On This Day in History, February 23: Ebbets Field Is Demolished
On Feb. 23, 1960, wrecking crews began the job of demolishing Ebbets Field. The wrecking ball was painted white and with stitches to look like a baseball. The visting team’s dugout was the first part to go.
In attendance were a group of former Dodgers, including Roy Campanella, who was catcher in the last game played at Ebbets, Otto Miller, who was catcher at the first game played at Ebbets in 1913, Ralph Branca, Carl Erskine and Tommy Holmes.
They were joined by a group of about 200 other spectators, a paltry number considering the thousands that jammed the stands for 44 years to watch ‘Dem Bums’ play ball. Leo Allen, historian for the Baseball Hall of Fame, was presented with home plate.