17: Opening Day Baseball History in New York

A Great Big City — New York City News, History, and Events

• 106 years ago on April 9, 1913 — The first game is played at Ebbets Field

• A devastating fire sweeps through Polo Grounds stadium

• 96 years ago on April 18, 1923 — The original Yankee Stadium officially opens

• 10 years ago on April 16, 2009 — The newest Yankee Stadium opens — The new Yankee Stadium opens

• 55 years ago on April 17, 1964 — Shea Stadium opens in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens

• 72 years ago in April 15, 1947 — Jackie Robinson breaks the color barrier in baseball

• 68 years ago on April 17, 1951 — Mickey Mantle makes his major league debut

• 115 years ago on April 8, 1904 — Longacre Square is renamed 'Times Square'

• 153 years ago on April 10, 1866 — The ASPCA is founded in New York City, becoming the oldest animal welfare organization in the United States

• 114 years ago on April 12, 1905 — The Hippodrome Theatre opens

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Park of the day

There are at least six parks or city areas named in honor of Jackie Robinson:

• Jackie Robinson Community Garden in Harlem
• Jackie Robinson Park (Manhattan)
• Jackie Robinson Park (Brooklyn)
• Jackie Robinson Parkway in Queens
• Jackie Robinson Playground near the former site of Ebbets Field

• Jackie Robinson Recreation Center in Manhattan's Jackie Robinson Park

• Celebrate Jackie Robinson Day at the Jackie Robinson Recreation Center this Monday, April 15 from 5pm to 7pm at Bradhurst Avenue and 146th in Sugar Hill. The event will include arts and crafts and information on the history of baseball. Call [phone] for more info.

Concert Calendar

• Less Than Jake, Mest, and Punchline are playing The Liberty Belle Rocks Off Concert Cruise on Sunday, April 14th.
• Foals, Omni, and Preoccupations are playing Brooklyn Steel on Sunday, April 14th.
• Susto, Frances Cone, and Illiterate Light are playing The Bowery Ballroom on Monday, April 15th.
• Telekinesis, SONTALK, and The Royal Arctic Institute are playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Tuesday, April 16th.
• Priests and Gurr are playing Elsewhere on Tuesday, April 16th.
• The Claypool Lennon Delirium is playing Brooklyn Steel on Tuesday, April 16th.
• Broods are playing Irving Plaza on Thursday, April 18th.
• Nick Mason's Saucerful of Secrets is playing Beacon Theatre on Thursday, April 18th.
• Copeland, From Indian Lakes, and Many Rooms are playing Gramercy Theater on Thursday, April 18th.
• Actor Observer, semaphore, Sparrows, Tree River, and Warpark are playing The Kingsland on Thursday, April 18th.
• True Widow is playing Brooklyn Night Bazaar on Thursday, April 18th.
• The Coathangers is playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on Thursday, April 18th.
• Children of Bodom, Summoner's Circle, Swallow the Sun, and Wolfheart are playing Irving Plaza on Friday, April 19th.
• Hatebreed, Cro-Mags, Fit For An Autopsy, Obituary, and Terror are playing Playstation Theater on Friday, April 19th.
• Black Lips, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, and Wooing, are playing Bowery Ballroom on Saturday, April 20th.
• and The National is playing Beacon Theatre on Monday, April 22nd.

Find more fun things to do at agreatbigcity.com/events.

New York Fact

Here's something you may not have known about New York:

• Brooklyn is the most populous borough, with an estimated population of 2,648,771 in 2017 and would be the third-largest city in the U.S. after Los Angeles and Chicago

Weather

The extreme highs and lows for this week in weather history:
Record High: 96°F on April 17, 2002
Record Low: 22°F on April 13, 1874

Weather for the week ahead:
Light rain throughout the week, with high temperatures falling to 58°F on Wednesday.

Intro and outro music: 'Start the Day' by Lee Rosevere — Concert Calendar music from Jukedeck.com