St. Louis baseball history is coming to Saint Louis University to mark the spot of a former major league park, which is now part of the University.
On Oct. 16, local baseball history enthusiasts will dedicate a plaque to mark the site, which is located on the southeast side of the Marchetti Tower property. The baseball park was home to the Federal League St. Louis Terriers, who played ball in the city from 1914-1915.
The park, often referred to as Handlan Park, was sold to the Terriers in 1913, where the team constructed their field, Federation Park. The wooden bleachers, which held roughly 15,000 fans, are currently where Marchetti Towers East and West now sit. It was 325-ft. to the fences in left field, 375-ft. in center and 300-ft. in right.
The group sponsoring the plaque dedication, the Bob Broeg Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research, is a local group dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of baseball in St. Louis. Joan Thomas is one of the more avid members of the organization, and she said her work is not for her generation.
“The whole reason to preserve the history of these fields is for the benefit of future generations and the fans,” Thomas said. “It is to educate citizens who may not be aware of the existence of these parks. We hope these plaques inspire others to do more research and find out more about the rich history of baseball in St. Louis.”
The idea to place plaques at the sites of former major league fields was brought to the SABR by Chairperson Barb Sheinbin. Sheinbin, a legally blind enthusiast, traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio, on a trip to discover the history of baseball fields across America. The idea came to her after realizing that the majority of former fields are now empty lots.
The Bob Broeg Chapter will place its third plaque next week. Jim Rygelski, an SABR member for 20 years, said that the funding for the plaques came from a series of generous anonymous donations. While the group had no association with Major League Baseball or the St. Louis Cardinals franchise, he said that the Cardinals have reported the placing of the historical plaques in their magazine Gameday Live, which is available to fans attending baseball games.
Thomas has traced major league baseball thus far to the late 19th century. At that time, the St. Louis Browns, forerunner to the Baltimore Orioles franchise, played ball at Robison Field, located on the grounds of Beaumont High School.
The National Negro League came to St. Louis to play ball at Stars Park, located at the corner of Compton Avenue and Market Street, and the Federal League played ball where the Marchetti Towers now stand.
At one time, St. Louis supported three different major league teams: The American League Browns, the National League Cardinals and the Federal League Terriers.
The SABR will commemorate two more plaques next year at the sites of Spring Redstockings Park, a park shared by two clubs, and the Union Association Park. There are no plans to dedicate the sites of Sportman’s Park or either Busch Stadiums.
Thomas said her research always brought up a rivalry between Chicago and St. Louis.
“No matter what the league, there has always been this Chicago rivalry,” Thomas said. “Not just the Cardinals and Cubs, but the Terriers and the Whales, the Browns and the Cubs . it just always comes up.”
Both Thomas and Rygelski said the dedication could not have been possible without the participation of SLU. While Thomas appreciates the University’s cooperation in the project, Rygelski said SLU’s maintenance staff will erect the plaque and provide a tent and chairs for guests of the ceremony.
Expected to attend the ceremony are living descendants of former Terrier players. Invitees that have already confirmed include two granddaughters of pitcher Bob Groom and the grandson of outfielder Jack Tobin. Other dignitaries that are expected to attend are Emmitt McCallous of KMOX and Ed Mickleson of the Browns and Cardinals.
Eddie Plank III, great-grandson of Hall of Famer Eddie Plank, sent the SABR his regrets that he could not attend the dedication. The Hall of Fame inductee won his 300th career game at Federation Field as a St. Louis Terrier. Currently, Plank III is working with ESPN to produce a documentary about his great-grandfather, and he has asked the Bob Broeg Chapter to assist him in his research of Plank’s days as a Terrier.
