Great American Ball Park From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Great American Ball Park GABP, Great American Location 100 Joe Nuxhall Way Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 Coordinates 39°05′49″N 84°30′23″W / 39.09694°N 84.50639°W / 39.09694; -84.50639 Broke ground August 1, 2000 Opened March 31, 2003 Owner Hamilton County Surface Perennial Ryegrass Construction cost $290 million Architect HOK Sport and GBBN Architects (Cincinnati, Ohio) Capacity 42,059 (2003) Field dimensions Left Field - 328 ft (100 m) Left-Center - 379 ft (116 m) Center Field - 404 ft (123 m) Right-Center - 370 ft (113 m) Right Field - 325 ft (99 m) Backstop - 55 ft (17 m) Tenants Cincinnati Reds (MLB) (2003-present) Great American Ball Park is a Major League Baseball park in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the home of the National League's Cincinnati Reds franchise. It opened in 2003, replacing the Reds' former home, Cinergy Field, which was known as Riverfront Stadium from its opening in June 1970 until the 2002 season. Great American Ball Park was built on land located between the site of the former Cinergy Field and U.S. Bank Arena informally referred to as "the wedge". In 1996, Hamilton County voters passed a one-half percent sales tax increase to fund the building of two new facilities for both the Cincinnati Reds and the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals. Previously, the teams shared occupancy of Cinergy Field, but complained that the aging multipurpose facility lacked modern amenities and other things necessary for a small market team to be competitive. Due to the confined space between the two facilities and the site's close proximity to the Ohio River, one phase of the construction of Great American Ball Park necessitated the partial demolition of Cinergy Field. For the final two years of its existence, Cinergy Field also had a natural grass field; previously, the surface was Astroturf. Cinergy Field was totally demolished on December 29, 2002. [1] Originally, the address of the park was 100 Main Street. However, it was changed to 100 Joe Nuxhall Way in honor of the Reds' late pitcher and broadcaster who died in November 2007. The Hamilton, Ohio native Nuxhall, lovingly referred to as "The Ol' Lefthander", made his debut as a 15-year-old in 1944 against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals. The Reds' roster, like those of most other teams, had been depleted by many players serving in the military during World War II. Thus, many players got an opportunity to play major league ball that they might not have otherwise had. Nuxhall pitched 2/3 of an inning, surrendering two hits, five earned runs while walking five batters and throwing a wild pitch. Eight years later, after he had graduated high school and honed his skills in the minor league, Joe Nuxhall made it back to the majors and eventually had a credible career, winning 135 games and posting a 3.90 earned run average. Upon retiring as a player in 1967, Nuxhall became a broadcaster. In 1974, he was paired with new play-by-play announcer Marty Brennaman. Despite the patriotic tone of the park's name, it is actually the name of the company which holds its naming rights, Great American Insurance Group, whose chief executive officer is former Reds majority owner Carl Lindner, Jr.. In January 2005, Lindner sold majority interest in the Reds to local businessman Robert Castellini. The first-ever Major League Baseball game in the stadium took place on March 28, 2003 against the Cincinnati Reds' upstate American League rivals, the Cleveland Indians. Former President George H. W. Bush threw out the first pitch at the first regular season game against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. Former vice-president Dick Cheney threw out the first pitch on opening day 2004 against the visiting Chicago Cubs. Former president George W. Bush threw out the first pitch before the Reds' opening day game, also against the Chicago Cubs. Great American Ball Park is scheduled to host the Major League Baseball Civil Rights Game in 2009 (pitting the Reds against the Chicago White Sox) [2] and 2010 (whose participants are yet to be determined). Contents [hide] 1 Features of Great American Ball Park 2 "Gapper" 3 Notable non-baseball events 4 Statistics 5 External links 6 Notes 7 References [edit] Features of Great American Ball Park A view of the third base line stands at Great American Ball Park, including The Gap.The Gap. A 35' (11 m) wide break in the stands between home plate and third base called "The Gap" is bridged by the concourse on each level (see photo). Aligned with Sycamore Street, it provides views into the stadium from downtown and out to the skyline from within the park. Pepsi Power Stacks. In right center field, two smokestacks -- reminiscent of the steamboats that were common on the Ohio River in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries -- flash lights, emit smoke and launch fireworks to incite or respond to the home team's efforts. When the Reds strike out a batter, smoke blows out of the stacks. Fireworks are launched from the stacks after every Reds home run and win. The Spirit of Baseball. A 50 foot by 20 foot (15 by 6 m) limestone bas relief carving near the main entrance features a young baseball player looking up to the heroic figures of a batter, pitcher and fielder, all set against the background of many of Cincinnati's landmarks, including the riverfront and Union Terminal. The piece was sculpted between 2002 and 2003 by local artists Todd Myers and Paul Brooke. The Pepsi Power StacksThe Mosaic. A mosaic paying tribute to two legendary Reds teams: the 1869 Red Stockings, Major League Baseball's first professional team, and the 1975 Big Red Machine club that won the first of two consecutive World Series, are just inside the main entrance. The Panoramas. Panoramas of downtown Cincinnati, Mt. Adams, the Ohio River and Northern Kentucky are visible from most of the park (see main photo). The Scoreboard. At 217 feet, 9 inches (66 m) wide, the scoreboard is the third largest in Major League Baseball; only the scoreboards at Denver's Coors Field and Detroit's Comerica Park, respectively, are larger. The Reds are paying $4 million to install a new, LED scoreboard and high definition video screen in time for the 2009 season. The scoreboard clock is a replica of the Longines clock at Crosley Field.[3] The Toyota Tundra Home Run Deck. If a Reds player hits the truck during a home run, one randomly selected lucky fan will take home the $31,000 vehicle situated on the elevated platform that is approximately 500 feet from home plate beyond the center field fence. Crosley Terrace. As a nod to Crosley Field, the Reds' home from 1912-1970, a monument was created in front of the main entrance to highlight the park's infamous left-field terrace. Bronze statues of Crosley-era stars Joe Nuxhall, Ernie Lombardi, Ted Kluszewski, and Frank Robinson (created by sculptor Thomas Tsuchiya) are depicted playing in an imaginary ballgame. The grass area of the terrace has the same slope as the outfield terrace at Crosley Field.[4] Great American Ball Park at night.4192 Mural. A three-piece mural on the back of the scoreboard in left-field depicts the bat Pete Rose used for his record-breaking 4,192nd hit and the ball he hit in 1985. Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. Located on the west side of Great American Ball Park on Main Street, the Hall of Fame and Museum celebrate the Reds' past through galleries and extensive use of multimedia. Although theoretically in existence since 1958, there was no actual building until it was built as part of Great American Ball Park. View of the stadium from across the Ohio River."Rounding third and heading for home..." The trademark signoff phrase of former Reds pitcher and longtime radio announcer Joe Nuxhall is depicted on the rear of the third base stands on the north side of Great American Ball Park. The Home Runs The homer-friendly nature of the park has led to the nicknames "Great American Smallpark" or "Great American Launching Pad", among both fans and players. "If you put [the ball] in the air here you've got a chance for it to go out of the ballpark," former Reds Manager Jerry Narron has said. Riverboat Deck. Above the Batter's eye, it is a private party area. [edit] "Gapper" Main article: Gapper (mascot) With a new park, the Reds' ownership decided to update the mascot as well. Thus, in 2002, a contest to name the new mascot was created at Redsfest, the team's annual fan convention. "Gapper" made his debut on opening day, 2003. The Reds' mascot, Gapper, is a fan favorite. [edit] Notable non-baseball events On October 31, 2004, President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush held a campaign rally in Great American Ball Park. Two Hall of Famers, former Reds catcher Johnny Bench and Reds announcer Marty Brennaman, were in attendance. [edit] Statistics Ticket windows: 25 Concourse widths: 40 feet (12 m) Escalators: 3 Passenger elevators: 14 Public restrooms: 47 (20 women, 20 men, seven family) Concession stands: 28 Parking spaces: 850 [edit] External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Great American Ball Park Brief History of Great American Ball Park Great American Ball Park page at the Reds' website Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum retrosheet.org Great American Ball Park list of firsts Cincinnati Reds - Ballpark Tours Cincinnati Enquirer Article on home runs at GABP Great American Ballpark Photos [edit] Notes ^ YouTube video of Cinergy Field's demolition ^ Baseball says Civil Rights Game will move to Cincinnati for 2009 ^ Leventhal, Josh (2006). Take Me Out to the Ballpark. P. 69. ^ Leventhal, Josh (2006). Take Me Out to the Ballpark. P. 69. [edit] References Leventhal, Josh, Take Me Out to the Ballpark: An Illustrated Tour of Baseball Parks Past and Present. Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 2006. ISBN 978-1-57912-513-4 Preceded by Riverfront Stadium Home of the Cincinnati Reds 2003 – present Succeeded by Current Coordinates: 39°5′50.61″N 84°30′24.69″W / 39.0973917°N 84.5068583°W / 39.0973917; -84.5068583 [show]v • d • eCincinnati Reds Formerly the Cincinnati Red Stockings and the Cincinnati Redlegs · Based in Cincinnati, Ohio The Franchise History · Seasons · Records · Players · Managers · Broadcasters Ballparks Lincoln Park Grounds · Avenue Grounds · Bank Street Grounds · League Park · League Park II · Palace of the Fans · Crosley Field · Riverfront Stadium · Great American Ball Park Spring Training: Ed Smith Stadium · Goodyear Ballpark Culture Mr. Red · The Big Red Machine · The Nasty Boys · Dowd Report · Hall of Fame Rivalries Battle of Ohio · Ohio Cup (1989 to 1996) · Ohio Cup (2008 onwards) Important Figures Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Dave Concepcion, George Foster, Frank Robinson, Edd Roush, Frank McCormick, Bid McPhee, Barry Larkin, Eric Davis, Ernie Lombardi, Ted Kluszewski, Sparky Anderson, Bill McKechnie Retired Numbers 1 · 5 · 8 · 10 · 13 · 18 · 20 · 24 · 42 Key Personnel Owner: Robert Castellini · General Manager: Walt Jocketty · Manager: Dusty Baker World Series Championships (5) 1919 · 1940 · 1975 · 1976 · 1990 National League Championships (9) 1919 · 1939 · 1940 · 1961 · 1970 · 1972 · 1975 · 1976 · 1990 Seasons (127) 1882 · 1883 · 1884 · 1885 · 1886 · 1887 · 1888 · 1889 · 1890 · 1891 · 1892 · 1893 · 1894 · 1895 · 1896 · 1897 · 1898 · 1899 · 1900 · 1901 · 1902 · 1903 · 1904 · 1905 · 1906 · 1907 · 1908 · 1909 · 1910 · 1911 · 1912 · 1913 · 1914 · 1915 · 1916 · 1917 · 1918 · 1919 · 1920 · 1921 · 1922 · 1923 · 1924 · 1925 · 1926 · 1927 · 1928 · 1929 · 1930 · 1931 · 1932 · 1933 · 1934 · 1935 · 1936 · 1937 · 1938 · 1939 · 1940 · 1941 · 1942 · 1943 · 1944 · 1945 · 1946 · 1947 · 1948 · 1949 · 1950 · 1951 · 1952 · 1953 · 1954 · 1955 · 1956 · 1957 · 1958 · 1959 · 1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969 · 1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979 · 1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989 · 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 Minor League Affiliates Louisville Bats (AAA) · Carolina Mudcats (AA) · Sarasota Reds (A) · Dayton Dragons (A) · Billings Mustangs (Rookie) · Gulf Coast Reds (Rookie) · VSL Reds (Rookie) [show]v • d • eCurrent ballparks in Major League Baseball American League Angel Stadium of Anaheim · Comerica Park · Fenway Park · Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome · Kauffman Stadium · Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum · Oriole Park at Camden Yards · Progressive Field · Rangers Ballpark in Arlington · Rogers Centre · Safeco Field · Tropicana Field · U.S. Cellular Field · Yankee Stadium National League AT&T Park · Busch Stadium · Chase Field · Citi Field · Citizens Bank Park · Coors Field · Dodger Stadium · Dolphin Stadium · Great American Ball Park · Miller Park · Minute Maid Park · Nationals Park · Petco Park · PNC Park · Turner Field · Wrigley Field Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_American_Ball_Park" Categories: Cincinnati Reds | Sports venues in Cincinnati, Ohio | Major League Baseball venues | 2003 establishments