It was the home field of several Columbus professional baseball teams, notably the Columbus Senators, from 1900 until it was abandoned in mid-season 1932 with the opening of Red Bird stadium and later demolished in 1946.[1] Other home teams included the Columbus Buckeyes (NNL1 1921), Columbus Turfs (NSL 1932), and Columbus Bluebirds (NNL2 1932).[2]
It is sometimes referred to as "Neil Park I" and "Neil Park II" by historians. The original park was built in April 1900, with the first game played on April 15, 1900.[2] Its first incarnation had the diamond in the southeast corner. The park was rebuilt in 1905 and became the first ballpark in the country to use concrete and steel construction. The 1905 reconstruction cost $64,000 and involved building a new grandstand due to the success of the Columbus Senators in the newly formed American Association.[2] During this reconstruction the diamond was reoriented in the southwest corner.
Its location was listed in Drehers Simplex Street and House Number Guide, Columbus, Ohio, 1929 -1930 as 475 Cleveland Ave. Other early city directories listed it as "west side Cleveland Avenue north of Buckingham Street." and "west side Cleveland Avenue opposite Fort Hayes." The original park was reassembled and renamed Neil Park after Robert Neil, the owner of the land, after contractor John D. Evans dismantled Athletic Park and moved it to 512 Cleveland Avenue on April 5, 1900. [2]The site is now occupied by one of several locations of Abbott Laboratories and Abbott Nutrition. Like Baker Bowl and Polo Grounds II, the Columbus clubhouse was in centerfield; notably, Terry "Cotton Top" Turner once hit two home runs in a single day, both going through the clubhouse door. This was the first concrete and steel stadium in organized baseball, predating Forbes Field, which was built in 1909.[2]
†= Team's stadium under construction or refurbishment at time 1 = A team used the stadium when their permanent stadium was unable to be used as a result of damage.
