A Baseball Ground,
The Best in the Dominion, to be Created at Dundurn.
from the Hamilton Spectator, December 5, 1884.
Baseball players and the general public will be glad to know that it has been definitely decided to make a first-class ball ground, with grand stands, and all the accessories, at Dundurn park. Influenced by recent correspondence in the SPECTATOR, Mr. McInnes has decided to go on with the work. Manager Bampfylde has been notified that the contemplated improvement will be carried out as soon as possible, and that "the most desirable ball ground in the Dominion" will forthwith be established at Dundurn. The ground will be located upon that level spot now occupied as a garden, from which all trees and shrubbery will be removed. Turf will be put down, grand stands, high catchers' fence, scorers stand, etc. will be put up, and the ground will be entirely surrounded by a railing to restrain the eager crowd.
The Hamilton street car company, too, will do its share to make the new grounds successful, and will lay a double track along York street from James to the park. Baseball will boom in Hamilton next summer.
The diamond built at Dundurn would become the home plate for the Hamilton Clippers, a baseball team in the Canadian Baseball League.
When the baseball association outlawed the sale of alcohol on all baseball grounds in 1887, Dundurn gained a new popularity. People enjoying baseball games could go to a bar located in the Dundurn Castle right next to the diamond.
After the fancy festivities held for the opening of Dundurn Park in 1900, some citizens and City officials decided that baseball should not be played at such a peaceful and historic site as Dundurn. This idea angered the Retail Grocer's Association, Trades and Labour Council, St. George's Society, St, Andrew's Society, Orange Order, and other taxpayers, because many claimed they had voted to buy Dundurn Park mostly because of its baseball field. In fact, they had plans to get an Eastern League baseball team there in a short time. However, the City soon convinced these baseball supporters that they could play in many other parks and places. By 1902, the baseball field at Dundurn was closed.
An unnamed author pokes fun at the different people wanting to keep Dundurn as a sports park in the following poem:
Dundurn for the People
from the Gardiner Scrapbooks, vol. 113. p. 54. Special Collections, HPL.
Dundurn coveted, by the people,
Has long been sought, for the people;
And now acquired, by the people.
A beauteous grove, for the people!
A lovely park, for the people!
A quiet place, for the people!
The alderman chosen, by the people,
Named a commission, from the people
To manage this park for the people
Independently of the people!
To whom, some wights, crafty people,
Approach and say, not for the people;
"Give us this park, from the people,
To play baseball, and charge the people
For their own park; poor silly people!
We'll make money, and cheat the people
Out of their own," Unhappy people!
The cricketers too, of the people,
Let them have part, and do the people.
Lawn-tennisers too, are, of the people;
Give them a slice, too, from the people.
Footballers, beloved of the people,
Would fain exhibit before the people,
And Riflemen, are of the people;
They'll take a range, from the people.
Skittles is good fun, for some people;
Start an alley, filched from the people.
And any sport, loved by the people,
Let it be formed out from the people.
That money may come from the people.
To the contractors, hungry people,
Who'd take the dollars, from the people,
For the property, of the people,
Then what would remain for the people,
Of the park, thus stolen from the people?
And golf unknown to most of the people
Is much in vogue with tony people.
The "first four hundred" wealthy people
Would want their "links" like other people's.
Archer's mostly fair female people,
Graceful, gentle, courtly people
Might bring their claim before the people,
To have their ground, too, from the people,
But as some couldn't hit a steeple,
Danger might come to common people,
And the ground kept for safe people.
Ask the renters, foes of the people,
They'll smiling say this to the people:
"We'll wrest this park from the people,
To play baseball and cheat the people,
Hurrah for ball! and the people,"
And then they'll shout "We are the people.
Stay, stay, ye trustees of the people,
Do not this wrong to all the people;
Ye'll have to reckon with the people
For your stewardship for the people,
So keep your truth, to the people,
And do what's right by the people,
Scorn these enemies of the people.
Send right about these baseball people;
Crooked deeds deceive no people,
But rouse the ire of all the people.
Preserve this purchase of the people,
Beautify it for the people,
'Specially for the little people,
Playground for the sweet little people."
Sylvian pleasurance for happy people,
Umbrageous lawns for picnic people,
With shady groves for quiet people,
Nookiest of nooks for spooney people,
And restful spots for weary people,
Welcome sunshine ailing people,
Quiet retreat for aged people,
Dundurn, the beautiful, for the people,
The pride of all our city people,
Envy of all the country people,
For free-est use of untold people,
So, earn blessings from all the people.
(Signed) One of the people.
