A Stadium for the Yanks & Giants
The Yankees Were Satisfied With the Country's Best Stadium
May 11, 2008
Immediately following Walter O’Malley’s announcement that the Dodgers would play seven regular season games in Jersey City during the 1956 season, New York Giants’ owner Horace Stoneham reminded folks that his team also could use a new baseball facility. Mr. Stoneham suggested that city-owned stadium should be constructed in the East Bronx, near the Whitestone Bridge to house his Giants as well as the New York Yankees. The suggestion surprised the Yankees completely.
The Yankees Were Content With the 32 Year Old Stadium
“We’re very happy with Yankee Stadium,” general manager George Weiss told reporters. It’s probably the best stadium in the country and we wouldn’t consider moving. Not unless someone built one just as good and offered it to us rent free.” The Stadium was 32 years old at the time. It was renovated during the 1974 and 1975 seasons, and was ready for 1976, which was 32 years ago.
A Need for Parking
Mr. Stoneham, unlike Mr. O’Malley, was not concerned with fans being able to reach the ballpark by mass transit. Stoneham explained that his proposed site near the Whitestone Bridge was accessible by the many parkways in the New York metropolitan area. His main concern was that any new ballpark needed parking spaces.
The Giants Would Follow the Dodgers
At a hastily called meeting in response to the Dodgers’ playing seven games in Jersey City, Mr. O’Malley pointed out that if the Dodgers left Brooklyn, it was almost a certainty that the Giants would leave with them. To support his conclusion, he cited attendance figures. The Dodgers and Giants drew 350,000 fans to the Polo Grounds for 11 games. The Giants and their six other opponents drew 390,000 spectators for 48 games.
O'Malley Said Only One Brooklyn Site Was Acceptable
O’Malley made it clear that the only site he would consider in Brooklyn for the new ballpark was the Flatbush-Atlantic Avenue site. A major problem was condemning the land because the Dodgers couldn’t afford to buy the land at market value. In 1955, New York City could exercise the right of eminent domain to condemn land, but there were conditions. The buildings on the land could be condemned as a slum clearance project, but they would have to be replaced by new buildings, not a ballpark.
Cashmore Was Optimistic
Brooklyn Borough President Cashmore expressed the belief that things could be worked out despite the ball team not having the right to condemn property. A significant number of civic improvements would be made, including building a modern railroad terminal, eliminating traffic bottlenecks, and using new parking facilities for neighborhood merchants when there were no baseball games.
Eminent Domain in the 21st Century: Would the Dodgers Have Stayed?
The passage of time has raised a fascinating question. A government can exercise eminent domain only if its taking will be for a "public use" – which means public "safety, health, interest, or convenience,” but in the 21st century, there has been a disturbing trend. Developers and commercial interests have been getting governments to exercise eminent domain on the basis that anything that increases the value of a given tract of land is a sufficient public use. The question is, if New York City could condemn the Flatbush-Atlantic Avenue site, would the Dodgers have remained in Brooklyn? Those individuals who think they would have might be interested in purchasing another Brooklyn structure – a bridge.
References:
Gruson, Sydney. "Giants Get the Pitch, Seek New Park Too." New York Times. 19 August 1955, p. 1.
Gruson, Sydney. "O'Malley Fearful of a One-Team City; City May Lose the Giants." New York Times. 20 August 1955, p. 1
