Henninger Field

Henninger Field is a little-known, historic ballpark located in historic Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

Erected in 1895, Henninger Field, (originally known as Wolf Park), is the home of the Chambersburg Maroons. Wolf Park was renamed in 1920 in honor of Clay Henninger, a very influential person in baseball in Chambersburg.

The field, owned by the Borough of Chambersburg, is leased currently to Wilson College, a local four-year liberal arts school, as the home field for their Men's NCAA Division III baseball program.

Henninger Field
Home of the Chambersburg Maroons
Henninger Field
Former namesWolf Park or Wolf Field (1895-1920)
LocationCorner of Vine Street and Riddle Alley, Chambersburg, PA 17201
Coordinates39°56′43.67″N 77°39′26.41″W
OwnerBorough of Chambersburg
OperatorChambersburg Maroons
Field sizeLeft Field - 305
Center Field - 455
Right Field - 375
SurfaceNatural Grass
Construction
Opened1895
Construction costUnknown
Tenants
Chambersburg Maroons - 1895-2010
Chambersburg Trojans football 1898-1956
Chambersburg Young Yanks 1929-1930
Chambersburg Trojans baseball 1900-2006
Chambersburg Cardinals (MDFL) - 1946-1955
Chambersburg Trojans soccer 1968-2003, 2005
Wilson Phoenix baseball 2018-present

Major League Memorial

Major League Baseball third baseman Mike Mowrey was born in Chambersburg and managed and played baseball for the Chambersburg Maroons at Henninger Field for several seasons prior to his days in the Major Leagues. Mowrey had his memorial service held at Henninger Field.[1] Two months after his death on March 20, 1947, Mowrey's memorial service was held following a game played by the sandlot Letterkenny team. More than 1,000 people attended the service, and according to the eulogy, "He was our Grand Old Man of Baseball, who started as a sandlotter and went to the top in baseball to become one of the greatest third basemen the game had known."

Other Users

Henninger Field has been a cornerstone of athletics in the Greater Chambersburg area since the nineteenth century. Aside from the Maroons, Henninger has hosted sporting events ranging from another Minor League Baseball team, the Chambersburg Young Yanks (1929–1930), to the Chambersburg Cardinals of the Mason Dixon Football League (1946–1955).[2] Chambersburg Trojans athletics have also been present, with events ranging from baseball (1900–2006), football (1898–1956), and soccer (1968–2003, 2005) being played at the site as well. In 2018, the Wilson College Phoenix baseball team will play their home games here, 2018 is the first year for the program.[3]

Babe Ruth and Henninger Field

Babe Ruth and the 1929 New York Yankees played an exhibition game at Henninger Field against the Chambersburg Maroons in the summer of 1929. Ruth hit a home run to left-center field during the game.[4]

Location

This historic ballpark is located at the corner of Vine Street and Riddle Alley in downtown Chambersburg.


Dimensions
  • Leftfield (305)
  • Centerfield (455)
  • Right field (375)

References
  1. "Mike Mowrey | Society for American Baseball Research". sabr.org.
  2. "History". www.chambersburgcardinals.com.
  3. "Wilson College to Start Baseball Program". Wilson College Athletics.
  4. "leaguelineup".
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