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TURN BACK THE CLOCK
Revisiting An Aging Mecca
March 2005
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| Recognize this structure?... No, it is not an artist's rendition. Lo, Manila's Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium - Circa 1961. |
Beckoning generations of Philippine baseball, the Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium in Manila continues to weather the ashes, making it among the most nostalgic places in the sporting world today.
Its hallowed grounds serve as a testament to the multitude of ballplayers who have roamed its field and circled its bases. Once a bastion of Philippine sports, the 71- year old stadium is a stark reminder of how Philippine society has fallen from its glorious past.
Adversity nothwithstanding and amidst the relatively few who walk through its turnstiles today, the Rizal Ballpark still showcases the best Philippine baseball has to offer while providing the country with resounding echoes "of all that once was good, and it could be again..."
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Rizal Memorial Baseball Stadium Historical Facts |
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Built: 1934 |
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Field Dimensions: 313' LF - 349' LCF - 385' CF - 344' RCF - 303' RF |
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Seating Capacity: 10,000+ |
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First Homerun: Lou Gehrig (December 2, 1934) |
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Most Celebrated Moment: Cavite hurler Armando Oncinian strikes out Babe Ruth |
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Most Notable Visitors: Jimmie Foxx, Gehrig, John McGraw, Ruth |
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Notable Circuits: Manila Bay Baseball League, University Athletics Association of the Philippines Baseball, Philippine Amateur Baseball Association, Titans League Baseball
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