Ewing Field Part Two - Revision history

Ccarlsson at 23:09, 8 November 2020

2020-11-08T23:09:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:09, 8 November 2020
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	The earliest mention of this old wives’ tale comes from the ''Los Angeles Times'' of April 11, 1937, nearly a quarter century after the alleged incident. According to the Times, the fire setting was done in protest of having to play under conditions that Mr. Daley felt to be unplayable. His protest, according to the ''Times'', succeeded and the game was called. This legend was next reported in the June 18, 1938 issue of the ''San Francisco Chronicle'', but this time Daley’s motivation was simply to keep warm on a cold day. If, in fact, Mr. Daley—or anyone for that matter—ever set a fire anywhere in Ewing Field, it was never reported in any of the game accounts of the San Francisco or Oakland newspapers.		The earliest mention of this old wives’ tale comes from the ''Los Angeles Times'' of April 11, 1937, nearly a quarter century after the alleged incident. According to the Times, the fire setting was done in protest of having to play under conditions that Mr. Daley felt to be unplayable. His protest, according to the ''Times'', succeeded and the game was called. This legend was next reported in the June 18, 1938 issue of the ''San Francisco Chronicle'', but this time Daley’s motivation was simply to keep warm on a cold day. If, in fact, Mr. Daley—or anyone for that matter—ever set a fire anywhere in Ewing Field, it was never reported in any of the game accounts of the San Francisco or Oakland newspapers.

	[[Image:Ewing11 opening-day-program-w-45-star-flag-from-Mark-Macrae-collection.jpg\|left\|330px~~\|thumb\|~~'''Opening day souvenir program with 45-star flag'''; ''from Mark Macrae collection'']] Elmer Zacher, the main character in the other too-good-to-be-true incident, did play in the PCL in 1914. But, as with Mr. Daley, there were no contemporary newspaper reports, or even subsequent newspaper reports, of Mr. Zacher (or anyone) needing rescue during a foggy game. The earliest mention of the search and rescue mission comes from the same ''Chronicle'' story that repeats the Pete Daley incendiary episode.		[[Image:Ewing11 opening-day-program-w-45-star-flag-from-Mark-Macrae-collection.jpg\|left\|330px]]

			'''Opening day souvenir program with 45-star flag'''

			''from Mark Macrae collection''

			Elmer Zacher, the main character in the other too-good-to-be-true incident, did play in the PCL in 1914. But, as with Mr. Daley, there were no contemporary newspaper reports, or even subsequent newspaper reports, of Mr. Zacher (or anyone) needing rescue during a foggy game. The earliest mention of the search and rescue mission comes from the same ''Chronicle'' story that repeats the Pete Daley incendiary episode.

	Nor was a game ever called because of fog. One historian/writer/blogger claims that it happened on June 6, 1914 when fog and rain made the field unplayable. Indeed, it was raining and it was foggy on that date, but the umpires ordered that the game go on. And it did. For the whole nine innings. In the end the Angels defeated the Oaks 10-9. The creator of this fairy tale doesn’t give a reference, but it has been repeated in books and on the Internet.		Nor was a game ever called because of fog. One historian/writer/blogger claims that it happened on June 6, 1914 when fog and rain made the field unplayable. Indeed, it was raining and it was foggy on that date, but the umpires ordered that the game go on. And it did. For the whole nine innings. In the end the Angels defeated the Oaks 10-9. The creator of this fairy tale doesn’t give a reference, but it has been repeated in books and on the Internet.

Ccarlsson: upgraded photo

2020-11-08T23:07:28Z

upgraded photo

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:07, 8 November 2020
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	By May 19 suggestions to raise the outfield fences to cut the wind were gaining voices, but, it was sadly conceded “there is no getting away from the fact that Ewing Field is located in the fog belt.”		By May 19 suggestions to raise the outfield fences to cut the wind were gaining voices, but, it was sadly conceded “there is no getting away from the fact that Ewing Field is located in the fog belt.”

	[[Image:Ewing13 cartoon May-25-1914.jpg\|400px\|left~~\|thumb\|~~'''San Francisco Examiner May 25, 1914''']] The sports writers in the unheated press box quickly developed a survival strategy. A stadium vendor, Joe Derham, sold canned hot tamales. The writers would buy Joe’s hot cans and hold them to keep their hands warm. When the cans cooled, the writers would buy more hand warmers from Joe, but he refused to give them credit for returning the cold but unopened cans.		[[Image:Ewing13 cartoon May-25-1914.jpg\|400px\|left]]

			'''San Francisco Examiner May 25, 1914'''

			The sports writers in the unheated press box quickly developed a survival strategy. A stadium vendor, Joe Derham, sold canned hot tamales. The writers would buy Joe’s hot cans and hold them to keep their hands warm. When the cans cooled, the writers would buy more hand warmers from Joe, but he refused to give them credit for returning the cold but unopened cans.

	The players also came up with a creative solution to the hostile environment. A well-known liniment “with the heating power of a flock of furnaces” was liberally applied before games to keep the circulation going. The clubhouse was just as unforgiving as the press box, there being no stove for the warmth and comfort of the players.		The players also came up with a creative solution to the hostile environment. A well-known liniment “with the heating power of a flock of furnaces” was liberally applied before games to keep the circulation going. The clubhouse was just as unforgiving as the press box, there being no stove for the warmth and comfort of the players.
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	From opening day to the final game of the season, the two Bay Area baseball clubs played seven games a week with Monday off as a league travel day. Whether Seals or Oaks, the Bay Area schedule called for games to be played at Ewing Field on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon, while Oakland hosted games on Thursday and Sunday morning. The savvy baseball fan of 1914 quickly learned how to enhance his baseball experience at Ewing Field by listening to the foghorns.		From opening day to the final game of the season, the two Bay Area baseball clubs played seven games a week with Monday off as a league travel day. Whether Seals or Oaks, the Bay Area schedule called for games to be played at Ewing Field on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon, while Oakland hosted games on Thursday and Sunday morning. The savvy baseball fan of 1914 quickly learned how to enhance his baseball experience at Ewing Field by listening to the foghorns.

	[[Image:Ewing14 philadelphia-announcer.jpg\|left\|360px~~\|thumb\|~~'''Stadium announcer at Philadelphia,		[[Image:Ewing14 philadelphia-announcer.jpg\|left\|360px]]
	1914'''; ''courtesy Angus MacFarlane'']] The most important foghorn was Foghorn Murphy, the official voice of the Seals. In the days before sound amplification, leather-lunged men with huge megaphones made the important announcements at the games: batteries, line-ups, batters, etc., but not play-by-play.
			'''Stadium announcer at Philadelphia, 1914'''

			''courtesy Angus MacFarlane''

			The most important foghorn was Foghorn Murphy, the official voice of the Seals. In the days before sound amplification, leather-lunged men with huge megaphones made the important announcements at the games: batteries, line-ups, batters, etc., but not play-by-play.

	Occasionally Foghorn would be driven around the city to boost the day’s upcoming game, but his regular job-site was Ewing Field.		Occasionally Foghorn would be driven around the city to boost the day’s upcoming game, but his regular job-site was Ewing Field.
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	It is a funny old world, isn’t it? </blockquote>		It is a funny old world, isn’t it? </blockquote>

	[[Image:Ewing15 small-ad.jpg\|240px\|right]] Although the PCL season was over, baseball had not abandoned Ewing Field. On November 3, the national pastime returned in the persons of American and National League barnstormers who would spend a week in San Francisco. The first game was played before 8,000 fascinated fans in beautiful 74-degree weather. The ''Chronicle'' marveled: “it was actually hot with no fog, wind or other disagreeable features”. For their entire stay, the major leaguers enjoyed San Francisco’s best weather (the average high was 73 degrees.), but were disappointed to not experience The Beast that they had heard so much about.		[[Image:Ewing15 small-ad.jpg\|240px\|right]]

			Although the PCL season was over, baseball had not abandoned Ewing Field. On November 3, the national pastime returned in the persons of American and National League barnstormers who would spend a week in San Francisco. The first game was played before 8,000 fascinated fans in beautiful 74-degree weather. The ''Chronicle'' marveled: “it was actually hot with no fog, wind or other disagreeable features”. For their entire stay, the major leaguers enjoyed San Francisco’s best weather (the average high was 73 degrees.), but were disappointed to not experience The Beast that they had heard so much about.

	Before leaving for Southern California, a member of the major league entourage praised Ewing Field: “There are not many major league parks that have anything on this field.” The major league tourists returned to play on November 21 and 22 before sailing to Hawaii. On the final day their wish came true: they came face to face with The Beast at its worst.		Before leaving for Southern California, a member of the major league entourage praised Ewing Field: “There are not many major league parks that have anything on this field.” The major league tourists returned to play on November 21 and 22 before sailing to Hawaii. On the final day their wish came true: they came face to face with The Beast at its worst.

Ccarlsson: upgraded photo

2020-11-08T23:03:04Z

upgraded photo

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:03, 8 November 2020
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	The ''Chronicle'' straightforwardly described it: “Fog, undiluted and foreboding was the main feature at Ewing Field . . . There were times when the most you could see of the fielders was now and then a streak as they dashed helplessly after a ball of whose direction they had no idea.”		The ''Chronicle'' straightforwardly described it: “Fog, undiluted and foreboding was the main feature at Ewing Field . . . There were times when the most you could see of the fielders was now and then a streak as they dashed helplessly after a ball of whose direction they had no idea.”

	[[Image:Ewing 1914.jpg]]		[[Image:Ewing Field circa 1914 SF Seals wnp27.0604.jpg\|800px]]

	'''Ewing Field, 1914.'''		'''The San Francisco Seals playing at Ewing Field, 1914.'''

			''Photo: courtesy OpenSFHistory.org, wnp27.0604''

	The blinding fog was also sound absorbing. Unable to see or hear, Giants outfielder George Burns had no idea that a ball had been hit his way until it smacked him on his foot. The Cardinals’ Cozy Dolan waved a white handkerchief from his centerfield position to remind his teammates where he was. The American Leaguers found it too terrifying to stand at bat against Grover Cleveland Alexander, not knowing if he could see them, and not seeing his fastballs until the final instant. The National Leaguers left the field 13-2 victors, and 1914 was history.		The blinding fog was also sound absorbing. Unable to see or hear, Giants outfielder George Burns had no idea that a ball had been hit his way until it smacked him on his foot. The Cardinals’ Cozy Dolan waved a white handkerchief from his centerfield position to remind his teammates where he was. The American Leaguers found it too terrifying to stand at bat against Grover Cleveland Alexander, not knowing if he could see them, and not seeing his fastballs until the final instant. The National Leaguers left the field 13-2 victors, and 1914 was history.

Ccarlsson at 22:45, 23 October 2015

2015-10-23T22:45:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:45, 23 October 2015
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	''Continuing the saga of early 20th century baseball in San Francisco and the much-mythologized story of fog-bound Ewing Field.''		''Continuing the saga of early 20th century baseball in San Francisco and the much-mythologized story of fog-bound Ewing Field.''

			[[Ewing Field\|Part 1]] / [[Ewing Field Epilogue\|Epilogue]]

	[[Image:Ewing - 1st Baseline 640T.jpg]]		[[Image:Ewing - 1st Baseline 640T.jpg]]

Ccarlsson: Created page with '''' Historical Essay ''' ''by Angus MacFarlane'' ''Continuing the saga of early 20th century base...'

2015-10-23T22:19:20Z

Created page with '''' Historical Essay ''' ''by Angus MacFarlane'' ''Continuing the saga of early 20th century base...'

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