Hamilton Field (Fort Wayne)
Encyclopedia
Hamilton Field is a former baseball
field located in Fort Wayne, Indiana
, United States
. The ground was home to the Fort Wayne Kekiongas
in the 1860's, prior to turning professional and joining the National Association
for the 1871 season. The field was named after Allen Hamilton
, who donated land for the field.
The field was located at the corner of Lewis Street and Clinton Street (present location of the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory
). A plaque at Headwaters Park states the Fort Wayne Kekiongas played their games, including the first professional baseball game ever, at League Park, on the east side of Headwaters Park. However, the Kekiongas never played at Headwaters Park, and the historic marker is incorrect.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
field located in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The ground was home to the Fort Wayne Kekiongas
Fort Wayne Kekiongas
The Fort Wayne Kekiongas were a professional baseball team, notable for winning the first professional league game on May 4, 1871. Kekionga - pronounced KEY-key-awn-guh - is the name of Chief Little Turtle's Miami Indian settlement where the St. Joseph River and the St. Mary's River join to form...
in the 1860's, prior to turning professional and joining the National Association
National Association of Professional Base Ball Players
The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
for the 1871 season. The field was named after Allen Hamilton
Allen Hamilton
Allen Hamilton 1798-1864 was a founding father of Fort Wayne, Indiana.Allen Hamilton immigrated from Ireland in 1820, living in Lawrenceburg, Indiana just long enough to marry Emerine J. Holman. She was the daughter of Judge Jesse Holman, who was a founder of Franklin College and the Indiana...
, who donated land for the field.
The field was located at the corner of Lewis Street and Clinton Street (present location of the Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory
Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory
The Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory is an enclosed conservatory in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States. Opened in 1983, the conservatory contains a seasonal showcase garden, a tropical oasis display, with a waterfall, Sonoran Desert display, and outdoor terrace and exploration...
). A plaque at Headwaters Park states the Fort Wayne Kekiongas played their games, including the first professional baseball game ever, at League Park, on the east side of Headwaters Park. However, the Kekiongas never played at Headwaters Park, and the historic marker is incorrect.