Eclipse Park (Louisville)
Eclipse Park is the name of two former baseball grounds located in Louisville, Kentucky. The first ground was home to the Louisville Colonels of the American Association from 1882 to 1891 and then the National League from 1892 to 1893 after the League absorbed the Association. Semi-pro baseball had been played at this site as early as 1874. The second Eclipse Park was also the home of the Louisville Colonels of the National League from 1893 to 1899. This ground was located in another site in Louisville, actually right across the street from the old park. This is also the ground at which Hall of Famer Honus Wagner made his Major League debut on July 19, 1897. The unusual name for these ballparks derived from the original name of the Association club, the Eclipse. The obvious name Colonels eventually won out. Nonetheless, Eclipse was among the early team names to be a singular word, despite sounding like a plural. A destructive fire in 1899 contributed significantly to the once-strong Louisville club being contracted after the end of the season. Team owner Barney Dreyfuss moved on to acquire the Pittsburgh Pirates. Instead of being scattered to the wind, the best players from the Louisville team roster were brought onto the Pittsburgh payroll, including Wagner, third baseman Tommy Leach, outfielder-manager Fred Clarke, and ace righthander Deacon Phillippe. This "hybrid vigor" effect soon turned the perennial cellar-dwelling Pirates into a three-peat pennant winner, and a participant in the first modern World Series. Meanwhile, Louisville is still waiting in vain for major league baseball to return someday. Some sources: Green Cathedrals, by Phil LowryBallparks of North America, by Michael Benson.
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