Stadium Series: Robison Field

 Hello Friends!

I don't know why this one came to mind but it's been rattling around for a couple weeks. 

I want to talk about one of the early homes for the St. Louis Cardinals, Robison Field. Now, this one doesn't have cards manufactured of it, so I'll be using some old photos only.. 

Now.. Robison Field was just one of several names given to the park. It was known as "New" Sportsman's Park (1893-1899) League Park (1899-1911) and Cardinal Park (1917-1920)

Prior to Robison field, the American Association Browns played at Sportsman's Park at the corner of Grand and Dodier. Once absorbed into the National League, Chris von der Ahe moved the team to the corner of Natural Bridge Ave and Vandeventer Ave. This move was part of a deal made with a trolley company that operated nearby. 

Along with the grandstands, an amusement park and beer garden were built alongside the ballpark. The teams were generally not good, as von der Ahe would sell his best players to keep the team afloat. 

In 1898, a fire started from a lit cigar and burned the structure. Overnight repairs allowed the game the next day to take place. 

In 1899, von der Ahe sold the team to Frank and Stanley Robison. They changed the identity of the team, first by dropping the Browns name, and changing the solour scheme to cardinal red. 

Part of what allowed the Cardinals to improve as a result of the Robison ownership was they also owned the Cleveland Spiders. They moved the best players from Cleveland to St. Louis. 

The early days being what they were, when the league contracted, the Perfectos as they were known, fell to the bottom of the league again. 

Fires also played a heavy role in the history of the time. In 1901, a fire underneath the stands consumed the park in 30 minutes. After finding the "Old" Sportsman's Park inadequate, the team spent a month on the road while a new stadium was built. 

When the Robisons passed, Frank's daughter Helene inherited the team. She sold her interest in 1917. 

By 1920, the owners of the Cardinals were tired of the wooden park, finding it inadequate for Major League Baseball purposes. They ended up moving the Cardinals into a rebuilt "Old" Sportsman's Park, owned by the AL Browns. 

Robison Field was the last park in MLB that was primarily constructed of wood. The grounds of Robison Field became Beaumont High School in 1926, and educated citizend of St Louis until 2014. 

So Who used this Park??

The St Louis Cardinals from 1893-1920

Columbus Club (St Louis Soccer League) 1913-1915

I find it interesting that St Louis has really used what amounts to three names for their stadia.. 

Sportsman's Park for multiple parks.

Busch Stadium for multiple. (The naming of Busch is interesting)

Robison Field.. 

The next one I do might just be staying in St Louis, looking at Sportsman's Park.