- Cruel March of Progress Obliterating the Glory That Once Was McKinley Park
August 21, 1929 Age 38
By Harry Keck Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph
As pictured below, one of Pittsburgh’s old baseball landmarks is passing from view with the tearing up of the McKinley Park diamond in Beltzhoover to complete the Saw Mill Run Road.
McKinley Park’s diamond is rich in history and tradition and its demise will be the occasion for the stirring of fond memories among the fans who have witnessed the battles there over many years and the players who have performed on the soil.
No other sandlot field in the district has sent so many players up to the major leagues or into the minors as this one, and it always has been the home grounds of Belthoover’s representative team in the strongest of the local sand lot leagues. Just now Beltzhoover is in the Inter-county League. It has been in the County and other leagues that have preceded this one.
Otto Knabe and Honus Lobert, who later starred as teammates for the Phillies, at second and third bases, respectively, were products of the Beltzhoover field. Bill Doak, Brooklyn and St. Louis pitcher, was another, and others who played there and later earned their spurs in the big show included Joe Schultz, the infielder; Enos Kirkpatrick, the second baseman; Elmer Knetzer, the pitcher; Otto Jordan, the catcher; George Susce, now catching for the Phillies, and Al Mamaux, the pitcher.
Honus Wagner played on the diamond on occasion and so have others of wide reputation whose names escape the memory at the moment. Minor league stars who got their start at McKinley Park include John and Ray Dawson, outfielders; Ray Kennedy, catcher; the Fitzgerald brothers, Gerald and Hubby, and Pitcher Swartling. Until recently, Jack Barrett, one of the best of the local sandlot players over a stretch of years, managed the Beltzhoover club.
The cruel march of progress that is obliterating the glory that once was McKinley Park’s already has resulted in the demolition of the stands on one side and the tearing up of home plate and the backstop, and the road is to be run through middle field. All of the teams that formerly played there will have to seek new grounds. Some will turn to the Warrington playgrounds, others will have to go on the road. Beltzhoover itself will finish its schedule at Warrington Park and on the grounds of the other Intercounty League clubs, aside from its Sunday games, which, of course, will be played, as In the past, at Jordan Field, Carrlck. But even this field will not be available after this season. Already the ground around it has been broken up into building lots and it is unlikely that the baseball diamond will be there when the 1930 season rolls around.
Those of you who have tears to shed for the passing of a baseball field may well shed them for that of McKinley Park. For diamonds with the traditions of this one are not soon forgotten, especially when they have proved the cradles of the great stars of the game of today and yesterday.
McKinley Park was literally the back yard of Bill Doak’s childhood home in Knoxville, giving him great opportunity to perfect his craft.
