Capitol Grounds

Baseball field in Washington, D.C.

Capitol Grounds

Location| Washington, D.C.
Capacity| 6,000
Surface| Grass
Opened| 1884
Tenants
Washington Nationals (UA) (1884)

The Capitol Grounds a.k.a. Capitol Park (I), was a baseball field in Washington, D.C. The grounds were the home field for the Washington Nationals of the Union Association during the league's only season in 1884.[1] The ballpark had a seating capacity of 6,000, and was where the Russell Senate Office Building stands today.[2]

Most modern sources say that the ball field was bounded by C Street NE (north); Delaware Avenue NE (west): B Street (now Constitution Avenue) NE (south); and First Street NE (east); just northeast of the Capitol building.

Contemporary newspaper advertisements (see below) give the location as "New Jersey Avenue and C Street", which would put the small ballpark slightly northwest of the Capitol rather than northeast. Local papers also give the location as "adjoining the Baltimore and Ohio depot",[Washington National Republican, April 2, 1884, p.5] which old maps place on the block bounded by North Capitol, New Jersey Avenue NW, C Street NW and D Street NW (see external link).

The ball club was able to finish its season despite a mediocre record, but the Union Association folded after the season ended.[1] The club joined the minor Eastern League for the 1885 season. The club regrouped as a new entry to the National League in 1886, and moved a few blocks north to the larger Capitol Park (II).

1884 ball game ad

## External links

[edit]

* 1888 Sanborn map showing the nearby Baltimore and Ohio Railroad depot

## References

[edit]

* Smith, Curt. 2003. Storied Stadiums. Carroll & Graf Publishers. ISBN 0-7867-1187-6.

1. ^ "Capitol Grounds in Washington, DC". Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
2. ^
* "Washington Played Here". Washington Post. 2008-03-28. pp. H07. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
* Smith, p. 40

38°53′34″N 77°00′25″W﻿ / ﻿38.89278°N 77.00694°W﻿ / 38.89278; -77.00694

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Union Association

Teams|

* Altoona Mountain Citys
* Baltimore Monumentals
* Boston Reds
* Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies
* Cincinnati Outlaw Reds
* Kansas City Cowboys
* Milwaukee Brewers
* Philadelphia Keystones
* St. Louis Maroons
* St. Paul Saints
* Washington Nationals
* Wilmington Quicksteps

Stadiums|

* Athletic Park
* Bank Street Grounds
* Belair Lot
* Capitol Grounds
* Columbia Park
* Dartmouth Grounds
* Exposition Park
* Keystone Park
* South Side Park
* Union Grounds
* Union Street Park
* West Seventh Street Park
* Wright Street Grounds

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