How History Unfolds on Paper: Important Americana from the Eric C. Caren Collection, Part X

(New York, ca. 1913 or later). Large sepia photograph, depicting the Brooklyn Dodgers walking on the field behind a marching band; small inset of the newly completed Ebbets Field at top right. Printed caption mounted to verso reads in part, "Now Even the Price of Baseball Is Going Up! They are going to charge more this season for baseball seats than ever. The day of the 25 cent bleacher seat is fast departing. Why? Costly stadiums and costly players. The New Ebbets field, Brooklyn, is an example..." Lightly creased; some soiling to image; scattered stains on verso. 14 x 17 in. (355 x 432 mm).

Very rare, large format sepia photograph of the Brooklyn Dodgers strolling behind a marching band on the recently completed Ebbets Field. The printed caption mounted to the back laments the rising price of seat tickets, due to the heightened popularity of baseball.

Dodgers' owner Charles Ebbets began acquiring property for the construction of a new stadium in 1908, and ended up spending a total of $750,000 over five years on the project. The stadium officially opened on April 5, 1913 with an exhibition game against their rivals, the New York Yankees. The Dodgers won 3-2, and outfielder Casey Stengel recorded the first ever home run at the stadium, scoring on an inside-the-park hit.

The New York Tribune reported on the opening of Ebbets Field in their April 6 issue, stating, "the park includes everything that could be thought out by the fertile mind of a master in baseball...The admissions rates will be as follows: general admission, 75 cents...box seats, $1.50...Pavilion general admission 50 cents, North end pavilion 25 cents...Brooklyn owes the fact that she can boast of the finest ball park in the country to Charles H. Ebbets, after whom the park is named..."