Honus Wagner's Spring Training Site

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Posted By: Jimi

I thought I'd go ahead and post this. My family and I went on a vacation in Kentucky at the Pennyrile Mountains which is near Dawson Springs. Little did I know until a friend contacted me that Dawson Springs actually had this:



Riverside Park was built by the Dawson Springs community to accommodate the Pittsburgh Pirates for springs training from 1914-1917. The only site in Kentucky known to have hosted a major league team, the stadium attracted such teams as the Columbus Senators, Toledo Mud Hens, Louisville Colonels, and several teams existing today. The stadium, with major league dimensions of 335 ft. in left field, 405 ft. in center, and 365 ft. in the power alleys was reconstructed as a tribute to the rich history and culture of the era. The grandstand, fences, and dugouts are constructed of wood, just like the original, creating a one-of-a kind ballpark. It is the only such facility in this region.



Great trip and a lot of fun running on the bases and the field where Honus Wagner and many other HOFers once played.

Just thought I'd share!

Jimi

Always looking for T222 Fatimas!

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Posted By: Joe D.

now that is cool!

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Posted By: Tony Andrea

That grandstand is something right out of a freak'in dream. WOW!!!
Very very cool...... Thanks for the pics.

Tony A.

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Posted By: Steve F

And a pirate ship too. That's some sacred sod. Thanks for posting.

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Posted By: Jimi

Kind of surreal, actually. The only way you could get to the field was by one lone walking bridge shown below:



And the guy on the sign below just might look familiar:





Jimi

Always looking for T222 Fatimas!

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Posted By: Doug

That's amazing! Thanks for posting it!!

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Posted By: Rich Mueller

This was a community project in Dawson Springs that finished several years ago. They tried to create the park as close as possible to the original look and feel (at least what they thought it looked like).

There is a photograph of Wagner fishing in that river next to the ballpark. There were other photos, but I believe some of them burned in a fire at the local library (?).

It is built on the same grounds where the Pirates trained. I believe much the same has been done in French Lick, IN where the Cubs trained for a time. They hosted a vintage 'base ball' game there last year.

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Posted By: paulstratton

Good stuff. Batting left-handed though?

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Posted By: Dan Koteles

He got hit with a pitch by Marquard and is charging the mound. Look at the anger in his face and his running stance.

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Posted By: Marty Ogelvie

Great pictures.. thanks for sharing.

The sign shows a left handed batter vs right but it does have a Wagner look to it.

marty

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Posted By: Richard Cline - RC

Jimi - Thanks for sharing the photos, neat story. On a side note, were you a "Student Prince" or just wearing the t-shirt?

RC

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Posted By: Jimi

I was a Student Prince, and a proud one at that! I ran track there and that shirt is one of our warm up shirts. Wow, someone who has heard of Heidelberg College?

Jimi

Always looking for T222 Fatimas!

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Posted By: Richard Cline - RC

Sports Illustrated put Heidelberg and it's team name on the map years ago and then I had a basketball player of mine go to play at nearby Tiffin University. The shirt kind of jumped out at me!

RC