Comiskey Park

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Lore & Background

White Sox Park was built on a former city dump that Charles Comiskey bought in 1909 to replace the wooden South Side Park. Within three years, it was renamed Comiskey Park. The original name was restored in 1962, then it changed back to Comiskey Park in 1976. On April 22, 1923, the park was subject to a bombing, suspected to be labor unions in response to it being painted by non-union, open shop, painters. During a time of unrest due to an employer movement to weaken labor unions. Comiskey Park was very modern for its time. It was the third concrete-and-steel stadium in the major leagues to be built since 1909. As originally built, it seated almost 32,000, a record at the time. Briefly, it retained the nickname 'The Baseball Palace of the World'. Light towers were added in 1939. The park's design was strongly influenced by Sox pitcher Ed Walsh and was known for its pitcher-friendly proportions (362 feet to the foul poles; 420 ft to center field). Later changes were made, but the park remained more or less favorable to defensive teams. For many years this reflected on the White Sox style of play: solid defense, and short, quick hits. The park was unusual in that no player hit 100 home runs there: Carlton Fisk set the record with 94. The first game in Comiskey Park was a 2–0 loss to the St. Louis Browns on July 1, 1910. The first no-hitter at Comiskey Park was in 1911, hurled by Ed Walsh on August 27, a 5–0 win over Boston. The Sox won their first home night game, over St. Louis on August 14, 1939, 5–2. The ballpark was significantly expanded during the 1926–1927 off-season. The single-deck pavilions and the outfield bleachers were replaced by a double-decked stand which surrounded almost the entire field except for a new, small bleacher section in straightaway centerfield.

In Their Own Story

On that decisive November day in 1947, Comiskey Park echoed with the roar of fans witnessing the Chicago Cardinals claim the NFL Championship. They defeated the Philadelphia Eagles on a field that usually hosted baseball's White Sox. This victory stood as the pinnacle for the Cardinals during their time at the venue. Although they were overshadowed by the Bears in local popularity, this championship run cemented Comiskey's place in their history. The atmosphere was charged with the tension of a title game played in a stadium designed primarily for 6,000 baseball games and four World Series. After the 1958 season concluded, the connection ended; the team left for St. Louis in March 1960, leaving Comiskey to focus solely on its baseball tenants until its demolition in 1991.

Reader's Guide

Comiskey Park was the site of four World Series contests. In 1917, the Chicago White Sox won Games 1, 2 and 5 at Comiskey Park and went on to defeat the New York Giants four games to two. In 1918, Comiskey Park hosted the World Series between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox. The Cubs borrowed Comiskey Park for the series because of its larger seating capacity. The Red Sox defeated the Cubs four games to two. Games 1–3 were played at Comiskey Park. The Red Sox won games one and three. Attendance was under capacity in that war year. The best crowd was Game 3, with some 27,000 patrons. In 1919, the White Sox lost the infamous 'Black Sox' World Series to the Cincinnati Reds, five games to three in a nine-game series. Games three, four, five and eight were played at Comiskey Park. The White Sox won game three and lost games four, five and eight. In 1959, the White Sox lost four games to two to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Games one, two and six were played at Comiskey Park. The White Sox won game one and lost games two and six. With their win in Game 6 at Comiskey Park, the Los Angeles Dodgers became the first West Coast team to win a World Series. Comiskey saw its last post-season action in 1983, when the White Sox lost the American League Championship Series to the Baltimore Orioles 3–1. The White Sox lost both of their home games (Games 3 and 4). Baltimore went on to win the World Series. Comiskey Park was the site of three Major League Baseball All-Star Games: 1933, 1950, and 1983. Comiskey Park was the most frequent home to the Negro leagues East-West All-Star Game from 1933 to 1960.

Did You Know?

• The Chicago Cardinals won the 1947 NFL Championship Game over the Philadelphia Eagles at Comiskey Park.
• Comiskey Park hosted the final edition of the original Soccer Bowl.
• The park was the third concrete-and-steel stadium in the major leagues to be built since 1909.
• No player hit 100 home runs at Comiskey Park; Carlton Fisk set the record with 94.