http://www.cooganresearchgroup.com/crg/index.htm

19 December 2021

COOGAN story (appearing "?" ("?") on DD MMM YYYY:


THE STORY OF COOGAN'S BLUFF

At the southernmost end of Highbridge Park is a part of Washington 
Heights that has been neglected and disused because of the lack of 
pride that was once a part of baseball history. Coogan’s Bluff 
played an important role in bringing the residents of Washington 
Heights and Harlem out on a warm afternoon to watch a baseball 
game without having to pay for it. 

The bluff’s original boundaries extended from 155th Street to 160th
Street and from Edgecombe Avenue to the Harlem River. There is also
a deep escarpment that descends 175 feet from Edgecombe Avenue down 
to the Harlem River which creates a grassy knoll called Coogan’s 
Hollow. Today the section of parkland known as Coogan’s Bluff is 
only .08 acres. 

Coogan’s Bluff was named in honor of James J. Coogan (1845-1915) 
who was the Manhattan Borough President from 1899 to 1901. Coogan 
was also an unsuccessful two-time candidate for the New York City 
mayoral race. Coogan, a real estate merchant, owned much of the 
property in the area that included the site of the Polo Grounds 
ballfield. 

The Polo Grounds, as we know it today, was originally called the 
Brotherhood Park when it was constructed in 1890. But it was not 
always thus. The original Polo Grounds stadium was constructed in 
1876 and located at 111th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues as a 
field for playing polo. By 1883 the New York Metropolitans took 
over the field and played there until 1889 when it was abandoned 
for a new site at 155th Street. By then the name of the 155th 
Street ballpark was changed. 

The ballpark was destroyed by fire on April 13, 1911 forcing the 
owners to rebuild the stadium with concrete and steel instead of 
wood, Initially the new park had a seating capacity for 38,000 
playing fans. In time the seating capacity was increased to hold 
55,987 people. The dimensions from home plate were, 279 feet to 
left field, 483 feet to center field and 258 feet to right field. 
The main entrance was on Eighth Avenue behind the Center Field 
bleachers. Home Plate was on the western side of the field.
 
The main entrance of the stadium was connected to the Ninth (or 
Columbus) Avenue elevated line which had a stop on Eight Avenue 
and 155th Street. The storage and repair yards connected to this 
line and was located between the ballfield and the Harlem River. 
A ramp at track level accommodated the fans who came by train. 
This ramp funneled onto long ramps leading to the main grandstand 
after passing through the turnstiles. The main entrance and Club 
House of the Polo Grounds were accessible to the street.
 
From a logical point of view people who were at Coogan’s Bluff, 
which was above the western side of the stadium, could get an 
excellent view of the field and the games. To many of the paying 
and unpaying fans the Polo Grounds looked like an over sided 
bathtub. 

Various sports teams played at the Polo Grounds. The New York 
Baseball Giants played there until 1957. The New York Mets played 
at the Polo Grounds from 1962 until 1963 when Shea Stadium opened 
at Flushing Meadow Park not to far away from the World’s Fair of 
1964 and 1965.