39]
The Grateful Dead played the most concerts at Roosevelt Stadium with eight: July 18, 1972; September 19, 1972; July 30, 1973; July 31, 1973; August 1, 1973; July 31, 1974; August 6, 1974; and August 4, 1976.[42][39]
Roosevelt Stadium was a popular venue fordrum and bugle corps contests throughout its history. From 1946 to 1983, the stadium hosted The National Dream Contest, "The Dream", for drum and bugle corps organizations.[43] On September 8, 1957, the stadium hosted the ninth annual "National Drum Contest," a competition of eight champion drum corps held by the United Organizations ofBayonne.[44] On September 15, 1963, the stadium hosted the first annual World Open Championship sponsored by Drum Corps News for junior drum and bugle corps in the United States andCanada.[45]
In the early 1950s,NASCAR hosted severalstock car races along the perimeter of the stadium's field andwarning track.[46] On June 5, 1954, a 100-lap NASCAR championship event was held at the stadium.[47]
During the 1960s, theHarlem Globetrotters performed at the stadium on several occasions.[28]
Beginning in the 1970s, the stadium began holding religious conventions for theJehovah's Witnesses. On July 4, 1971, 16,000 people gathered at the stadium to listen via closed-circuit radio toNathan H. Knorr speak from an assembly at Yankee Stadium.[48] From July 18–21, 1974, over 10,000 people filled the stadium over four days for a district assembly. From July 25–28, a Spanish language assembly was held for 18,000 people.[49]
In the early 1970s, a 200 feet (61 m) long by 100 feet (30 m) wide outdoor ice skating rink was erected by the city in the winter months and became a popular attraction.[50]
By the 1970s, the stadium had fallen into disrepair. In 1970, Jersey City made attempts to keep the stadium viable with several renovations such as re-sodding the playing field and overhauling the drainage, roofing and steam heating systems. However, further renovations of the structure were impeded byasbestos and overall decay. In 1972, the city lost $68,000 operating the stadium. In 1978, a 30 foot (9.1 m) light tower fell off the roof of the grandstand which weakened the stadium's exterior walls and other light towers. In 1981, two additional light towers collapsed forcing the city to close the stadium for repairs and then permanently.[5]
That year, the city's Division ofUrban Research and Design estimated that repairs to the stadium would cost about $4 million and recommended, instead, to demolish the stadium and build new housing. From 1970 to 1980, Jersey City's population dropped 14.1%, a loss of 37,000 people. Local officials asserted that there was a need for the new housing and the $4 million in tax revenue it would provide to stave off further population loss.[51]
In November 1982, the Jersey City City Council voted to demolish the stadium and replace it with a $200 millionmiddle-income housing development.[51][7] In 1985, the stadium was finally demolished and thegated community known as Society Hill opened on the site in 1996 with a later phase, known as Droyer's Point, opening in 2004.[6][52]
Roosevelt Stadium survived longer but ultimately met a similar fate as two other historicNew York area ballparks of its time. Ebbets Field in Brooklyn was demolished in 1960 and replaced with a middle-income housing development known as theEbbets Field Apartments in 1962. ThePolo Grounds inUpper Manhattan was demolished in 1964 and replaced with apublic housing development known asPolo Grounds Towers in 1968.
In October 1983, Jersey City openedCochrane Stadium in theCaven Point section of the city as a modern but more modest 4,000 seat municipal stadium replacement for the city's residents and local schools.[53]
Roosevelt Stadium and the events that it hosted have been commemorated in several ways.
The Dodgers: 120 years of Dodgers baseball.
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40°42′23″N74°6′18″W / 40.70639°N 74.10500°W /40.70639; -74.10500