Ebbets Field: Essays and Memories of Brooklyn's Historic Ballpark, 1913-1960 (Mcfarland Historic Ballparks)

One of the best baseball books I’ve read in many years. Full disclosure: I’ve never been to Brooklyn, I’m a Giants fan, and I received this book from the publisher in exchange for a review.

Varied chapters in this volume present a many-faceted perspective on Ebbets field and its significance to Brooklyn. There is a well-written and informative history of how the Dodgers’ stadium came to be, with background information on the neighborhood and site. A chapter chronicles the use of Ebbets by African-American teams, and another highlights its use as a venue for all sorts of events – high school, college and professional football, boxing, soccer, rallies and circuses. But for me, the highlights were the three chapters of personal show more recollections, one by former Dodgers, one by their opponents, and one by the fans. Really touching anecdotes abound in the latter chapter, stories of personal attachment to the Brooklyn Dodgers and to their home. The dozens of contributors have such vivid memories fifty or more years after their childhood experiences at Ebbets that I understand much better the sense of loss that they must feel today after their heroes moved West. What a different day, when the players took the subway to the park, hung around giving autographs after the game, and lived in the neighborhood. Lots of wonderful nostalgia here! show less

This is the second book in the McFarland Historic Ballpark series and I enjoyed it so thoroughly that I will be hunting down the first volume on Forbes Field! (and eagerly waiting for the Fenway volume!)

The book is broken up into a number of Essays and the final section is a compilation of players and fans memories of the park. The biggest surprise was that much of the material is about Brooklyn in the time of the ballpark and many other events in the ballpark other than baseball. So while any fan of baseball history should love this book, it really goes beyond just the Brooklyn Dodgers playing here. There are essays on Charles Ebbets, the Negro league teams that played at Ebbets field, other famous sporting events to be held at Ebbets show more field, and TONS of statistics!

My favorite section was "History, Tragedy, and Comedy: The Dodgers at Ebbets Field" by John and Paul Zinn. This is a bunch of famous or funny things that happened at the ballpark. Many people know this is where the color barrier was broken as Jackie Robinson played his first game here but there a number of other famous and hilarious things that happened over 45 years (I won't give any spoilers here)!

Overall this is a compilation of many stories and perspectives on a historic landmark, if it were still in existence, that a ton of history was made at. This was one of the major things that helped Brooklyn define itself separately from New York City. I truly enjoyed this book and the way it was put together with different authors and historians bringing a different look at famous Ebbets Field! I would strongly recommend it to anyone who loves baseball, American social history, or wants to see why ballparks end up meaning so much to fans! show less

I think my expectations were too high. This is a nice little book that contains "essays and memories of Brooklyn's historic ballpark" as promised on the cover, but there's just not enough depth of information for me to recommend purchase.

The book contains a mix of chapters covering Charles Ebbets, the building of the park, opening day(s), changes made over the years, highlights of selected games, some photographs, events other than baseball at the park, a brief sabermetric analysis, and reminiscences of some ballplayers and fans. That's pretty much what I was expecting, but there just wasn't enough of any of it.

More photos and diagrams of the park itself are especially wanting. Many anecdotes by players and fans pertain specifically to show more details like the short right-field dimensions, the entrance rotunda, the tiny clubhouse and dugouts, etc. Well, you have to take their word for it, because there's hardly a picture of any of these. The famous Schaefer beer sign in right field? The angled ledge on the right field wall? The knot-hole gang? Duke Snider? Carl Furillo? Campy? You'll read a little about each of these, but there's not a single photo that I can recall.

What I hoped for was a book that captured the sights and sounds and smells of one of the great lost ballparks. You get that here in tiny morsels, I wanted a feast. There's a couple of fine books out there about old ballparks already, this doesn't join them. show less

This is a scholarly (that is, sometimes dry), yet informative look at Ebbets Field, the long-time home of the Brooklyn Dodgers. There is plenty of information on topics you’d expect, such as Charles Ebbets, the building and demolition of the ballpark, as well as the first and last Dodger games played there. There’s also a chapter filled with brief, but interesting, summaries of some of the most noteworthy ballgames played at Ebbets Field. The ballplayers themselves, both Dodger players and visiting players, provide some of their memories of the ballpark. I never realized that visiting players who didn’t sign autographs for every last kid would have ink spilled on them.

My favorite chapter of all, however, was the chapter presenting show more fan memories of the ballpark, some from famous fans such as Doris Kearns Goodwin, but most from regular, local Brooklyn fans. These memories were quite interesting and gave me a great flavor for the place. Besides particular games and players, fans remembered how they got to the ballpark, what they ate, how the ballpark smelled, and where they sat. Common memories include Hilda Chester, the loud woman with the cowbell and a bellowing voice, the Abe Stark “hit sign, win suit” sign, the Ebbets Field rotunda, the Brooklyn Sym-Phony, organist Gladys Goodding, and the Happy Felton Knothole Gang. More than anything else, the fan memories really brought the place to life for me. This was the best part of the book, I thought.

Also of interest to me was the chapter on non-baseball events held at Ebbets Field. There were boxing matches, soccer games, and high school, college, and professional football games. Army and Notre Dame played there one year, for instance. Interestingly, a series of operas were performed at Ebbets Field in 1925, which included Aida and its cast of over 400 elephants, horses, and camels.

Despite the somewhat dry, occasionally slow-paced writing, overall, this book is a great look at an iconic ballpark. A must-read for fans of baseball’s Golden Age. show less

"Ebbets Field: Essays and Memories of Brooklyn's Historic Ballpark, 1913-1960" is an interesting collection of writings on the Dodgers' fabled ballpark. Included are essays on Dodgers’ Owner Charles Ebbets; the first and last games played at Ebbets Field; black baseball played there; memorable Dodger moments; and a remarkably detailed account of the field dimensions. Most compelling, however, are the reminiscences of players and fans. These heartfelt and often wistful memories speak to the great importance of Ebbets Field and the Dodgers to that era of Brooklyn’s history, and their profound impact that still resonates in hearts and minds of those fortunate enough to have experienced Ebbets Field first-hand.

I became a Dodger fan the last couple of years they played at Ebbets Field after I learned about Jackie Robinson. That love of the Dodgers continued until Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Jim Gilliam and Maury Wills retired. I've also been a Phillies fan (grew up in Philly), a Braves fan, and now a rabid Red Sox rooter. But more that liking a team, I love the game.

Ebbets Field is a book for those who love the game. It is filled with box scores and stats and the essays are reminders of those who played at Ebbets Field both for the Dodgers and against them. This is a meticulously researched history of a park, a team, and a lost era. I found it a book to pick at, not read cover to cover and recommend it for any baseball nut. For them it is a show more book to keep on the bedside table open at random and start reading, but it won't put you to sleep. It may just keep you up past your bedtime.

The book is part of a series and I can't wait to for the volume on Fenway Park to be issued. show less

The title says it all. Section 1 contains essays about the history of Ebbets Field: its creation, uses, and context within the borough of Brooklyn. Section 2 is an oral history of Ebbets Field from the viewpoint of Dodgers, opposing players, and fans and residents of Brooklyn.

You'll learn why and how the field was built and what it and the Dodgers meant to Brooklyn as it became a part of what we know now as New York City. The field and its many uses gave Brooklynites a sense of identity. Many supported the Dodgers, of course, but here we find that black baseball teams also used the park. Football both amateur and pro was played here, including major Brooklyn high school rivalry games. Boxing matches were held here. In the 1920s, Ebbets show more Field even hosted operas! Did you know that its last use was for international soccer in 1959? I didn't until I read it here.

If you have absolutely no interest in the Dodgers but do have an interest in Brooklyn at least read "A Ballpark and Its 'City': Ebbets Field, Brooklyn and Changing Times" by Brooklyn historian Ellen M. Snyder-Grenier. The Brooklyn Dodgers may be overdone in baseball culture, but the context of sports and community in Brooklyn (as far as I know) is not. show less