Historic site of Crosley Field opens to public

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - It's another opening day for one of the most iconic ballparks in baseball history. What is now City Gospel Mission used to be the left field stands at Crosley Field.

On June 8, officials from City Gospel Mission officially opened their campus to the public to commemorate Crosley Field.

There are nine stations for visitors to see. There's an outside plaza with historic facts, left and right foul poles, a light stand, first, second, and third bases, home plate, and a hall of pictures of the old ballpark.

The Reds played at Crosley from 1912 to 1970.

The spot brings back a lot of memories for a lot of people. "It sort of made the whole thing come alive," says City Gospel Mission President Roger Howell. "I think the best part about it was that Johnny wanted to be here, he wanted to commemorate and remember Crosley Field. That was really fun to see somebody like him, best catcher ever to come here and say, wow. This is where it was."

"I couldn't get in most of the time when I was younger and we would watch through a crack in the wall to watch the players," said Elmer Hensler, owner of Queen City Sausage.

There is the map for the self-guided tour. Visitors can pick it up for free inside the lobby of City Gospel Mission. personalized commemorative bricks that will be part of a plaza at the site can also be purchased.