For a time, this was also home to the atlanta black crackers, a negro league baseball team. Atlanta native sharon foster jones, a former divorce lawyer, has found her true calling in researching and gathering local history. This is an original picture of him on the 1925 atlanta crackers. It was then reverted back to its original name in 1933. Late in the 1923 season, the park was destroyed by a. Nat peeples appeared two games for the atlanta crackers in 1954 both on the road and was the only black player even to don a southern associaton uniform. The atlanta crackers were minor league baseball teams based in atlanta, georgia, between. The atlanta crackers of the southern association ended the 1952 season with a record of 82 wins and 72 losses second in the sa. Before the atlanta braves, there were the crackers. Take a look back at the building through the years, from its opening in 1926 to now. Atlanta crackers photograph collection atlanta history center album. This is rare video, with narration, of the opening day festivities and game highlights. Crackers stadium sears building atlanta time machine.
Fifty years ago, in 1966, the baseball landmark was demolished to make way for a shopping mall. The allwooden ballpark opened in 1907, but was destroyed by a mysterious fire in 1923. Courtesy of georgia archives the tree grew its way into fans and players hearts. Feb 27, 2012 atlanta native sharon foster jones, a former divorce lawyer, has found her true calling in researching and gathering local history. Babe ruth and eddie mathews were said to have both hit balls that got stuck in the tree during exhibition games. Spring festival on ponce in olmsted linear park on. Parking is available in the adjoining residential neighborhoods, but please be courteous and adhere to all posted parking rules. Organized in 1919, the atlanta black crackers later toured in rural towns across the south and other parts of the nation for over twenty years. The atlanta crackers played their first game on may 23, 1907. May 10, 1990 in the days of the atlanta crackers baseball club, a large magnolia tree stood in center field, on a terrace rising just above. The atlanta black crackers were founded in 1919 as the atlanta cubs, a semipro team of black college students. Eddie mathews and babe ruth reportedly hit homers into that tree. Before the braves moved there in 1966, the city was home to the crackers of the southern association and the black crackers of the negro leagues. The 1954 dixie series society for american baseball research.
Atlanta history a journal of georgia and the south. The ballpark was torn down in 1966, and the site has been home to numerous retail operations since then. Riddle is a living history of tales like those, proudly accepting his ties to atlanta s storied baseball past. Atlanta crackers photograph collection digital library. Deep in centerfield, a magnolia tree planted in the 1860s remained. Owner earl mann deserves credit for signing the leagues only black player nat peeples. The majority of this collection consists of members of the atlanta crackers baseball team. The atlanta police will be enforcing parking regulations. The atlanta crackers were one of the most successful franchises in history. A couple of the team photos were ones i had saved from programs as a kid when my dad had taken me to the game. The first stadium held 6,800 fans and was quickly expanded to hold 8,000. Atlantas first famous baseball park was also home to a. Atlanta crackers photograph collection atlanta history center. Playoffs atlanta crackers 4 games, toronto maple leafs 2 finals atlanta crackers 4 games, jacksonville suns 3.
Atlanta crackers photograph collection from the atlanta history center. The atlanta black crackers society for american baseball. Atlanta crackers 1957 home jersey ebbets field flannels. Bob montag obituary atlanta, ga atlanta journalconstitution. The ball park was built in 1907, but was destroyed by fire in 1923. They played the fastest game in organized baseball history at the time on september 17, 1910, losing 21 at home to the mobile sea gulls in 32 minutes. Nov 11, 2007 the park was torn down in favor of a parking lot good call shortly after atlanta stadium aka atlanta fulton county stadium was built in 1962. Author tim darnell has written a book detailing the history of the atlanta crackers.
It was definitely an event, said longtime braves usher walter banks, who was a 9yearold atlanta resident when robinson came to town. That team consisted of atlanta players and college athletes brought together by a group of local businessmen. A fire destroyed the park in 1924 and it was rebuilt by atlanta cubs owner r. The crackers won one of the three games, and the series marked the first time in atlanta history that blacks and whites competed against each other in a professional sports event. Doors open to a new generation who want to reconnect with the past while reimagining and redefining the future of atlanta. The park was torn down in favor of a parking lot good call shortly after atlanta stadium aka atlanta fulton county stadium was built in 1962. Adjacent to the ford motor company assembly plant, built in the early 1900s, this land has been in the national register of historic places since 1984. Atlantas first famous baseball park was also home to a giant.
Sixtyfive years of cracker baseball came to an end after the 1965 season when the milwaukee braves announced their intention to move to atlanta. The atlanta crackers played in the southern association. The park has disappeared due to the urbanization of atlanta and only the large magnolia tree, a. It was a minor league facility and home to the atlanta crackers until 1965 when they moved to the newly built atlanta stadium. The atlanta crackers of the international league ended the 1962 season with a record of 83 wins and 71 losses third in the il. The crackers won one of the three games, and the series marked the first time in atlanta history that blacks and whites competed against each other in. Buck riddle embraces link to successful atlanta crackers. May 23, 2018 atlanta didnt always have major league baseball. Brooklyn dodgers team listed for 1942 1b herman, 2. Atlanta crackers photograph collection, 19561958 vis 103 the atlanta crackers were a minor league baseball team that played from 1901 to 1965.
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