Joseph J. O'Donnell Field is a baseball venue in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is home to the Harvard Crimson baseball team of Harvard University. Formerly known as Soldier's Field, the location has been home to Harvard baseball since 1898. The venue is named for Joseph J. O'Donnell, a Harvard alumnus who played baseball and football while attending the school. It has a capacity of 1,600 spectators.[2]
Left field: 335 feet (102 m) Left center field: 370 feet (110 m) Center field: 415 feet (126 m) Right center field: 370 feet (110 m) Right field: 335 feet (102 m)[2]
The land on which O'Donnell sits was donated to Harvard in 1890 by Major Henry Lee Higginson; Higginson named the site Soldier's Field after six of his friends who died fighting in the Civil War– James Savage, Jr., Charles Russell Lowell, Edward Barry Dalton, Stephen George Perkins, James Jackson Lowell, Robert Gould Shaw. At the site's dedication, Higginson said in an address to Harvard's students:[3][4]
This field means more than a playground to me, for I ask to make it a memorial to some dear friends who gave their lives, and all that they had or hoped for, to their country and to their fellow men in the hour of great need—the War of the Rebellion. They gave their lives in the cause of virtue and good government, and to save our nation from the great sins of disunion and of slavery. This is what we claim for our northern men.
UseEdit
The Harvard baseball program moved to the location in 1898; from 1884–1897, it had played at Holmes Field, which Harvard also used for football games and track and field competitions. The Harvard Crimson football and track and field teams continued to share Soldier's Field until moving to Harvard Stadium.
On April 27, 1898, in the first game played on the field, Harvard defeated Dartmouth 13–7.[2][3][4]
Prior to a doubleheader against Dartmouth on May 4, 1997, the field was dedicated to Joseph J. O'Donnell, Harvard class of 1967. O'Donnell played baseball and football at Harvard, captaining the baseball team during his senior season. He donated $2.5 million to the baseball program in 1995, allowing it to hire a head coach on a full-time basis.[5] In 2012, O'Donnell donated an additional $30 million to the university.[6]
The 1998 Harvard team had a 15–0 record at O'Donnell Field and is the only team in program history to have an undefeated home record.[2]
FeaturesEdit
The field features a natural grass surface, bullpens, and shrubbery beyond the outfield fence. Bleacher seating is located behind home plate and on the first base side of the field.[2] In 2004, a new backstop and dugouts were added to the field. Additionally, the height of the outfield fence was raised from three feet to four feet.[7]
^ ab"Game Day Information". GoCrimson.com. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
^ abcde. GoCrimson.com. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
^ ab. Harvard University Library. Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
^ ab. Archived from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
^"The Harvard University Gazette". News.Harvard.edu. 8 May 1997. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
^Young, Colin A. (20 March 2012). "Harvard Receives $30 Million Gift from Boston Businessman Joseph O'Donnell, Wife Kathy". Boston.com. The Boston Globe. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
^McGinn, Timothy J. (25 June 2004). "New Dugouts Headline Capital Improvements at O'Donnell Field". TheCrimson.com. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
^Sears, Stephen (9 July 2004). "Scouts Search for Gems on Diamond". Boston.com. The Boston Globe. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
^. PlaytoWinBaseball.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2012.
August 29, 2023
joseph, donnell, field, baseball, venue, boston, massachusetts, united, states, home, harvard, crimson, baseball, team, harvard, university, formerly, known, soldier, field, location, been, home, harvard, baseball, since, 1898, venue, named, joseph, donnell, h. Joseph J O Donnell Field is a baseball venue in Boston Massachusetts United States It is home to the Harvard Crimson baseball team of Harvard University Formerly known as Soldier s Field the location has been home to Harvard baseball since 1898 The venue is named for Joseph J O Donnell a Harvard alumnus who played baseball and football while attending the school It has a capacity of 1 600 spectators 2 Joseph J O Donnell FieldO Donnell FieldFormer namesSoldier s Field 1898 1997 Location65 North Harvard Street Boston Massachusetts USA 1 Coordinates42 22 00 N 71 07 44 W 42 366566 N 71 12884 W 42 366566 71 12884OwnerHarvard UniversityOperatorHarvard UniversityCapacity1 600Field sizeLeft field 335 feet 102 m Left center field 370 feet 110 m Center field 415 feet 126 m Right center field 370 feet 110 m Right field 335 feet 102 m 2 SurfaceNatural grassScoreboardElectronicConstructionOpenedApril 27 1898Renovated2004TenantsHarvard Crimson baseball NCAA DI Ivy 1898 present Contents 1 History 1 1 Donation and dedication 1 2 Use 2 Features 3 Other uses 4 See also 5 ReferencesHistory EditDonation and dedication Edit The land on which O Donnell sits was donated to Harvard in 1890 by Major Henry Lee Higginson Higginson named the site Soldier s Field after six of his friends who died fighting in the Civil War James Savage Jr Charles Russell Lowell Edward Barry Dalton Stephen George Perkins James Jackson Lowell Robert Gould Shaw At the site s dedication Higginson said in an address to Harvard s students 3 4 This field means more than a playground to me for I ask to make it a memorial to some dear friends who gave their lives and all that they had or hoped for to their country and to their fellow men in the hour of great need the War of the Rebellion They gave their lives in the cause of virtue and good government and to save our nation from the great sins of disunion and of slavery This is what we claim for our northern men Use Edit The Harvard baseball program moved to the location in 1898 from 1884 1897 it had played at Holmes Field which Harvard also used for football games and track and field competitions The Harvard Crimson football and track and field teams continued to share Soldier s Field until moving to Harvard Stadium On April 27 1898 in the first game played on the field Harvard defeated Dartmouth 13 7 2 3 4 Prior to a doubleheader against Dartmouth on May 4 1997 the field was dedicated to Joseph J O Donnell Harvard class of 1967 O Donnell played baseball and football at Harvard captaining the baseball team during his senior season He donated 2 5 million to the baseball program in 1995 allowing it to hire a head coach on a full time basis 5 In 2012 O Donnell donated an additional 30 million to the university 6 The 1998 Harvard team had a 15 0 record at O Donnell Field and is the only team in program history to have an undefeated home record 2 Features EditThe field features a natural grass surface bullpens and shrubbery beyond the outfield fence Bleacher seating is located behind home plate and on the first base side of the field 2 In 2004 a new backstop and dugouts were added to the field Additionally the height of the outfield fence was raised from three feet to four feet 7 Harvard Stadium stands next to the field on the first base side 1 Other uses EditThe field has hosted the baseball tournament of the summer Bay State Games on several occasions 8 It also hosts high school baseball showcases 9 See also EditList of NCAA Division I baseball venuesReferences Edit a b Game Day Information GoCrimson com Retrieved 16 May 2012 a b c d e O Donnell Field GoCrimson com Archived from the original on November 23 2010 Retrieved May 16 2012 a b Chronology of Harvard University Baseball 1858 2006 Harvard University Library Archived from the original on July 3 2014 Retrieved June 29 2014 a b Henry Lee Higginson s Soldiers Field Address Archived from the original on April 11 2016 Retrieved June 29 2014 The Harvard University Gazette News Harvard edu 8 May 1997 Retrieved 16 May 2012 Young Colin A 20 March 2012 Harvard Receives 30 Million Gift from Boston Businessman Joseph O Donnell Wife Kathy Boston com The Boston Globe Retrieved 16 May 2012 McGinn Timothy J 25 June 2004 New Dugouts Headline Capital Improvements at O Donnell Field TheCrimson com Retrieved 16 May 2012 Sears Stephen 9 July 2004 Scouts Search for Gems on Diamond Boston com The Boston Globe Retrieved 16 May 2012 Play to Win Baseball Camp PlaytoWinBaseball com Archived from the original on 5 May 2012 Retrieved 16 May 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joseph J O 27Donnell Field amp oldid 1155001117, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
