Parkhurst Field America’s Original Field of Dreams

From Legends To Little League®

PARKHURST FIELD FOUNDATION

In the early 20th Century, clubs travelled between cities exclusively by railroad. Teams would ‘barnstorm’ or play in local towns and cities en route to their destination as a means for team owners to cover travel expenses. Players would barnstorm after the season to supplement their salaries and Negro League Teams would play local teamsPARKHURST to earn a living, as black players would not be allowed to play in the Major Leagues for almost another five decades.

The F.,J.&G. Railroad, in Gloversville, NY.,FIELD saw this trend as an opportunity to build a destination to sell, not only tickets to the Park, but also seats on their trains to get to the Park. A.J.&G Park was built on the leased Judson land, adjacent to theFOUNDATION railroad tracks and opened on July 12, 1906. It would be renamed Parkhurst Field in 1918, when the E.S. Parkhurst Co. purchased the land and ballpark for their business, employees and the community.

As we know during these times, there were social laws to stop people of different backgrounds from integrating in society. But on Parkhurst Field and in their community, people only cared about ability and skill, not the color of your skin, your gender or your religion… Only if you could play baseball. Male teams played against female teams on Parkhurst (Bloomer Girls – 1914), black teams played against all-white teams (Brooklyn Royal Giants, Cuban Giants - 1913), a Jewish team (House of David – 1931) and an Oriental team (University of Hawaii – 1912) as well as MLB teams ( Americans, Nationals, ) and future Hall of Fame players all played on these grounds. This Park is the only remaining park in America still operational where Moonlight ‘Doc’ Graham of the movie fame: Field of Dreams played as he pursued his dream of making it back to MLB and another chance for that elusive at-bat.

For over a century, the young and the old, the pro, the amateur and the novice have played and competed on equal footing on Parkhurst Field. This has special significance to this area and to the reason we are re-developing the Park as a destination. The new Parkhurst Field at A.J.&G. Park will give children from across America not only an opportunity to play baseball on historic grounds, but to learn about baseball’s and America’s past.

Learn the history of Parkhurst Field, one of the oldest and most historic baseball fields in America, and the area that has supported it for over 100 years. Please join us and support our Capital Campaign to rebuild the Park to its original glory, create a destination and economic diamond for Upstate New York and an opportunity to tell our story to all of America.

David S. Karpinski Executive Director Parkhurst Field Foundation History of Parkhurst Field

A.,J.&G. Park - Opening Day – July, 12, 1906 Parkhurst Field opened on July 12, 1906 as the A.,J.&G Baseball Park and home of the professional New York State League’s JAGs (Johnstown-Amsterdam-Gloversville), a minor league affiliate of the Brooklyn Superbas. The Park was owned by the F.J.&G. Railroad and would become a popular stop on railroad line (now the Rail Trail) located just beyond the left field wall of the grounds. ‘JAG’ Park was designed by F.L. Comstock and built by E.A. Satterlee for $3,088 on six acres of land leased from C.W. Judson on Harrison Street, midway between Gloversville and Johnstown, NY. Sam Lucas, a Gloversville native, built the actual baseball diamond and later was asked to take charge of the NY Giant’s Polo Grounds 1907 JAG’s Team and built the grounds at in Pittsburgh in 1909.

‘JAG’ Park once featured a grandstand which accommodated 1500 spectators and its location was convenient for MLB players and many of the world’s premier teams to play barnstorming exhibition games….

The Boston (Red Sox) Americans played a game here en route to Detroit on July 5, 1907 with their player/, Hall of Fame .

Boston was en route to Detroit, for a game the next day, after playing a double header on July 4th in Boston against the Washington Senators. Boston American’s opening day starter that season was 40 year old, future HOF, Cy Young. He was with the team, as he July 6, 1907 HOF Cy Young started the season as player/manager. On July 24, 1907, Hall of Fame great and the Pittsburgh (Pirates) Nationals played on these grounds.

Pittsburgh was en route to Philadelphia, for a game the next day, after playing a game in Boston the day before. Fourteen members of the team, including other future HOF players and and HOF owner made the trip to Gloversville and were taken by Manager Earl and Secretary Ball to the Kingsborough Hotel (South Main Street) for dinner after the game. They were impressed with the Gloversville HOF Honus Wagner ballpark per the newpaper recap the next day, “To put it in the language of one of the players, they were ‘just stuck on the little park’.”

Joe Birmingham, a player on the JAG’s 1906 team, went on to play for the Cleveland (Indians) Naps and eventually managed “Shoeless” Joe Jackson as part of that team.

Pittsburg vs. JAGs Box Score

Countless minor league players, including “Moonlight” Graham, the ballplayer/doctor immor- talized in the film Field of Dreams, played here as part of the Scranton Miners in 1906 and 1907 while pursuing their life-long dream of making it to the Major Leagues.

July 17, 1907

Burt Lancaster - Field of Dreams “Moonlight” Doc Graham - July 16, 1907 Box Score The Park became home to the Danforth Baseball Association semi-pro team over the next decade and continued to host exhibition games featuring premier teams, including the Cuban Giants, Brooklyn Royal Giants and May 31, 1913 Ad - The Morning Herald Philadelphia Colored Giants (Negro League Teams) and the all woman’s team, the New York Bloomer Girls and more. On October 18, 1913, one week after winning the as a starting pitcher with the Philadelphia Athletics, Hall of Fame pitcher played on this field. In 1918, the F.J.&G railroad company gave up their lease on the property, and the Parkhurst family purchased the baseball grounds. On August 14, 1923, when local baseball legend George Burns (N.Y. Giants, Philadelphia Athletics and Cincin- nati Reds) came to town with the Reds to play a game against the local Elks team, he brought future Hall of Fame great with him.

The Cuban Giants

August 14, 1923 Ad

October 13, 1913 Ad

HOF Edd Roush George Burns - 1923 For the next thirty years, Parkhurst Field continued to host significant games until the Parkhurst family graciously allowed the newly-formed Gloversville Little League to begin playing on these grounds in 1955. After exhaustive research, we can also now definitively state that Parkhurst Field is one of the most historic baseball grounds in America. • It is older than and Wrigley Field. Cy Young’s playing career pre-dates Fenway Park, yet he played on our grounds. • Other than Wrigley and possibly , in Birmingham, Parkhurst Field is one of the few remaining grounds in existence on which Honus Wagner played. • We believe it is the only field left in America that the immortalized “Moonlight” Doc Graham played on….

HOF “Chief” Bender making Parkhurst Field the original Field of Dreams.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF PARKHURST AS A DESTINATION FOR TOURNAMENTS

Fulton County, NY and Gloversville specifically has The Foundation has entered into an agreement a newfound economic development diamond in Parkhurst with Gloversville Little League for exclusive use of Parkhurst Field. The Parkhurst Field Foundation has launched plans to Field between July 10th and Labor Day each year. develop Parkhurst Field into a destination for Little League and travel teams from around the country. We envision 15-20 teams per week playing here during the non-Little League season, bringing over 300 fam- We partnered with Darrin Romeyn and DM Romeyn ilies and hundreds of thousands of dollars to this region per Civil Engineering Design, of Gloversville, to design Parkhurst tournament. Field as a destination. It was subsequently 3D rendered by Nicole Battisti as a short video which can be seen on our Based on the conservative estimate of $1.8M Facebook page and website. Stan Kucel of Kucel Contrac- direct spending in the region, the Parkhurst Field project tors Inc., Gloversville, has worked with developers and sub- would support over 32 jobs in the area once opened. In contractors to quote the work needed to rebuild Parkhurst addition, the construction of Parkhurst Field would support Field as a destination. They donated their time and vision approximately 20 construction jobs, based on most national to the project because of the positive economic impact it construction reports. could have for the city and region.

The development plan would create five regulation fields capable of hosting standard Little League teams or “I am proud to represent the area in which 50/70 tournament teams from around the country, a light- the historic Parkhurst Field is located. By ed premier field on the original 1906 home plate location of building on the amazing history of this A.,J.&G. Park, a scaled version of the original grandstands, genuine Field of Dreams in Gloversville, we new batting cages, concession stand and amenities on the can recall a time and place in our history nine acre park. It would create the look and feel of a 100 here in Gloversville where Parkhurst Field year old ballpark, including a planned vintage train past the left field wall, a nod to the origins of the field and the hosted traveling teams, young men and F.,J.&G Railroad which built it. women from our local communities and even future Hall of Famers. As a tourist The plan first maintains Parkhurst as the home of destination, Parkhurst Field will be an Gloversville Little League with baseball and softball fields integral part of our efforts to reinvigorate for all ages. But travel baseball is big business in the United States. Teams travel to destinations; pay to play tourna- our economic development efforts and our ments on non-descript fields and parks; spend thousands sense of community pride.” on food, lodging and souvenirs while in the region. Given Parkhurst Field’s rich history and proximity to Cooperstown, NYS Assemblyman Marc Butler we believe teams would love to play tournaments in town and on the same grounds so many greats like Honus Wagner, Cy Young and Moonlight Doc Graham played on. “Based on the conservative estimate of “It is incredible that you are restoring this $1.8M direct spending in the region, because this is baseball history personified. the Parkhurst Field project would This is a tourist stop par excellence; one of support in the area once opened. In the oldest and most historic fields in the over 32 jobs addition, the construction of Parkhurst nation. Everyone has to come and see this.” Field would support approximately 20 NYS Senator Hugh Farley construction jobs”

THE CONSTRUCTION AND LAYOUT OF PARKHURST

Entrance to Parkhurst Field at A.,J. & G. Park

Phase One

Clearing and Building of Three New Fields The initial phase of rebuilding Parkhurst will only affect the existing Senior Field and the 70,000 square feet of wooded land adjacent to Industrial Parkway. Three regulation 200’ fields would be built in the existing space, with dugouts (and optional lights). All work would be done without affect- ing the existing Gloversville Little League activities in their concession stand or on their Intermediate, Minor, Major & Softball fields. Budget: $500,000 Three New Regulation 200’ Fields

Softball & T-Ball Fields Grandstands and Original Home Plate Location Phase Two

Construction of New Grandstands, the Premier Field and Concession Stand The largest construction on Parkhurst Field involves the front of the facility facing Harrison Street and the space where the original A.,J.&G. grandstands and ballpark was located. A new Grandstand will be constructed there, as well as a Con- cession Stand, Restrooms, a Museum and Gift Shop. The new Home Plate location will be on the original spot where all the baseball greats once played. Infrastructure needs will be addressed during Phase II, includ- ing new water and sewer lines and electrical service. Budget: Grandstand: $500,000 Replica 1906 Grandstand Dugouts: $44,000 Concession Stand: $100,000 Restroom Pavilion: $75,000 Field Construction: $150,000

Premier Regulation Field Dugout Premier Regulation Field

Pavillion and Bathroom Building William Kratky Concession Stand Phase Three

Harrison Street Entrance Construction of Four Batting Cages, Parking Lots and Landscaping Four batting cages with screens and fencing will be construct- ed. Additionally, parking lots will be created off Industrial Parkway. Signage, commemorative brick walkways, a vintage train and landscaping will be added to complete the new park. Budget: $200,000 Batting Cage Pavillion

Vintage Train Industrial Parkway Parking Lot

Museum under Grandstands Museum under Grandstands ABOUT THE PARKHURST FIELD FOUNDATION – The Parkhurst Field Foundation, a 509(a)2 non-profit foundation, was formed to promote and preserve Parkhurst Field in Gloversville, NY, recognized as the ‘Original Field of Dreams’ and the oldest baseball grounds used by any Little League® in America. Our mission is to chronicle its rich history, promote its historic significance through media and events, attain grants and donations to fund its re-development as a baseball destination and ongoing economic revitalization diamond for the region. Our success will ensure its sustainability and create a role model for other communi- ties looking to preserve their athletic parks.

PARHURST FIELD FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE BOARD – David Karpinski – Executive Director & Founder of Parkhurst Field Foundation. VP of Sales & Marketing, Taylor Made Products. President, Sacandaga Group, Inc. Mike Hauser – Vice President. National Sales Manager, Taylor Made Products. Founder, Fulton County Baseball & Sports Hall of Fame Pam Lott – Treasurer, Taylor Made Products.

PARHURST FIELD FOUNDATION CAMPAIGN BOARD – Joey Caruso – Campaign Chair, President of Caruso Broadcasting Inc. of Saratoga Priscilla Parkhurst – Ferguson, Honorary Chair, Professor, Department of Sociology, Columbia University & Great Grandaughter of E.S. Parkhurst, Owner of Parkhurst Field 1918-1991 Ann Malagisi – Campaign Coordinator, Executive Director of Family Leadership Giving, Skidmore College Andrea McMaster – Grant Coordinator, Owner of Four Corners Energy, LLC Scott Hohenforst , President, Empire Chemical Sales, Inc. Tim Mattice, Executive Director, Gloversville Housing & Neighborhood Improvement Corporation

PARHURST FIELD FOUNDATION ADVISORY BOARD – Robert Manazier, CEO, In Focus Brands & President, IFP Films Debbie Buck, Retired, Former Assistant Vice President & Trust Officer, NBT Financial Group Darrin Romeyn, Owner, DM Romeyn Civil Engineering Design John Lomanto, Self-Employed, Culinary Institute of America Nicole Battisti, Technology Education, Mohonasen School District Stan Kucel, Owner, Kucel Contractors, Inc. Betsy Emery, Owner, Emery Designs. RJ Strauser, President, Gloversville Little League

PARKHURST FIELD FOUNDATION PO Box 706 PARKHURST Gloversville, NY 12078 FIELD Main - (518) 772-JAGS (5247) www.parkhurstfield.org FOUNDATION Find us on FaceBook - “ParkhurstField”

Field of Dreams is a trademark and copyright of Universal Studios. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing LLC. All Rights Reserved. Such permitted use is not an endorsement by Universal Studios. PARKHURST FIELD FOUNDATION