As the New York Yankees prepare to open a new ballpark, we'll spend the week looking back at the former homes of the team. The franchise began play as the Baltimore Orioles in 1901 as a charter member of the American League. John McGraw managed and owned the team; Jack Dunn, who later beame synonymous with Baltimore baseball, was a player. The team lasted in Baltimore for only two seasons before the franchise was sold to Frank Ferrell and William Devery, who then moved the team to a new ballpark between 165th and 168th streets in northern Manhattan. The New York Highlanders were really a secondary team in the New York market in those early days, as Hilltop Park -- also known as American League Park -- held only 15,000 fans. The team played there until 1911, when more interest in the franchise necessitated a move to the larger Polo Grounds. Hilltop Park was torn down after the 1914 season and is now the site of Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center; the former home plate location is commemorated with a plaque. This particular photo shows Chicago White Sox player Kid Gleason during a 1912 visit; he would later become better known as the manager during the team's Black Sox era. This photo is from Library of Congress archives and is part of our new daily photo posting; let us know what you think of it. You can view the photo-of-the-day archives here.

2010 Ballparks

Bob Warn Field (renovations), Indiana State University
Metro Bank Park, Harrisburg Senators (renovations)
Normal, Ill., Normal Cornbelters
PK Park (second phase), Oregon
Target Field, Minnesota Twins
Tulsa Drillers
Winston-Salem Dash, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Lake County Fielders, Zion, Ill.

2011 Ballparks

Lee County spring-training facility, Boston Red Sox
Charlotte, N.C.
Ed Smith Stadium (renovations), Baltimore Orioles spring training
Green Bay Bullfrogs
Loudoun County, suburban D.C., Atlantic League team
Omaha (College World Series)
Pensacola, Fla., Pensacola Pelicans
Salt River, Az., Arizona Diamondbacks/Colorado Rockies
Sarpy County, Neb., Omaha Royals

2012 Ballparks

Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles Dodgers (renovations)
Florida Marlins

	The week that was: February 6 (02/06/2010) The most popular news stories on Ballpark Digest in the past week, as measured by page views. READ MORE…
	Minnesota bonding bill to include planning money for Saints ballpark (02/05/2010) It sounds like funding for a new St. Paul Saints ballpark won't be part of this year's bonding bill in the Minnesota Legislature, but planning and design funding is part of the mix. READ MORE…
	New for 2010: MCU Park (02/05/2010) The home of the Brooklyn Cyclones has a new moniker. READ MORE…
	Altoona launches new branding: Curve, PA (02/05/2010) The Altoona Curve announced an extreme makeover for 2010, including a new marketing campaign, some ballpark renovation work, and a revamped mascot. READ MORE…
	Caloia new GM of Madison Mallards (02/03/2010) Conor Caloia returns to the Madison Mallards, this time as GM, as Vern Stenman is the new president of Northwoods League team. The team also announced several other staff promotions, detailed within. READ MORE…
	Cloutier new GM in Vermont (02/03/2010) Nate Cloutier is the new general manager of the Vermont Lake Monsters; the team also made a slew of other personnel announcements. READ MORE…
	New for 2010: Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (02/03/2010) The newest team in the summer-collegiate Northwoods League: The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. READ MORE…
	IronPigs unveil All-Star logos (02/03/2010) The Lehigh Valley IronPigs released secondary All-Star Game logos, marks for the 2010 Triple-A Home Run Derby and Pigapalooza Fan Fest and designs for the official All-Star Game jerseys, batting practice tops and official outerwear. READ MORE…
	Funderburg takes the reins of the River City Rascals (02/03/2010) Tony Funderburg, the man who originally gave us the outrageous food offerings at Gateway Grizzlies games, is the new president of the River City Rascals, with Steve Malliet kicked up to the owners' suite. READ MORE…
	Snappers: We're still working on new-ballpark plan (02/02/2010) Some news from the Beloit Snappers' Winter Hot Stove Banquet: The team is still working on a new-ballpark plan. READ MORE…

	Fluor Field sets college-ball schedule (02/03/2010) Some of the best college teams will square off at one of minor-league baseball's most scenic ballparks this spring, as the Greenville Drive hosts the First Annual First Pitch Invitational on February 19-21 and more. READ MORE…
	Fair Grounds Field to host SWAC Tournament (01/14/2010) The 2010 Southwestern Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament will be played at Shreveport, La.’s Fair Grounds Field, Commissioner Duer Sharp announced today. READ MORE…