7.As 10,000 fans descended upon the ballpark on that grand opening day... Julius
Caesar himself may have been declared as a baseball fan. With the word Cincinnati
emblazoned upon the great facade and the luxury boxes (called "Fashion Boxes")
bowing out in circular bows surrounding the stadium's 2nd deck, there was nothing
like this ever seen in the history of baseball or any other sport for that
matter since ancient Rome. It was truly a spectacle... and some fans probably
wondered whether they were there to see to jousting gladiators or a ballgame.
The owners proudly exclaimed it as the "Palace of the Fans" and the fans... well
they called it League Park III. They enjoyed the spectacle but... (depending
on their social and economic status) probably saw it more as an elaborate side
show carnival rather than the ultimate baseball park... especially those who couldn't
afford to be in the fancier middle deck. The wealthy very much enjoyed the
luxuriousness of new "Fashion Boxes" while the blue collar thought of the ballpark
as we would an Atlantic City Trump Casino with a bit too much glitter).
The elite and newspapers and the advertising exclaimed it as "The Palace of the
Fans". The rest called it League Park III. Either way, for the next decade...
this was the home of Cincinnati Reds Professional baseball. |