The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-05
TO
ATTEND BALL
PARK OPENING
First Game Will Be Played
Today in New $350,000
Perry Stadium.
DIAMOND GREATS HERE
Lands and Hickey Among
NotabIeS Who Will See
Tribe Meet Colonies.
BY EDDIE ASH

indianapolis baseball fans who
have been harboring a new park
complex" for years will experience
thrill this afternoon when they
march into Perry stadium, the
S350,000 modern plant built by Nor
man A. Perry at Sixteenth and
Harding streets.
The inaugural game will see En-
NETT McCann's Indians battling the
Colonies Of Louisville and numerous
diamond dignitarieS and other prom
inent persons will be on hand, pay
ing their respects to the Tribe presi-
dent, while admiring one of the
finest parks in the country.
KeneSaw Mountain Lands, base
ball commissioner, reached the city
Friday night. along with Thomas j.
Hickey, president of the American
Association. Presidents of the Louis
vile, Kansas City and Columbus
clubs also will be on hand for the
opening, as well as the four man.
ayers of Indianapolis pennant win
nerS of the seasons of 1902, 1908,
1911 and 1873.
'Watty" at Opening
w. H. (Watty) Watkins brought
the first A. A. flag to the Hoosier
capital in 1902 and Charlie Carr
won the second in 1908. The third
was annexed by Jack Hendricks in
1917 and the fourth by Albert
(Bruno) Bethel in 1908. Carr and
Hendricks are Indianapolis resi-
dents, Watkins resides in Michigan.
and Bethel in Ohio.
Owner Norman Perry is not in a
position to offer the fans a pennant
along with the new park, but he is
ambitious to deliver a championship
team to the city next season after
the formal dedication of Perry sta
dunn in the spring.
There is much unfinished work
at the stadium, but the field is in
prime condition and the grand stand
is ready with thousands of indivi-
dual seats in place and spotlessly
clean.
Plenty of Seats
The bleachers also are ready for
occupancy and there are enough
seats in the plant to meet all de-
mands, both reserved and general
admission.
The playing field is square, $50
feet down the foul lines and same
distance from. the left field corner to
the flag pole and from the fagpole
to the right field corner. A high
brick wall surrounds the park and
it's good guess that the home run
hitters are going to meet with diff
Guilty in clearing the barrier.
The only boxes on the grandstand
roof are for the press, telegraph
operators and club officials, and a
temporary stairway leads up to the
coopS. Player dressing rooms are
beneath the stand and the athletes
will reach the dugouts through run
ways.
The Indians will occupy the third
base bench the same as at old
Washington park.
Covers Six Acres
The Perry stadium stands and
field cover six acres and the park
ing space for autos adjacent to the
park covers about seven acres. The
opening series in the new plant calls
for five games with single tits to-
day and Sunday, a double header
Labor day afternoon and and a
single game Tuesday.
After Tuesday, the Indians will
go on the road again, playing in
Columbus, Toledo, and Louisville be-
fore returning to wind up the sea-
son at home with Toledo and CO.
lumbus.
The American Association CAM
paign ends on Sunday, Sept. q.