Hiram Bithorn Stadium
Encyclopedia
Hiram Bithorn Stadium is a baseball park
in San Juan, Puerto Rico
, operated by the municipal government of the city of San Juan. Its name honors the first Puerto Rican to play in the major leagues, Hiram Bithorn
, who first played with the Chicago Cubs
in 1942. Built in 1962, under the mayoral administration of Felisa Rincón de Gautier
, replacing Estadio Sixto Escobar
, the stadium is home to the San Juan Senators and was formerly home to the Santurce Crabbers, of the Puerto Rico Baseball League.
National Basketball Association
game was played between the Phoenix Suns
and the Milwaukee Bucks
on September 24, 1972 at during that year's preseason. The Suns defeated the Bucks, 116–103.
The stadium hosted Major League Baseball
's Opening Day Game in 2001, in which the Toronto Blue Jays
faced the Texas Rangers
in an American League
match-up. However, 4,000 who bought tickets were turned away when the police determined the safe capacity of the park had been vastly exceeded.
It was the object of a major overhaul under the mayoral administration of Jorge Santini
, before becoming the part-time home of the Montreal Expos
of the National League
in 2003
and 2004
prior to their move to Washington, D.C.
as the Washington Nationals
. The Expos played 22 "home" games in each season as a result of poor attendance at their home Olympic Stadium
in Montreal. Prior to Major League Baseball's announcement of the Montreal Expos move to Washington, Puerto Rico and San Juan made an effort to lure the Expos franchise to the island territory permanently.
Hiram Bithorn Stadium hosted parts of the first two rounds of the 2006 World Baseball Classic
. Pool C
, which included the teams of Puerto Rico
, Cuba
, Panama
, and the Netherlands
, was played there. It also hosted Pool 2
of the second round of the Classic which featured Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic
, and Venezuela
, the top two finishers from Pool C
and Pool D
. Pool D games of the 2009
were played there between March 7 and March 11, 2009.
In 2008, it served as the stadium for Atléticos de San Juan
and Academia Quintana
, two soccer teams in the Puerto Rico Soccer League
, Puerto Rico
's first ever professional soccer league.
In 2010, Major League Baseball returned to the stadium, as the Florida Marlins
faced the New York Mets
in a three game series during the regular season.
Metallica
were scheduled to perform during their Nowhere Else to Roam
Tour on April 28, 1993, but it was rained out and never rescheduled.
Shakira
has performed twice, during her Tour Anfibio
, on April 9, 2000 and during the Tour of the Mongoose
, on March 22, 2003. As of now, this was the last major concert to be held at the stadium.
Baseball park
A baseball park, also known as a baseball stadium, ball park, or ballpark is a venue where baseball is played. It consists of the playing field and the surrounding spectator seating...
in San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, operated by the municipal government of the city of San Juan. Its name honors the first Puerto Rican to play in the major leagues, Hiram Bithorn
Hiram Bithorn
Hiram Gabriel Bithorn was a Puerto Rican right-handed pitcher who became the first baseball player from Puerto Rico to play Major League Baseball...
, who first played with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in 1942. Built in 1962, under the mayoral administration of Felisa Rincón de Gautier
Felisa Rincón de Gautier
Felisa Rincón de GautierThis name uses Spanish marriage naming customs; the first is the maiden family name "Rincón" and the second or matrimonial family name is "Gautier"...
, replacing Estadio Sixto Escobar
Estadio Sixto Escobar
Estadio Sixto Escobar is a multi-purpose stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is currently used mostly for soccer matches.The stadium was opened on November 12, 1935. The Cincinnati Reds conducted spring training at the stadium in 1936. The Miami Marlins were transferred to San Juan for the 1961...
, the stadium is home to the San Juan Senators and was formerly home to the Santurce Crabbers, of the Puerto Rico Baseball League.
Stadium information
The stadium has approximately 18,000 seats. The field dimensions were set to match Olympic Stadium in Montreal when the Expos played home games at Hiram Bithorn. The stadium is 325 feet (99 m) down the left field line, 325 feet (99 m) down the right field line and 404 feet (123 m) to center field. The fences are 8 feet (2.5 m) high.History
The first outdoorNBA outdoor games
Only four National Basketball Association games have ever been played outdoors. The first outdoor game was played between the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks on September 24, 1972 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium a baseball park in San Juan, Puerto Rico during that year's preseason...
National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
game was played between the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
and the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
on September 24, 1972 at during that year's preseason. The Suns defeated the Bucks, 116–103.
The stadium hosted Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
's Opening Day Game in 2001, in which the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
faced the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
in an American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
match-up. However, 4,000 who bought tickets were turned away when the police determined the safe capacity of the park had been vastly exceeded.
It was the object of a major overhaul under the mayoral administration of Jorge Santini
Jorge Santini
Jorge Santini Padilla in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is an Puerto Rican Politician and current Mayor of San Juan City.-Biography:...
, before becoming the part-time home of the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in 2003
2003 Montreal Expos season
-Regular season:*June 24, 2003 - Brad Wilkerson hit for the cycle in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.*August 26, 2003 - The Expos rallied from being down 8-0 and 10-3 to claim a 14-10 win against the Philadelphia Phillies and be within two games of the National League Wild Card...
and 2004
2004 Montreal Expos season
In 2004, the Montreal Expos played their 36th and final season in Montreal. The team finished in fifth and last place in the National League East at 67-95, 29 games behind the Atlanta Braves...
prior to their move to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
as the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. The Expos played 22 "home" games in each season as a result of poor attendance at their home Olympic Stadium
Olympic Stadium (Montreal)
The Olympic Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada built as the main venue for the 1976 Summer Olympics...
in Montreal. Prior to Major League Baseball's announcement of the Montreal Expos move to Washington, Puerto Rico and San Juan made an effort to lure the Expos franchise to the island territory permanently.
2006 World Baseball Classic
---------Pool B:-------------Pool C:-------------Pool D:-------------Pool 1:-----------------Pool 2:-------------Finals:-Semifinals:-Final:-Final standings:...
. Pool C
2006 World Baseball Classic - Pool C
Games of Pool C played at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico-Results:-Puerto Rico 2, Panama 1:* Game time: March 7, 2006 – 20:00 AST* Attendance: 19,043 -Cuba 8, Panama 6:* Game time: March 8, 2006 – 14:00 AST...
, which included the teams of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico national baseball team
The Puerto Rico National Baseball Team is a team that is selected by the Puerto Rican Baseball Federation to compete in major international events in representation of Puerto Rico...
, Cuba
Cuba national baseball team
The Cuba national baseball team is the national team of Cuba. The team is made up of amateur players from the Cuban national baseball system, as there are no professional sports leagues in Cuba...
, Panama
Panama national baseball team
The Panama national baseball team is the national team of Panama. They are currently the 16th ranked baseball team in the world.- Roster :PitchersManuel Acosta,Albenis Castillo,Bienvenido Cedeno,Bruce Chen,Manuel Corpas,Jorge Cortez,...
, and the Netherlands
Netherlands national baseball team
The Netherlands national baseball team is the national baseball team of the Netherlands. They are currently the top team in Europe and currently the sixth ranked men's baseball team in the IBAF World Rankings....
, was played there. It also hosted Pool 2
2006 World Baseball Classic - Pool 2
Games of Pool 2 played at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico-Results:-Cuba 7, Venezuela 2:* Game time: March 12, 2006 – 14:00 AST* Attendance: 13,697 -Puerto Rico 7, Dominican Republic 1:...
of the second round of the Classic which featured Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic national baseball team
The Dominican Republic national baseball team is the national baseball team of the Dominican Republic.-World Baseball Classic Roster:- Dominican Republic:Manager: 17 Felipe Alou...
, and Venezuela
Venezuela national baseball team
The Venezuela national baseball team is the national team of Venezuela. They are currently ranked seventh in the world by the International Baseball Federation.-World Baseball Classic:...
, the top two finishers from Pool C
2006 World Baseball Classic - Pool C
Games of Pool C played at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico-Results:-Puerto Rico 2, Panama 1:* Game time: March 7, 2006 – 20:00 AST* Attendance: 19,043 -Cuba 8, Panama 6:* Game time: March 8, 2006 – 14:00 AST...
and Pool D
2006 World Baseball Classic - Pool D
Games of Pool D played at the Cracker Jack Stadium, Lake Buena Vista, Florida-Results:-Dominican Republic 11, Venezuela 5:* Game time: March 7, 2006 – 13:00 EST* Attendance: 10,645 -Italy 10, Australia 0:...
. Pool D games of the 2009
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
were played there between March 7 and March 11, 2009.
In 2008, it served as the stadium for Atléticos de San Juan
Atléticos de San Juan
Atlético de San Juan FC are an association football club from San Juan, Puerto Rico. A newly formed club, they will play in the Puerto Rico Soccer League, the island's first unified football competition...
and Academia Quintana
Academia Quintana
Academia Quintana F.C. are an Association Football club from San Juan, Puerto Rico. They were founded in 1969, making them one of the oldest clubs still in existence in Puerto Rico. They are one of the founding members of the Puerto Rico Soccer League, the island's first nationwide league. The...
, two soccer teams in the Puerto Rico Soccer League
Puerto Rico Soccer League
The Puerto Rico Soccer League or PRSL is an association football league in Puerto Rico. It is the first unified football league in the island's history, and had a total of six teams for the 2011 season. Association football has been growing in popularity in recent years, and this is an attempt to...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
's first ever professional soccer league.
In 2010, Major League Baseball returned to the stadium, as the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
faced the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in a three game series during the regular season.
Other uses
Along with sporting events, the stadium has hosted concerts by many famous artists.Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
were scheduled to perform during their Nowhere Else to Roam
Nowhere Else To Roam
The Nowhere Else To Roam was the concert tour by American band Metallica, which took place in 1993 in support of their fifth studio album Metallica . This tour was the third part of the huge tour the started, after the Wherever We May Roam Tour and Guns N' Roses/Metallica Stadium Tour...
Tour on April 28, 1993, but it was rained out and never rescheduled.
Shakira
Shakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
has performed twice, during her Tour Anfibio
Tour Anfibio
Tour Anfibio is the name of the two-month long concert tour by Colombian singer Shakira that started on March 21, 2000 in Lima , and ended on May 12 in Buenos Aires .-Background information:...
, on April 9, 2000 and during the Tour of the Mongoose
Tour of the Mongoose
-Tour Dates:-Broadcast and recordings:The tour was shot in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on April 22, 2003.The tour was chronicled on Live & off the Record. The disc included the concert along with a documentary showing the performer preparing for the show, her song writing process and her ideas about...
, on March 22, 2003. As of now, this was the last major concert to be held at the stadium.