May 24, 1933: Amateur league unveils Renfrew Baseball Park in Rossdale
The Edmonton Senior Amateur Baseball League opened the new Renfrew Baseball Park in Rossdale to a capacity crowd of more than 3,000 who watched the Royals play the South Side.
The previous baseball season featured attendance of about 120,000, an exceptionally high mark considering Edmonton’s population, the short season and the fact the country was in the depths of the Great Depression. Renfrew replaced Diamond Park, just below the Hotel Macdonald, which needed many improvements.
The league had obtained from the city a five-year lease on Renfrew Park — at 102nd Street and 96th Avenue — with an option to buy, and also paid the entire cost of stadium construction.
The covered stands featured specially designed seats for 1,500 people, while the bleachers sat slightly more than 1,500. Every seat was arranged so there was a clear view of every part of the infield and outfield, regardless of the size of the crowd, and admission was set at 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children.
The three main gates allowed for speedy exit. There was only one main entrance and a pass gate for players and officials.
The concession stands sold hotdogs, coffee, sandwiches and soft drinks, but it would be 50 years before beer was sold.
The South Side team defeated the Royals 3-0.
After a fire destroyed the grandstand in August 1950, it was rebuilt with steel and concrete two years later.
Signs on the outfield fences in the 1950s and ’60s urged fans to shop at local businesses such as Army & Navy and Val Berg’s Men’s Wear. Cal Pickles’ Men’s Wear made the offer, “Hit a homer through this hole and win a suit,” while John’s Hat Shop declared, “A hat for a homer over this sign.”
The ballpark was renamed John Ducey Park in 1984. Telus Field replaced Ducey on the same site in 1995. To read more stories from the series This Day in Journal History, go to edmontonjournal.com/history.