route22ny:Babe Ruth at the plate for the New York Yankees, July 13, 1920, in the Polo Grounds (photo

route22ny:Babe Ruth at the plate for the New York Yankees, July 13, 1920, in the Polo Grounds (photographer unknown)  If you think the right filed foul pole looks close, it is–only 258 feet.  The Polo Grounds’ unusual dimensions featured short foul lines but a cavernous center field (see below).  1920 was Ruth’s first year with the Yankees.  Yankee Stadium, “The House That Ruth Built” wasn’t built until 1923.  When the Yankees were playing at home, the Giants were on the road (and vice versa).From Wikipedia: “One of the oddest features at the Polo Grounds were the deep dimensions in straight away center field. The wall was so far away from home plate, at 483 feet (147 m), that few players ever hit home runs over it. Before its 1923 reconstruction, only Babe Ruth ever reached the center field stands; after 1923 only four players would reach the distant center field bleachers. The clubhouse was also located in that area, and was considered in play, as the windows were on the in-play side of the wall. The ground rules of the Polo Grounds were set up so that if a ball went through an open window in the clubhouse, it was a ground rule double, rather than a home run. Since no ball ever reached the clubhouse in the life of the stadium, that rule was never tested.“ -- source link

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