Crosley Field stood at the corner of Findlay Street and Western Avenue in Cincinnati’s Queensgate neighborhood for nearly six decades, serving as the home of the Cincinnati Reds from its opening on April 11, 1912, until the club relocated to Riverfront Stadium in 1970. Originally known as Redland Field, the ballpark was renamed in 1934 after radio and appliance entrepreneur Powel Crosley Jr. purchased the Reds franchise and rescued it from financial collapse.
The stadium etched its name into baseball history on May 24, 1935, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt activated the lights remotely from the White House, making Crosley Field the first major-league ballpark to host a night game. That innovation nearly doubled the Reds’ attendance and reshaped how the sport would be played and watched for generations. The park also hosted four World Series — 1919, 1939, 1940, and 1961 — and two MLB All-Star Games before its demolition in 1972.
Stats at a Glance
- Team: Cincinnati Reds (MLB)
- Location: Findlay Street and Western Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Opened: April 11, 1912 (as Redland Field)
- Renamed: 1934 (to Crosley Field)
- Closed: June 24, 1970
- Demolished: April 19, 1972
- Capacity: About 29,500 (final years); peaked around 33,000 in 1938
- Notable First: First MLB stadium to host a night game (May 24, 1935)
A Field of Firsts and Fan Favorites
Beyond the lights, Crosley Field was beloved for its quirky left-field incline known as ‘the Terrace,’ a grassy slope that rose about four feet toward the outfield wall. Outfielders navigated this hill on nearly every fly ball to left, making it one of the most distinctive defensive challenges in baseball. Ground rules were literally painted on the outfield walls — a detail unique to Crosley among all major-league parks.
The ballpark witnessed remarkable individual milestones as well. Joe Nuxhall debuted at just 15 years old during a 1944 wartime game, becoming the youngest player in modern MLB history. The stadium also saw back-to-back no-hitters in June 1969 — Don Wilson for Houston one night and Jim Maloney for Cincinnati the next — cementing the park’s reputation for dramatic baseball moments.
Legacy and the Replica in Blue Ash
After the Reds played their final game on June 24, 1970 — a 5–4 win over the San Francisco Giants — Crosley Field sat idle before being torn down in April 1972. The site became commercial property, erasing the physical park from Cincinnati’s landscape after 58 seasons of professional baseball.
The memory of Crosley Field refused to fade. A full-scale replica, built to the original dimensions and incorporating 400 seats salvaged from the stadium, was constructed in Blue Ash, Ohio, giving fans and historians a tangible connection to the old ballpark. The replica even recreates the scoreboard from the final game, preserving the spirit of a venue that helped define Cincinnati baseball for more than half a century.
Explore more: Historic and Classic Stadiums.
Crosley Field FAQs
When did Crosley Field open and close?
Originally called Redland Field, it opened on April 11, 1912, with the Reds defeating the Cubs 10–6. The park hosted its final game on June 24, 1970 — a 5–4 Reds victory over the Giants — before the team moved to Riverfront Stadium. The structure was demolished in April 1972.
Why is Crosley Field historically significant?
Crosley Field became the first major-league ballpark to host a night game under electric lights on May 24, 1935, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt switched them on remotely from the White House. The stadium also hosted four World Series (1919, 1939, 1940, 1961) and two All-Star Games (1938 and 1953) during its 58-year run.
Can you still visit Crosley Field today?
The original stadium is gone, but a full-scale replica was built in Blue Ash, Ohio, with the exact field dimensions, 400 authentic seats from the old ballpark, and a recreated scoreboard from the final game. It serves as a community field and living memorial to Cincinnati’s baseball heritage.
Get More from Crosley Field
Log the coasters, stadiums, and venues you’ve experienced, rate Crosley Field, and see what your friends thought. Get the ThrillZing app.
Photo: Blake Bolinger from Central NJ, United States / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.