HISTORY:
Puerto Rico’s premier baseball stadium opened in 1962 and was named after
Hiram Bithorn, the first native-born Puerto Rican to play in the major leagues. It has
been the longtime home for both the Santurce Crabbers and San Juan Senators of
the Puerto Rico Winter League and in 2001, Major League Baseball played it’s first
regular season game here when the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays met on
Opening Day.
Under the direction of Major League Baseball, the Expos moved 22 of their home
games here in both 2003 and 2004. There had been a movement to relocate the
Expos to Puerto Rico on a permanent basis and while the games in 2003 were
well received, attendance and interest in the team had dropped off by 2004. In that
time, Washington, D.C. emerged as the leading candidate city to land the franchise.
The stadium’s main grandstand begins down the first base line and circles around
home plate, extending down the third base line. It is topped with the stadium’s
signature zigzag, corrugated roof and inclined light towers. Bleacher seating exists
beyond both the left and right field walls.
The stadium had natural grass until 1995 when Astroturf was installed and that
surface lasted until 2004 when it was replaced by FieldTurf. Montreal played its first
game at Hiram Bithorn on April 11, 2003 and its last on July 11, 2004. The stadium
also hosted two rounds of the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006.
(JM)
Puerto Rico’s premier baseball stadium opened in 1962 and was named after
Hiram Bithorn, the first native-born Puerto Rican to play in the major leagues. It has
been the longtime home for both the Santurce Crabbers and San Juan Senators of
the Puerto Rico Winter League and in 2001, Major League Baseball played it’s first
regular season game here when the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays met on
Opening Day.
Under the direction of Major League Baseball, the Expos moved 22 of their home
games here in both 2003 and 2004. There had been a movement to relocate the
Expos to Puerto Rico on a permanent basis and while the games in 2003 were
well received, attendance and interest in the team had dropped off by 2004. In that
time, Washington, D.C. emerged as the leading candidate city to land the franchise.
The stadium’s main grandstand begins down the first base line and circles around
home plate, extending down the third base line. It is topped with the stadium’s
signature zigzag, corrugated roof and inclined light towers. Bleacher seating exists
beyond both the left and right field walls.
The stadium had natural grass until 1995 when Astroturf was installed and that
surface lasted until 2004 when it was replaced by FieldTurf. Montreal played its first
game at Hiram Bithorn on April 11, 2003 and its last on July 11, 2004. The stadium
also hosted two rounds of the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006.
(JM)
SEATING CAPACITY:
18,000
DIMENSIONS:
Left Field 315 ft.
Left-Center Field 360 ft.
Centerfield 399 ft.
Right-Center Field 360 ft.
Right Field 313 ft.
Backstop 63 ft.
HEIGHT OF OUTFIELD WALL:
8 ft
ATTENDANCE:
2003 312,882
2004 217,005
18,000
DIMENSIONS:
Left Field 315 ft.
Left-Center Field 360 ft.
Centerfield 399 ft.
Right-Center Field 360 ft.
Right Field 313 ft.
Backstop 63 ft.
HEIGHT OF OUTFIELD WALL:
8 ft
ATTENDANCE:
2003 312,882
2004 217,005
FIRSTS: (As the Expos home park...)
Game: Game: 4/11/03 – New York Mets 0, Montreal 10
Umpires: Umpires: Jeff Kellogg, Bill Miller, Paul Emmel and Joe West
Managers: Art Howe, New York; Frank Robinson, Montreal
Starting pitchers: David Cone, New York; Tomo Ohka, Montreal
Batter: Roger Cedeno
Hit: Endy Chavez
Run: Jose Macias
RBI: Brian Schneider
Single: Endy Chavez
Double: Jose Vidro
Triple: Rafael Furcal, 4/16/03
Home Run: Brian Schneider
Grand Slam: Brad Wilkerson
Stolen Base: Vladimir Guerrero, 4/14/03
Win: Tomo Ohka
Loss: David Cone
Shutout: Tomo Ohka and Scott Stewart
Save: Rocky Biddle, 4/12/03
Hit by pitch: Scott Stewart hit Jay Bell, 4/12/03
Wild pitch: Jae Seo, 4/12/03
Balk: Al Leiter, 4/13/03
Game: Game: 4/11/03 – New York Mets 0, Montreal 10
Umpires: Umpires: Jeff Kellogg, Bill Miller, Paul Emmel and Joe West
Managers: Art Howe, New York; Frank Robinson, Montreal
Starting pitchers: David Cone, New York; Tomo Ohka, Montreal
Batter: Roger Cedeno
Hit: Endy Chavez
Run: Jose Macias
RBI: Brian Schneider
Single: Endy Chavez
Double: Jose Vidro
Triple: Rafael Furcal, 4/16/03
Home Run: Brian Schneider
Grand Slam: Brad Wilkerson
Stolen Base: Vladimir Guerrero, 4/14/03
Win: Tomo Ohka
Loss: David Cone
Shutout: Tomo Ohka and Scott Stewart
Save: Rocky Biddle, 4/12/03
Hit by pitch: Scott Stewart hit Jay Bell, 4/12/03
Wild pitch: Jae Seo, 4/12/03
Balk: Al Leiter, 4/13/03
| Photo Credit: sportsecyclopedia |
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Hiram Bithorn Stadium
Photo Credit: WGN Radio