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Once called Durkee Field, this ballpark served as the home of the Negro League's Jacksonville Red Caps. The Red Caps joined the Negro American League in 1938 and played in this ballpark before relocating to Cleveland. Baseball legends who played here over the years include Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Henry Aaron.
Baseball's beginnings here trace back to 1911. This was the year when Dr. Jay Durkee donated the site to Jacksonville Baseball Association Presidents, Amander Barrs, who converted it into a recreational field.
Some of the first teams to play here include the Jacksonville Tars and the Jacksonville Athletics, a team on which James Weldon Johnson played.
During this era, major league teams such as the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers also played a few games here. In 1936, after the original stadium was destroyed by a fire, the current structure was constructed. It was built much larger than the original to partially help separate the races during the era of segregation.
The main entrance into the historic brick and steel grandstand.
Within the last few years, the City of Jacksonville has created a pocket park at the ballpark's main gate facing Myrtle Avenue.
For those wanting to see a piece of history in person, this facility is located on the corner of 8th Street and Myrtle Avenue in Durkeeville, just west of Interstate 95 and Shands Jacksonville.
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soxfan
August 31, 2007, 07:16:02 AMI've played and watched a few games on this field. It really is a nice field and totally underused. It is a great place to watch a game, really has the old time feel to it. I'm glad you guys did a story about it. Maybe if we can get other teams together for the throwback games we do in Springfield, we could play there too. I know that they do have fast pitch leagues that currently play there.
downtownparks
August 31, 2007, 08:39:39 AMJimmy, I already looked into it. They want a million dollars of insurance to play there, and they wont allow "practice games".
thelakelander
August 31, 2007, 08:42:50 AMWho is they and why a million dollars of insurance?
downtownparks
August 31, 2007, 09:01:49 AMThe City, who owns the park, and liability of injury. Apparently they are requiring this in all city leagues and sanctioned games now, at least thats what the coordinator told me when I tried to set up the July 4th throwback game at Durkee Field.
Dapperdan
August 31, 2007, 09:30:52 AMA million of liability isn't that much. I have some for my side job business. Its about 800-1000 per year, if you shop around. Maybe everyone on the team could split it?
downtownparks
August 31, 2007, 09:47:58 AMBe that as it may, when you don't have any income, its hard to get a grand together. :-)
Lunican
August 31, 2007, 11:51:03 AMIsn't Klutho Park city land? Whats the difference?
downtownparks
August 31, 2007, 12:00:39 PMWhat they don't know doesn't hurt them? I didn't want to go down that road or reasoning with them for fear they would pull the carpet out from underneath us.
soxfan
September 01, 2007, 06:43:55 PMGood thinking Danny!!! But don't you think that sooner or later it will happen? Although this is Jacksonville we're talking about.. Oh, wait, does that mean that I could've sued the city for breaking my hand playing baseball on their property? Maybe I need to talk to Eddie Farrah and his little brother..
downtownparks
September 01, 2007, 08:37:59 PMIn short... yeah, thats what they are afraid of. The baseball field coordinator told me they get hit with lawsuits all the time for accidents that have nothing to do with the quality of the field.
Interesting to note, they don't require insurance for practices, but they don't allow practices at Durkee field.
big ben
September 06, 2007, 02:42:01 AMi think i kinda liked it at klutho park more than i would here. you could spread out more, the dogs could come and mill about, the kids could play on whatever it was they were playing on, shantytown could sell beer from a tent.
then again, it'd be more old-timey if it were at durkee field. i think if it would draw a bigger crowd it could work better. i still think springfield needs to play riverside/avondale and san marco in old-timey baseball. maybe set up a couple of games throughout the day and advertise it as a whole day of baseball. i think you could draw some bigger crowds.
Coolyfett
January 24, 2008, 12:44:27 AMI keep reading that teams dont practice here. I see Stanton's team practicing at that park all the time.....really.
fsujax
January 24, 2008, 09:01:27 AMyou're right Stanton's baseball team does practice there. I see them in the afternoons driving home from work.
downtownparks
January 24, 2008, 09:33:15 AMYup. My Daughter goes to school at Susie Tolbert just down the street from Stanton, and I about ran into a telephone pole when I saw them using the field too. So much for the "no practices" deal I guess.
Coolyfett
January 24, 2008, 10:40:28 AMMaybe someone should do a follow up on the situation. Stanton HS has been using that field since 2005. I'm in that area a lot so I see the players and coaches out there all the time.