INTRODUCTION
In 1927 the only expansion at Comiskey Park was completed. The ballpark was enclosed with double deck grandstands surrounding the playing field, except in centerfield where a single tier of stands was located, increasing the seating capacity to 52,000 The original scoreboards were located on the left and right field fences. Before the start of the 1951 the first electric scoreboard was added in centerfield in the opening between the second decks.
Chicago Tribune, April 22, 1960
Comiskey Park Scoreboard
1959
Sox Fans to Hear Hi Fi—
on Ball Park Scoreboard
A movie he saw years ago, “The Time of Your Life,” inspired Bill Veeck, president of the White Sox, to install the “exploding” scoreboard in Comiskey park.
“This character in the film was always playing pin ball machines,” said Veeck. “Toward the finish he finally hit the jackpot and there was the racket and flashing of lights you ever heard or saw.”
A firing platform back of the scoreboard will go into action when a White Sox player hits a home run. It will be ready for the night game a week from Thursday against the Cleveland Indians.
There will be noises of varying tones and intensities. When Al Smith hits a homer, simulated hoof beats of horses will be heard. Al won a horse in Puerto Rico this spring for leading the White Sox and Phillies in homers in a three game series. Other buttons will produce varying noises, such as thunder and the collision of locomotives.
The eight small ladders atop the scoreboard will flash into electrical patterns. Strobe lights are atop the two higher ladders. Bombs and fireworks also will be exploding from the firing plat- form.
Cost of these installations, and other features, was $300,000, said Veeck. Yes—he said—there also will be the usual, or unusual, fireworks display after all night games.
Al Smith’s third inning home run.
Chicago Tribune, May 2, 1960
Cheers of 29,586 spectators still were ringing in their ears and their eyes were half-blinded by the multicolored send-off given them by the electrical monster in center field.