Fort Wayne Baseball History Fact
It was on this day (May 4) in 1871 that the National Association played the first professional baseball league game. The Fort Wayne Kekiongas defeated the Cleveland Forrest Citys 2-0. The game was played at the Grand Duchess (AKA Hamilton Field) in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The location of the field, I believe, was where the present day Botanical Conservatory now stands.
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It has also been claimed that The Grand Duchess, aka Hamilton Park, was at the corner of W. Main Street and Camp Allen Drive (just west of the Carol Lombard Bridge), according to Bob Parker’s article, “Batter Up,” which was written in a 1957 Journal Gazette article and republished in a 1967 edition of The Old Fort News.
To add to the confusion, a plaque at Headwaters Park claims that a field known as League Park (now Headwaters) was the site of the first professional baseball game on May 4, 1871, with the Kekiongas defeating Cleveland Forest Citys, 2-0.
In essence, three places in town have claim to hosting the first professional baseball game ever. In a research paper I did about the Fort Wayne Kekiongas, I found most sources I read said the first game was at the W. Main/Camp Allen location.
Parker, Bob. “Batter Up: Fort Wayne’s Baseball Historyâ€. The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. Fort Wayne, IN. 1957. Republished in The Fort Wayne Old Fort News. Vol. XXX, No. 3: 1967. Fort Wayne, IN. p. iii, 1-4.
Parker, Steven L. “The League Park Marker†(photo). AboutFortWayne.com. 19 Jul. 2004. . Accessed 27 Feb. 2008.
Thanks for commenting Eric. Definately some confusion. The research I have down says the game was played on land donated by Allen Hamilton on the corner of Calhoun and Lewis (I beleive). Yet, I have difficulty evern doubting Bob Parker, as he was a great baseball historian in his time. I guess there will always be that debate. It’s a shame no one did more to preserve the land.
Hi Chad & Eric!
The first Kekiongas game was at Hamilton Field, where they played prior to turning professional. It was located near Lewis & Clinton.
The first pro game, involving the Kekiongas and Cleveland, was at the Camp Allen location, but it was not at the intersection of W. Main & Camp Allen Dr. It was located further South. Interesting to note, that season tickets or a “subscription” in 1871 were $5, and allowed entry for 2 people per game.
The plaque at Headwaters Park is so wrong as to be an embarrassment to the city of Fort Wayne and it’s historic connection to baseball. There is no doubt by records on file in city coffers and newspaper accounts of the time, that the first professional game was NOT played at Headwaters/League Park.
Now that so many sources have been digitized over the past few years, it is becoming easier to clear up much of the confusion over the ballparks in Fort Wayne. Makes me wonder how the Tincaps got the date wrong for their plaque at Parkview Field…