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Baseball site of Southeast Kansas A Piece of History that has been Removed
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Baseball Page-2 Photos of the visit by the Kansas Preservation Alliance in March 2014
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Our New Independence Baseball Project Should we set idle as our American Landmarks are removed, or move forward in preserving our heritage with enthusiasm?
The Independence, Kansas Baseball Stadium at Riverside Park is currently being renovated to a College and High School football field, with impunity for the National Historical value of this site. The construction funding from the school is converting the stadium exclusively for football and track, and making the baseball bleachers obsolete, thereby being setup for removal of all landmarks of the first baseball game, or any sport played at night under permanent outdoor lighting.
Wednesday 2-19-2014 had a warming trend, so my bicycle got a test drive after a long winter storage. Driving to the city park, next to the zoo is the old baseball field. It is now exclusively converted to a football and track field for the schools. I had never been on the field before, but this time I wanted to see the aspect of it's origin.
There is an old bronze plaque above the marquee near the entrance that states: "First Night Game in Organized Baseball Played Here Shulthis Stadium April 28th 1930 Independence vs. Muskogee."
The original bleachers are built of concrete before the end of the 1920's and definitely designed for the baseball public recreation. The bleachers are placed behind the southwest corner of the field, and the original concrete walls surrounding the field arch slightly on the north and east sides into the classic baseball stadium form.
There is currently construction underway that has resurfaced the football field, and the track field is to be resurfaced later. This modernization is destroying the original layout of the field, but it seems that there is no concern to preserving the original intent of this historic baseball stadium. The public is not privy to the full plans of the upgrades, but the original concrete bleachers will be an obstacle for their new layout for dressing rooms. The construction crews have already removed about 80 feet of the north corner of the west wall, to get access to the field with their machinery. The original walls are eight feet to ten feet high solid concrete with adjoining piers every fifteen feet (estimated) with no structural damage at any point, except where removed for access of the construction crews.
Notice the castle in the zoo beyond center field. This is on monkey island, the home of the first monkey in space.
I am still questioning the need for this upgrade, since the college and schools are several miles away, and have their own ball fields. We have city councils that spend on fluff, and these are the reasons that we have 9.3% sales tax in this city. They certainly did not get my vote on this, and it is obvious that there is no concern for preserving any of the historical aspects of this area.
Here are some photos of the flood lights that were replaced, that look like about 1960's or 70's era lamps. Also some views of the monkey castle that is visible beyond the center field position.
Please submit your own interesting information to the author to improve the value of this story.
The following PDF documents and photos are portions of the research collected by Mark Metcalf of Independence, Kansas.
Independence Baseball Teams: A listing of each team and league that played at the local stadium.
Independence Major League Players: A list of 45 local minor league players that became professional major league players.
Ball Field: A chronology from construction of the Ball Field, to the First Night Game and renaming the stadium. 1896-1937
Independence Baseball News: A sampling of news clippings covering the setup for the First Night Game 1930 - 1931
Website News Clips: Other websites articles that verify the First Night Game at Independence, Kansas.
First Night Game: A brief article by Mark Metcalf.
Under The Lights Another great article by Oscar Eddleton at his baseball research website, covering the first night games.
Vanguard of Night Baseball Charles O'Reilly's notes on historical ballparks, citing Shulthis Stadium for the First Night Game.
A 1896 Team Player for the Independence Producers.
A Photo of the First Night Baseball Game, April 28, 1930.
Independence Yankees 1949, with Mickey Mantle on the far right of bottom row.
The Stadium Grandstand in 1936 was a marvelous entrance to the ball games.
The Outside View Concept of the City Plan modernization, keeping the entryway appearance only.
Concept view of Stadium modernized by the City Plans that will eliminate five to fifteen feet of the concrete platform up to the seats. Then the seating area will only be utilized to support the rooftop. A complete destruction of a historical landmark of baseball history.
My experience of politics verses preserving landmarks has seen that any major change that can not be undone, will result in its complete elimination. This was done by the method of renovation in some cases. like the Piasa Painting in Alton, Illinois, where the college repainted a 50 foot ancient cliff painting to bring back the colors, then a judge determined it was no longer original and had it removed. The contractors can always find a consenting councilman.
Baseball Page-2 Photos of the visit by the Kansas Preservation Alliance in March 2014
For more detailed information contact Mark Metcalf of Independence, Kansas. kansas41uwant@yahoo.com
Mark Metcalf of Independence, Kansas has also produce a website that is specifically introducing the Shulthis Stadium, the location of this first permanent lighting at a night game. His site is https://sites.google.com/site/shulthisstadium/home
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How our project got started.
The
Prairie Writers Group
is a local writers club that meets
once a month at the Independence, Kansas Library, and we share a
brief article assignment on random or seasonal topics. This
group originated from the writer of Little House on the Prairie,
Laura Ingalls, and her historic prairie cabin exists about eleven miles
southwest of our Library.
This is a message and responses that were sent by email to all the Prairie Writers in February. Some of the assumptions are not facts, but this is in the process of being researched. Some private info is deleted, and we will see how this progresses.
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Email from Steve Buren 2-16-2014
Baseball Research for Independence
Research by:
Mark Metcalf
Independence, Kansas
620-205-xxxx
Cherilyn,
After our 3rd Saturday meeting for February at the library, a few conversations continued for a while. On my exit, the last doughnut was offered to the guy at the newspaper research film machine, and he started talking. He asked me if we were writers, and what we were trying to do. The general information was given about a variety of talents and topics, and that he was welcome to attend our monthly gatherings.
Mark started to describe his personal research on the history of baseball in Independence, which coincides with history as the possible origin of the very first organized and supported teams. We have been validated, that the first night games were set here, and many of the first famous players originated here before there were professional organizations. Mark is also the person that arranged and maintains the baseball displays in the Independence Museum.
Now for the matter of his research: Mark has been compiling over many years, all the local news clippings that covered the early years of baseball in Independence. He said that these articles began about 1840’s or 50’s, about when the city was first founded. He gave exact dates, but I failed to write it down. He has not written anything on the topic, but he would like to know if anyone in our group is interested in assembling his data into a book of baseball history.
This is a great opportunity for our group, and I will certainly give whatever input that will help, but there is very little of my background that covers this topic. When we see him next month, he might give more light to the collection of data available, and see if we can get this project started, and who is interested in the matter of contributing time for a book, articles, or short stories to get him started.
Cherilyn; would you deliver this message around the email links, to get others interested? Maybe we can find the right match to Marks needs. I think Joe would be interested, but I have no contact information for him.
Steve …
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From Cherilyn xxxxxx 2-16-2014
will do. may have to wait and let Joe talk to him, as I have no contact info for him. sounds worthwhile and fairly easy.
Cherilyn
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From Nona xxxx
I was a senior in high school before I found out the pitcher's job was NOT to hit the ball
However,
We all might get together with Mark and brainstorm a format eg chapters by dates beginning to present
or outstanding players by position, shortstop, pitcher,
or batting averages etc
emphasizing local names in history
creating a sort of outline Then Mark might work with an individual from that
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On Sunday, February 16, 2014 9:45 PM, Ray xxxxxxx wrote:
Hi, I read your e-mails and yes, I have visited with Mark and suggested that he should get some writers involved. He has the information. It would be best to get a writer with a background and knowledge in the sport, I would say. Donna
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Cherilyn xxxxxx
Pretty sure Joe is going to be our best bet.
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