Ebbets-Field.com Preserving Brooklyn's Lost Shrine

When Ebbets Field was sold in October 30, 1956 to real estate developer Marvin Kratter the sale became the first indication that Ebbets Field was nearing the end. When Walter O'Malley gained majority control of the Brooklyn Dodgers he made no secrets of his desire for a new ballpark. As part of the deal O'Malley was given a three year lease to play at Ebbets Field. On January 15, 1957 the Kratter Corporation granted O'Malley an additional two years on the lease, which conceivably meant the Dodgers could have stayed at Ebbets Field until 1961. The move was prompted on O'Malley's behave because of the uncertainty surrounding the city of Los Angeles ability to make good on their deal to secure the land needed to built a stadium. The Dodgers would leave Brooklyn and Ebbets Field at the end of the 1957 season for Los Angeles. With the Dodgers securing their new ballpark in Los Angeles the Kratter Corporation began demolition of Ebbets Field on February 20, 1960. When the Ebbets Field Apartments were built they were estimated at a cost of over 22 million dollars.
Today the Ebbets Field apartments have become a symbol of the urban slums that exist in New York City. Even today the site where the most famous ballpark once stood still attracts many baseball fans both old and young. If you ask any of the old Flatbush faithful they would say that you can still sense the ghost of years past. Back in 1996 Pee Wee Reese revisited the old site with his son who was filming the ESPN production of "The Brooklyn Dodgers: America's Original Team." During filming Reese broke down as he recalled the memories of Ebbets Field and Brooklyn. Morgan Spurlock's award winning documentary about the hazards of the fast food giant McDonald's "Super Size Me" used the Ebbets Field Apartments back drop when talking about the demographics of the poor and urban ghettos where McDonald's were targeting. The address of the old ballpark no longer exists (55 Sullivan Place) the closes to it is 77 Sullivan Place which serves as a community center for the building and is located at the old rotunda entrance. Many characteristics still remain from the old days, many of the photos posted here are from my personal collection when I visited the site a few years ago. I've tried to find as many photos from the era to complement the pictures I've taken, enjoy.
Mike Nealon
webmaster

Architect's drawing of the Ebbets Field Apartments