Old Comiskey Park

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Lore & Background

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). 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 April 22, 1923, a bomb exploded at Comiskey Park, suspected to be from labor unions protesting management’s use of open-shop painters during a period of intense industrial unrest. The first game at the new park occurred on July 1, 1910—a 2–0 loss to the St. Louis Browns. Just over a year later, Ed Walsh hurled the venue’s first no-hitter, a 5–0 win over Boston on August 27, 1911. The Sox played their first home night game there on August 14, 1939, defeating St. Louis 5–2. In 1973, a record crowd of 55,555 attended a doubleheader against the Minnesota Twins on May 20 for “Bat Day,” while just two years earlier, only 511 fans showed up for a game against Boston on May 6, 1971.

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. In 1919, the White Sox lost the '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. 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. 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 park hosted three Major League Baseball All-Star Games: 1933, 1950, and 1983. The Chicago Cardinals of the National Football League also called Comiskey Park home when they were not playing at Normal Park, Soldier Field, or Wrigley Field. They won the 1947 NFL Championship Game over the Philadelphia Eagles at Comiskey Park. The Chicago American Giants of the Negro American League called Comiskey Park home from 1941 to 1950. The park was also home to the Chicago Mustangs and Chicago Sting of the NASL, and hosted the final edition of the original Soccer Bowl.

Did You Know?

• Comiskey Park hosted four World Series: 1917, 1918, 1919, and 1959.
• The first game at Comiskey Park was a 2–0 loss to the St. Louis Browns on July 1, 1910.
• The Chicago Cardinals won the 1947 NFL Championship at Comiskey Park.
• Comiskey Park was the site of the first MLB All-Star Game in 1933.

Architectural Origins and Design Philosophy

Built on a city dump Charles Comiskey bought in 1909, Comiskey Park replaced the wooden South Side Park. Designed by Zachary Taylor Davis, it opened July 1, 1910, as the third concrete-and-steel stadium built since 1909, seating nearly 32,000 fans and earning the nickname “The Baseball Palace of the World.” Its dimensions—362 feet to the foul poles and 420 feet to center field—were shaped by pitcher Ed Walsh to favor defense. No player ever hit 100 home runs there; Carlton Fisk set the record with 94. Light towers were installed in 1939, enabling night games like the Sox’s first home night game on August 14, 1939, a 5–2 win over St. Louis. Between 1926 and 1927, single-deck pavilions were replaced with double-decked stands surrounding most of the field.

Historical Turmoil and Notable Incidents

On April 22, 1923, a bomb exploded at Comiskey Park, suspected to be from labor unions protesting management’s hiring of open-shop painters amid industrial unrest. The first game on July 1, 1910, ended in a 2–0 loss to the St. Louis Browns. Ed Walsh threw the park’s first no-hitter on August 27, 1911, beating Boston 5–0. Beyond baseball, the stadium hosted Joe Louis’s famous knockout of James J. Braddock, launching his 11-year reign as heavyweight champion. The Chicago Cardinals won their 1947 NFL Championship here over the Philadelphia Eagles before leaving for St. Louis in March 1960 after their final season at Comiskey in 1958.

Legendary Sporting Events and Championships

Comiskey Park hosted four World Series: in 1917, the White Sox beat the New York Giants; in 1918, the Cubs borrowed the park to host the Boston Red Sox (who won); in 1919, the “Black Sox” lost to Cincinnati; and in 1959, they fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers—the first West Coast team to win a title. Three All-Star Games were held here: 1933, where Babe Ruth hit a home run leading American League dominance; 1950, remembered for Ted Williams breaking his elbow on the outfield wall; and 1983, featuring Fred Lynn’s historic grand slam. The Negro leagues’ East-West All-Star Game was hosted here more frequently than any other venue from 1933 to 1960.

Diverse Tenants and Final Demolition

Beyond the White Sox, Comiskey Park housed the Chicago Cardinals (NFL), who won their 1947 title here before moving to St. Louis in March 1960. The Chicago American Giants of the Negro American League played there from 1941 to 1950. It also hosted NASL teams—the Chicago Mustangs and Chicago Sting—and the final original Soccer Bowl. Demolished in 1991, the park was replaced by a new stadium just to the south, initially named Comiskey Park, later renamed U.S. Cellular Field and then Rate Field.