Crosley Field, the former home of the Cincinnati Reds, will be commemorated with a new mural and displays at the old ballpark site, now home to City Gospel Mission.
Funded mainly by the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum — one of the great ballpark museums — the 17-foot-by-50-foot mural will be open to the public after it is completed by arts group Keep Cincinnati Beautiful. The grand opening of the mural and historic display — comprising the Crosley Field Historic Site — is today at 11 a.m. at the City Gospel Mission campus (1805 Dalton Av.). Along with the mural of Crosley Field, visitors can also sample the following:
- A self-guided tour for visitors (brochures are available in the lobby)
- Replica left-field foul pole and right-field foul pole (located in the parking of Nehemiah Manufacturing, which also has memorabilia in its lobby)
- Replica light tower
- Historical photos provided by the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum
- A plaza with replica seats and commemorative bricks
- Base markers
- Memorabilia for purchase
“The purpose of the project is to acknowledge and preserve the history of the field that means so much to the Reds, fans and city, offering a chance for visitors to experience that history in a significant way,” City Gospel Mission president Roger Howell said.
Said Reds Hall of Fame and Museum executive director Rick Walls, “We are pleased to play a role in preserving this important place in the city’s long and storied baseball legacy.”