Chutes Park

Very few ballparks in America can compare with Los Angeles's Chutes Park. Surrounded by an amusement park, the ballpark was just the lated attraction in an amusement park that had been around since 1876. Located between Washington Boulevard and Grand Avenue, the ballpark was named after one of the first water slides called "Shoots the Chutes".

It opened in December 1900, just in time for the California Winter League to play a few games there that same month. Chutes Park was an oddly shaped venue, with only the diagonal section behind home plate and third base under a roof while the first base side was left uncovered. To raise capacity, there was a standing-room-only catwalk resting at the ready behind left field. In 1905, bleachers were added down both foul lines to raise capacity to 6,000.

In 1901 and 1902, a California League team (a precursor of the PCL) played there, attracting locals to the park's added entertainment. In 1903, the PCL's Los Angeles Angels began playing there. In their first game (against the Oakland Commuters), the Angels drew a standing-room crowd of more than 5,000, with many spilling over the outfield foul lines. Although the Angels lost that day, their stay at Chutes Park was more than successful as the Angels won the PCL championship in 1903, 1907 and 1908, all under the guidance of Frank "Cap" Dillon.

But despite their dominance, the Angels often won in spite of their surroundings. The infield never had any grass to halt grounders from traveling further and the resulting dust often hindered pitchers with the better spit balls. The short right field often made it a hitter-friendly ballpark for left-handed sluggers. Still, at least the players had hot showers in the clubhouse.

In 1909, the PCL expanded from four to six teams and one of the two expansion teams, the Vernon Tigers, moved into Chutes Park, sharing the small, wooden venue surrounded by entertainment with the Angels.

By the end of 1910, the amusement park had closed and Chutes Park was on its last leg. Gone was the small zoo beyond left field that held monkeys and bears. Gone too were the pony rides, shooting gallery and four-lane bowling alley that invited fans in for free right after ballgames that ended early enough. Soon after the final game, Chutes Park was demolished to make room for the newest attraction: Washington Park.

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References

1. https://www.pbssocal.org/shows/lost-la/when-the-los-angeles-angels-played-ball-inside-an-amusement-park

2. https://sabr.org/journal/article/the-pacific-coast-league-ballparks-of-los-angeles/

3. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Los_Angeles_Angels_(PCL)