History of J.P. Small Memorial Park
Originally known as Barrs Field, Durkee Field was bought by the city for $348,000 in 1932. The baseball stadium was built in 1936-1937. Durkee Field was home to the Negro League and minor league baseball teams. Henry Aaron, Leroy “Satchel” Paige, Roy Campanella, James “Cool Papa” Bell and William “Judy” Johnson passed through on their way to baseball’s “Hall of Fame”. The name of the park changed from Durkee Field to J. P. Small Memorial Park Stadium in July 1980. James P. Small coached and taught at Stanton High School for 33 years, then coached at Raines High School for one year before retiring. He died in 1975. In 1982, the stadium was slated for demolition; however, a case was made for its renovation. The project was completed in 1985. Renovations included structural repairs, a new roof, press box and dugouts, paving the parking lot, a new playscape and lighted fields. Further renovation in 2006 included a small museum.
http://apps2.coj.net/parksinternet/parkdetails.asp?parkid=215
Did you know?
New York Giants
New York Yankees
Cincinnati Reds
Brooklyn Dodgers
Philadelphia Athletics
Birmingham Black Barons
Kansas City Monarchs
Indianapolis Clowns
Hank Aaron
Babe Ruth
Satchel Paige
Ty Cobb
all played on this field...
Photos by Ennis Davis
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copperfiend
April 01, 2009, 08:04:22 AMWhat percentage of Jacksonville residents would you say even know the ballfield and it's history?
riverside_mail
April 01, 2009, 08:05:20 AMNice bit of history. Is the stadium used for anything in particular now?
fsujax
April 01, 2009, 08:13:57 AMYes, I have seen Stanton's baseball team practice there.
cracklow
April 01, 2009, 11:40:32 AMStanton baseball plays games there as well, I've seen my brother in law and cousin both play there.
Doctor_K
April 01, 2009, 02:26:49 PMCopperfiend--
Probably something like < 2%, sadly.
Thanks for the photo tour, Ennis - great stuff as always.
thelakelander
April 01, 2009, 03:08:15 PMThis place is a real treasure to have in this city. Quite frankly, I'm suprised its still standing.
9a is my backyard
April 01, 2009, 05:42:18 PMThis city can be so frustrating.
thelakelander
April 01, 2009, 06:00:24 PMYes, I think the T-Rex is still there.
DONTBELIEVETHEHYPE
April 01, 2009, 08:32:31 PMThe ballpark and a brief narrative of the history of Negro League Baseball was outlined in a small, obscure section of the Jacksonville Suns program a few years ago. After reading it, I drove to the site, walked around, and took the place in. If you are a baseball fan, it's worth a trip to see the ballpark. As a fan of both history and baseball, and baseball history, I think it's a special place, and I am glad to see that it is in reasonably good condition.
I'm not sure, but I think Edward Waters College's baseball team plays their home games at this ballpark.
9a is my backyard
April 01, 2009, 11:42:41 PMdeathstar
April 02, 2009, 02:05:48 AMI just got a little smarter reading about this field, and seeing the pictures. I'm speechless at the talent who has played on that field, and I hope to go there, close my eyes, and imagine what it must of been like. Thanks for the education lesson in Baseball history here!
Coolyfett
April 05, 2009, 08:16:19 PMThe 5 % that lives in Durkeeville and maybe Ock.
I got like 3 Redcaps tshirts and had a Cooperstown Throwback jersey with the # 38, the year the Redcaps played in Jax.
Do they still play games at this park?
stjr
April 05, 2009, 09:34:15 PMJacksonville has an outstanding history of accomplishments by our Black community that have made marks on the entire nation. Not only in baseball, football (Bob Hayes and many others), basketball (Artis Gilmore and others), but also in the arts and culture, politics, etc. We could have as a stand-alone attraction, a Black history museum, and it would be a national treasure. Although, my preference would be to have it incorporated as a substantial part of a Jacksonville HISTORY museum that highlights all our community accomplishments! Such a project would be supported by the entire community and would be a gem for us all. What are we waiting for?
stjr
April 05, 2009, 11:07:33 PMI just read the recent MJ article on the La Villa Museum of African American History in N.E. Florida. Wow. Looks great. I am a native and consider myself well informed of Jax goings-on, and I don't recall ever hearing about this place. My ignorance in making the previous post is proof positive they need to do more to promote it.
I didn't see a mention of the Negro leagues in the La Villa Museum article. Is this featured as well? Do they attempt to cover all of Jax African American history, or just pieces of it? Do they have a research and archives department?
Just think if we had one unified Jax History museum, the spotlight that we could shine on all of our community's history would be magnified many fold and the collaborative curating and research that could be done to weave a total Jax historical experience. These mostly unknown-to-the-greater-community museums are never going to pull in the crowds or have the abilities that a centralized facility would with enhanced resources and a more varied audience.
thelakelander
April 05, 2009, 11:21:34 PMMost of the museum's focus revolves around the LaVilla area. The largest local Negro leagues exhibit is located in a well hidden space inside the old ballpark. Jacksonville definitely gets an F for marketing its significant history.