Shibe Park
Shibe Park became the first steel and concrete stadium for any Major League baseball team.
The park, which was just five blocks from Baker Bowl, was bound by 21st Street, 20th Street, Lehigh Avenue and Somerset Street.
The American League’s Philadelphia Athletics opened the stadium in 1909 after they moved out of Columbia Park.
Connie Mack, along with Benjamin Shibe, initially owned the park and the park took the name of the latter. Though Mack gained complete ownership a little later, the name remained unchanged until 1953 when it was renamed Connie Mack Stadium.
The Phillies and A’s called Shibe Park/Connie Mack Stadium home at various times, but the A’s were the team that saw the most success here. They played in seven World Series, including four in five years from 1910-1914 and three straight from 1929-31. Jimmie Foxx, Chuck Klein and a host of sluggers were joined by ace pitcher Lefty Grove in the latter era. Eddie Plank and Ty Cobb starred for the A’s at one time.
Shibe Park hosted plenty of historic moments during its glory. Babe Ruth hit two home runs in two different games that reportedly each covered a distance of more than 500ft. Lou Gehrig and Dick Allen are also credited with hitting some booming drives in this stadium.
Shibe Park also played host to the first Negro League games in 1919 and hosted the Philadelphia Eagles from 1940-57 and other NFL games much earlier in the century.
The “rooftop bleachers” atop buildings just across from the ballpark became bone of contention for the tight-fisted Mack during the 1920s. The seats allowed fans to see the action for free, much like those living on Waveland Avenue across from Wrigley Field. A taller fence installed by Mack put an end to the fun, but those bleachers became the inspiration for the 21st century construction of a special area in the Citizens Bank Park, current home of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Fans virtually destroyed the ballpark on the final day as an active stadium in 1970. Toward the latter part of its existence, the park sat empty and had lost all its glory. A raging fire in 1971 just worsened the situation and the park was finally razed in1976. Today, on the grounds of the stadium that saw so many ballgames played stands the Deliverance Evangelistic Church.
Shibe Park also was one among the ten historic ballparks feted on the USPS stamps “Baseball’s Legendary Playing Fields” that were released in 2001.
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Shibe Park Phila. A's Phillies 1st Day Cover 24k gold US $6.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Feb-06-2012 8:03:54 PST Add to watch list |
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SHIBE BASEBALL PARK PHILADELPHIA 1913 HISTORIC PHOTO US $9.50 End Date: Monday Feb-06-2012 16:09:06 PST Add to watch list |
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1951 PHIADELPHIA ATHELETICS SCORECARD FROM SHIBE PARK EX US $15.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Monday Feb-06-2012 20:07:45 PST Add to watch list |
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PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES-1950 *WHIZ KIDS* TEAM- SHIBE PARK US $9.99 End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 8:15:05 PST Add to watch list |
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Philadelphia A's Shibe Park Silk Cachet signed by 7 A's players; Irv Hall; #4 US $13.47 End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 15:30:42 PST Add to watch list |
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1990 4x5 NEG COPY Shibe Park land, Philadelphia -118 US $13.88 End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 18:55:44 PST Add to watch list |
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2001 Topps Archives Sonny Jurgensen Stadium Seat Shibe Park Eagles US $2.00 (1 Bid) End Date: Tuesday Feb-07-2012 19:00:56 PST Add to watch list |
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Connie Mack/SHIBE PARK BAT Signed by Robin Roberts - James Spence Authenticated US $325.00 End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 7:44:55 PST Add to watch list |
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Tommy McDonald Signed Philadelphia Eagles 11x14 Shibe Park Photo JSA US $69.99 End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 9:13:45 PST Add to watch list |
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SHIBE PARK / CONNIE MACK COOPERSTOWN BAT STADIUM SERIES US $169.99 End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 11:49:47 PST Add to watch list |
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1937 MLB BASEBALL TICKET STUB PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS SHIBE PARK CONNIE MACK US $19.95 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 15:15:58 PST Add to watch list |
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Shibe Park FDC Philadelphia A's signed by 6 A's players Joost Brancato #12 US $13.97 End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 17:27:43 PST Add to watch list |
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Philadelphia A's Shibe Park FDC Cover signed by 7 A's players; Allie Clark; #8 US $13.97 End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 17:27:43 PST Add to watch list |
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Shibe Park FDC Philadelphia A's signed by 5 A's players Shantz Kell Wheat #11 US $13.97 End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 17:27:43 PST Add to watch list |
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Shibe Park FDC Philadelphia A's signed by 7 A's players Spook Jacobs Crimian #14 US $13.97 End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 17:27:43 PST Add to watch list |
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Philadelphia A's Shibe Park FDC Cover signed by 7 A's players; George Kell; #10 US $13.97 End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 17:27:43 PST Add to watch list |
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Shibe Park FDC Philadelphia A's signed by 7 A's players Vic Power, McCrabb #13 US $13.97 End Date: Wednesday Feb-08-2012 17:27:44 PST Add to watch list |
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01 BOWMAN HERITAGE FERRIS FAIN SHIBE PARK SEAT CARD US $20.00 End Date: Thursday Feb-09-2012 7:32:15 PST Add to watch list |
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CONNIE MACK STADIUM / SHIBE PARK SIGN w/ PHILLIES CAP 1964 LOGO Vintage 2-SIDES US $3,564.64 End Date: Thursday Feb-09-2012 14:07:19 PST Add to watch list |
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Bowman Heritage FERRIS FAIN Shibe Park Seat Card US $4.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Friday Feb-10-2012 6:11:40 PST Add to watch list |

