PHILLIES FACTS AND TRIVIA

Philadelphia Park/ Baker Bowl Trivia-

- The Phillies moved from Recreation Park ( their first home) to their next ballpark in 1887. It was known as National League Park, Huntington Street Grounds, Philadelphia Baseball Grounds and Philadelphia Baseball Park before becoming Baker Bowl in 1913.

- The park was also nicknamed "The Hump " because it was built over a submerged tunnel of the Reading Railroad, creating a bulge in a section of center field.

- The field seated up to 12,500 and was located along West Lehigh Avenue, North 15th Street, West Huntington Street, and North Broad Street in North Philadelphia. It was built at a cost of $80,000.

- Nearly 20.000 fans showed up on Opening Day, April 30, 1887. The Phillies won the opener, 19-10 in a game that was halted because of darkness with two outs in the last of the 8th inning (By the way, the first nine Phillies to bat all hit safely and nine runs crossed the plate- a great way to open a new stadium!).

-  The original distances of Baker Bowl were:

* Just 280 feet down the right-field line;

* A staggering 415 feet down the left-field line;

- Sheep were kept under the grandstand and grazed on the Baker Bowl lawn.

- Baker bowl was the first home field of the Philadelphia Eagles, who played there from 1933 through 1935.

- Woodrow Wilson became the first US president to attend a World Series game when he attended Game Two of the 1915 World Series at Baker Bowl.

-,Babe Ruth's final game was at Baker Bowl on May 30, 1935, as a member of the Boston Braves.

- After 51 1/2 years, the Phillies played their last game at Baker Bowl on June 30, 1938. The team joined the Athletics at Shibe Park that summer.

- The Phillies' final record at Baker Bowl was 1,957 wins, 1,778 losses, and 29 ties.

- If you visit the location where Baker Bowl once stood for over a ha;f century, you will now find a gas station minimart, a car wash, and a fast food establishment.