Messer Street Grounds

Messer Street Grounds

Messer Street Grounds, spring 1879. This photo shows the 1878 National League Champion Boston Red Caps on the left and the Providence Grays on the right, who were the National league champions in 1879. The Messer Street School can be seen in the upper right background.
Location	Providence, Rhode Island
Coordinates	41°48′47″N 71°26′13″W / 41.813179°N 71.437064°W / 41.813179; -71.437064
Owner	Providence Base Ball Association
Capacity	6,000
Field size	Left Field – 281 ft (86 m) Left-Center – 356 ft (109 m) Center Field – 318 ft (97 m) Right-Center – 356 ft (109 m) Right Field – 431 ft (131 m) Fences – 12 ft (3.7 m)
Surface	Grass
Construction
Opened	May 1, 1878
Closed	September 1886
Demolished	1887
Tenants
Providence Grays (National League, 1878 - 1885) Providence Grays (International League/Eastern League, 1886)

Messer Street Grounds (also known as Messer Park or Messer Field) is a former baseball park located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was home to the Providence Grays baseball club of the National League from 1878 to 1885.

In 1878, the Providence Base Ball Association formed and began scouting around the city for a good location for "the best baseball plant in the country". Team directors visited the old Josiah Chapin farm on city's west side and decided that it fit all of the requirements for a baseball park. It was close to level, it was raised up a few feet from the surrounding roads, and it was easily accessible by street car.

Construction on Messer Park began on April 1 and took exactly one month to complete; the final nail was hammered a mere five minutes before the opening game got underway on May 1.

The new ballpark opened to the public on May 1, 1878. The following account from the Providence Morning Star captures the excitement and provides the a very detailed description of the park:

"The large grandstand held twelve hundred people, among them hundreds of ladies. The long semi-circular tiers of seats were black with men and boys, and hundreds were standing, unable to get seats. The commodious space for carriages was completely filled, and one or two May Day riding parties also graced that part of the grounds...Two registering turnstiles gates admit the patrons to the grounds, and as each ticket holder passes through the gate he steps on a raised platform, and by a mechanical arrangement is registered, and only one person can pass through the gate at a time. Near the gate are two ticket offices, and a large entrance through which the crowd can pass at the end of the game. At the southeast corner there is a large gate to admit carriages to the park. The ground, which contains nearly six acres of land, is enclosed by a fence twelve feet high. The diamond is as level as constant rolling by heavy stone and iron rollers can make it. Inside of the base lines is turfed, except a space nine feet in width, reaching from the pitcher's position to the home plate. Twenty-two feet are sodded outside of the diamond. Paths leading to and from the bases have been rolled hard, and the out-field is sown with grass seed. The grand stand which will seat nearly 1200 people, is 151 x 40 feet (12 m), and in the rear is raised 34 feet (10 m). The stand is reached by steps at both ends. It will be covered by canvass, requiring nearly 7,000 feet (2,100 m). Seats are arranged in a circle at the eastern and western sides of the field. A platform 60 x 8 feet (2.4 m) has been erected for the reporters, scorers and invited guests, seating nearly 60 persons. Under the grand stand for the visiting and local clubs are rooms 20 feet (6.1 m) square and fitted up with wardrobes, dressing rooms 20 feet (6.1 m) square, a wash room supplied with Pawtucket water, closet, etc. The Western Union Telegraph Company have a room 8 x 10 feet (3.0 m). There is a stockholders' room 20 feet (6.1 m) square, and a refreshment saloon 40 x 20 to be managed by caterer Ardoene. A fence with gateways has been erected in front of the club rooms, thereby preventing the crowd from having any talk with the players. The grounds are without doubt as fine as any in the country, and Harry Wright said yesterday, 'They are beautiful."