The 1958 motion picture version of the musical "Damn Yankees" was filmed at Wrigley Field Los Angeles. The Wrigley Field site today is now a community center, but a few yards to the west is a little league diamond which is called "Wrigley Little League Field."
I think I have 3 DVDs of the show, used to watch them with my Dad all the time - watching Hank Aaron definitely helped me with my swing in Little League
You forgot a BIG aspect of this and MLB alternate history. In 1941, the Browns had an agreement with LA to purchase and expand Wrigley field LA for their planned relocation in 1942 to LA. The owners vote was schedule for December 8, 1941 with a press conference at the Brown Derby already scheduled. Then Pearl Harbor...
Interesting... I did not know that! 😀 Would have been a travel nightmare, though... one team all the way on the west coast... air travel in its infancy... Probably wouldn't have been approved anyway...
@@bombasticanimal1853 evidently the deal was set to be approved and they had worked out the transportation with TWA and Union Pacific. Would've been very interesting to see the difference in modern day MLB if that had happened
@@xJakePriceand therefore no Mets. So, it'd be Yankees/Dodgers. The Giants would have probably moved to Minneapolis like they were basically going to move to in 1955.
Wrigley Field in Los Angeles was the home of "Home Run Derby", a short lived TV show whiched featured show from the late 1950s or early 1960s. I don't know what network aired it at the time, but Classic Sports Network (now ESPN Classic) showed it in the mid 1990s. [Corrected typographical error in spelling.]
Home Run Derby was a syndicated program. The host Mark Scott had a fatal heart attack at age 45 on July 13th 1960 and the producers decided to cancel the show.
The Dodgers traded Wrigley Field for land in Chavez Ravine with the City of Los Angeles, which was taken through eminent domain. I drove by Wrigley Field in 1969, shortly before it burnt down.
Still get a kick watching the videos of the original Home Run Derby at Wrigley, with Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ernie Banks, Hank Aaron Harmon Killebrew and many others. About the same as watching a Hall of Fame preview. Shows are less than half an hour long and the quality is pretty good.
It mightve worked the Dodgers played couple season while Dodger Stadium is being built and perfect for the Angels and wouldve ranked as same class as Fenway & Wrigley Field Chicago
@@thescott7539Yes. The Dodgers opted for seating capacity rather than a real ballpark. The O'Malley family knew they would build a new, real baseball stadium.
Nice history lesson. A bit before my time when I first started following baseball, had no idea the stadium once existed. I vaguely remember once reading that Wrigley had/owned real estate holdings in California (perhaps it was the Catalina Islands?) which might explain why a Midwest businessman would build a ballpark in Los Angeles California (or did he have ownership in the PCL club?). Perhaps the Cubs once had Spring Training here (before the formation of the "Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues".
Hosting an MLB team for one season. It's kind of like Sick's Seattle Stadium hosting the Pilots, except the Pilots relocated and became the Milwaukee Brewers, while the Angels remained in Los Angeles.
The only neighborhood in LA that’s worse than where the coliseum is is where Wrigley Field was. That probably had something to do with any decision to keep the Angels there.
I'd love to see a video of Washington Park III which was a Federal League Stadium in Brooklyn. It was said to be a "near duplicate" of the Wrigley Field in Chicago.
I use fact that the Angels played one season there in a trivia question. What American League team played one season at Wrigley Field? Nobody has ever got it.
growing up in LA, I've heard of this park and I believe it still exists as little league park or something, but I don't know much about it. I think I've seen signs for it near the freeway and stuff. It's a shame that its not an iconic park.
@@atlhoe564 right but when they demolished the stadium, the land turned into a community center that includes a park and little league field named wrigley little league field.
I had read that the stadium was called Chavez Ravine while both the Dodgers and Angels hosted baseball games there. It may be officially today (by Dodger Ownership) be called Dodger Stadium, but it's probably not uncommon hearing it still referred as Chavez Ravine or the Ravine by some baseball fans.
The Angels called it Chavez Ravine when they played there so as not to be constantly mentioning the dodgers but it was never officially the name of it. Chavez Ravine was the name of the Hispanic neighborhood that was removed for the stadium.
After one year at Wrigley, the Angels moved and became lowly tenants at Dodger Stadiuum. They couldn't bring themselves to call it Dodger Stadium, so they called it Chavez Ravine (the actual location).
@@tubasungod The Coluseum was inappropriate for baseball but the Dodgers chose capacity vs style. We had tix to '59 World Sreies. Gave 'em away. They were out by the clock and torch...you could barely make out the players.
So fun fact from me being a ballpark & stadium buff, this was called Wrigley field before chicago was. Wrigley Chicago wasn’t called Wrigley until 1927 while LA was called Wrigley starting in 1925.
Your programs on stadiums and ballparks are great but now PCL ballparks…awesome! It would be great if you did one on Seals Stadium in SF. I literally did my shopping there yesterday lol.
Espn classic used to air Home run derby show from the 1950's or something they hosted the challenges here and said they did so because it favored no batter handedness
With the planned but unbuilt enclosed outfield seating, it kind of looks like Tiger Stadium. The small dimensions helped some of the Angels players put up career best numbers. The most obvious case being Ken Hunt, who hit 25 HR's and drove in 84 runs, which was more than the combined production of the other 5 years of his career. But it didn't help their pitchers stats.
The 1958 motion picture version of the musical "Damn Yankees" was filmed at Wrigley Field Los Angeles.
The Wrigley Field site today is now a community center, but a few yards to the west is a little league diamond which is called "Wrigley Little League Field."
I think it was worth mentioning that this was the stadium that the old "Home Run Derby" tv show was filmed in. Loved that show! :)
Used to watch it all the time back when ESPN Morning wasn't all Stephen A
Seeing that show on ESPN or MLB Network (I can't remember which) was the first time I ever heard of Wrigley, LA.
I think I have 3 DVDs of the show, used to watch them with my Dad all the time - watching Hank Aaron definitely helped me with my swing in Little League
@@teddyroebuck6773 I think theres a few on Apple TV
They filmed "Home Run Derby" at that park.
How in the world does Ginger not mention that? It’s literally it’s only claim to fame
They used Wrigley Field LA for the Home Run Derby because it favored neither right or left handed hitters.
“Gone, over the left field wall!”
I remember that show.
Hank Aaron I believe was the big winner of it all. Eddie Mathews did pretty good too
You forgot a BIG aspect of this and MLB alternate history. In 1941, the Browns had an agreement with LA to purchase and expand Wrigley field LA for their planned relocation in 1942 to LA. The owners vote was schedule for December 8, 1941 with a press conference at the Brown Derby already scheduled. Then Pearl Harbor...
Interesting... I did not know that! 😀 Would have been a travel nightmare, though... one team all the way on the west coast... air travel in its infancy... Probably wouldn't have been approved anyway...
@@bombasticanimal1853 evidently the deal was set to be approved and they had worked out the transportation with TWA and Union Pacific. Would've been very interesting to see the difference in modern day MLB if that had happened
@@kjorlaug1Dodgers might’ve stayed in Brooklyn as a result
@@xJakePriceand therefore no Mets. So, it'd be Yankees/Dodgers. The Giants would have probably moved to Minneapolis like they were basically going to move to in 1955.
@@9999bigb Minnesota Giants would be so weird lmao
In addition to Home Run Derby, Wrigley Field LA was also the filming location of the Twilight Zone episode The Mighty Casey
Wrigley Field in Los Angeles was the home of "Home Run Derby", a short lived TV show whiched featured show from the late 1950s or early 1960s. I don't know what network aired it at the time, but Classic Sports Network (now ESPN Classic) showed it in the mid 1990s. [Corrected typographical error in spelling.]
The 1050s? Atilla the Hun defeats Genghis Khan on a swing off lol
@@aaronscarpa7469 Thanks for pointing out my errors. Spelling and other typographical mistakes have been corrected.
Home Run Derby was a syndicated program. The host Mark Scott had a fatal heart attack at age 45 on July 13th 1960 and the producers decided to cancel the show.
Wrigley Field LA wasnt the only old stadium in LA there were also Gilmore Field
Gilmore was home to the Hollywood Stars.
The Dodgers traded Wrigley Field for land in Chavez Ravine with the City of Los Angeles, which was taken through eminent domain. I drove by Wrigley Field in 1969, shortly before it burnt down.
Still get a kick watching the videos of the original Home Run Derby at Wrigley, with Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ernie Banks, Hank Aaron Harmon Killebrew and many others. About the same as watching a Hall of Fame preview. Shows are less than half an hour long and the quality is pretty good.
I think its a beautiful stadium, Wrigley. Love the Mediterranean/Art Deco hybrid architecture, it fits the area so well
You can still visit where the ballpark was, There is now a neighborhood park.
I loved the classic home run derby
"From the wonderful world of sports, we bring you Home Run derby...where each week"
My Grandpa told me about coming here to see the Angels play here that 1 season, he personally loved the stadium
It mightve worked the Dodgers played couple season while Dodger Stadium is being built and perfect for the Angels and wouldve ranked as same class as Fenway & Wrigley Field Chicago
Dodgers deemed it too small for MLB. That's why they picked the Coliseum instead.
@@thescott7539 From one extreme to the other. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@thescott7539Yes. The Dodgers opted for seating capacity rather than a real ballpark. The O'Malley family knew they would build a new, real baseball stadium.
You missed a very big part of the history of this place.
This is where the original "Home Run Derby" television show was filmed!
I actually played a game there right before it was demolished. The grass was knee-high and the ball was hard to find once it left the infield.
Nice history lesson. A bit before my time when I first started following baseball, had no idea the stadium once existed. I vaguely remember once reading that Wrigley had/owned real estate holdings in California (perhaps it was the Catalina Islands?) which might explain why a Midwest businessman would build a ballpark in Los Angeles California (or did he have ownership in the PCL club?). Perhaps the Cubs once had Spring Training here (before the formation of the "Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues".
The Angels were affiliated with the Cubs. The Cubs would spend several seasons on Catalina for spring training.
Hosting an MLB team for one season. It's kind of like Sick's Seattle Stadium hosting the Pilots, except the Pilots relocated and became the Milwaukee Brewers, while the Angels remained in Los Angeles.
And Wrigley Field didn’t suck.
The only neighborhood in LA that’s worse than where the coliseum is is where Wrigley Field was. That probably had something to do with any decision to keep the Angels there.
I'd love to see a video of Washington Park III which was a Federal League Stadium in Brooklyn. It was said to be a "near duplicate" of the Wrigley Field in Chicago.
I use fact that the Angels played one season there in a trivia question. What American League team played one season at Wrigley Field? Nobody has ever got it.
Read that Wrigley put lights in this park in 1930's, of course not coming to Chicago's until 50+ years later.
My dad's uncle lived 2 blocks away from it back in the 50s
growing up in LA, I've heard of this park and I believe it still exists as little league park or something, but I don't know much about it. I think I've seen signs for it near the freeway and stuff. It's a shame that its not an iconic park.
Demolished in 1969
@@atlhoe564 right but when they demolished the stadium, the land turned into a community center that includes a park and little league field named wrigley little league field.
@@ktcottrell Gotchu
Can you do a history over Kansas City Municipal Stadium? Both Royals and Chiefs played there before arrowhead and the K
Would the Angels have wanted to stay? I am not sure what happened in the neighborhood since 1961.
Video of most underrated stadium mlb past n now please
So... where did the Los Angeles Angels play after 1961 and before The "Big A" opened (in 1965 or 1966 I believe)?
Dodger Stadium
@@brianmoore6724 No no! Chavez Ravine!😄
I had read that the stadium was called Chavez Ravine while both the Dodgers and Angels hosted baseball games there. It may be officially today (by Dodger Ownership) be called Dodger Stadium, but it's probably not uncommon hearing it still referred as Chavez Ravine or the Ravine by some baseball fans.
The Angels called it Chavez Ravine when they played there so as not to be constantly mentioning the dodgers but it was never officially the name of it. Chavez Ravine was the name of the Hispanic neighborhood that was removed for the stadium.
After one year at Wrigley, the Angels moved and became lowly tenants at Dodger Stadiuum. They couldn't bring themselves to call it Dodger Stadium, so they called it Chavez Ravine (the actual location).
The OAKLAND Coliseum is a dump. The LA Coliseum is not.
The narrator ripped on LA Wrigley Field for the 345 power alleys, but the Coliseum's LF alley was 320
@@danieljackett4193 That doesn't make it a dump, just inappropriate for baseball despite the Dodgers winning a World Series there.
@@tubasungod The Coluseum was inappropriate for baseball but the Dodgers chose capacity vs style. We had tix to '59 World Sreies. Gave 'em away. They were out by the clock and torch...you could barely make out the players.
@@billlong8385 What are you trying to prove with this strange response? 🤷♂️
THE DODGERS AND GIANTS SHOULD HAVE BECOME THE ANGELS AND SEALS.
It went from 22,000 to 20,457
So fun fact from me being a ballpark & stadium buff, this was called Wrigley field before chicago was. Wrigley Chicago wasn’t called Wrigley until 1927 while LA was called Wrigley starting in 1925.
I love the look of it! I'm a sucker for vintage stadiums.
I love that tower and the whole jewel box vibe.
It has a Shibe Park feel
Went to my first professional baseball game at old Wrigley. PCL LA Angels vs SF Seals.
Your programs on stadiums and ballparks are great but now PCL ballparks…awesome! It would be great if you did one on Seals Stadium in SF. I literally did my shopping there yesterday lol.
Espn classic used to air Home run derby show from the 1950's or something
they hosted the challenges here and said they did so because it favored no batter handedness
I wonder if the reason the sides were open like that was possibly to allow airflow, and generate a breeze through the grandstand? Just a thought.
You are correct.
I use this as a triva question that nobody ever got. "What American league team played an entire season at Wrigley Field"?
With the planned but unbuilt enclosed outfield seating, it kind of looks like Tiger Stadium. The small dimensions helped some of the Angels players put up career best numbers. The most obvious case being Ken Hunt, who hit 25 HR's and drove in 84 runs, which was more than the combined production of the other 5 years of his career. But it didn't help their pitchers stats.
Wrigley set a record in 1961 for the most home runs hit at a major league ball park.
It was also used for a 1950"s version on Home Run Derby and a movie call Kid from Left Field
Classic Clock Tower!!!
You forgot Homerun Derby TV show late 50’s
I saw those years ago, I think on "The Ed Randall Show'.
The site of the first night MLB game at Wrigley Field in 1961. Roger Maris hit 2 HR’s at Wrigley Field during his record breaking season
I was just trying to read up on this one the other day. Im a Cubs fan so it piqued my interest. Too bad they couldn’t save it
The TV show home run derby was filmed there