Dearborn Park (Lakefront Park)

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Dearborn Park (Lakefront Park)
Life Span: About 1860-1897
Location: Michigan, Washington and Randolph Streets

Park

Dearborn Park
Michigan Avenue

The Chicago White Stockings (later Chicago Cubs) left Twenty-Third Street Park and relocated to Lakefront Park near the corner of Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street. The same location that Union Baseball Grounds had stood before The Fire. The ballpark opened on May 14, 1878 with a 3:45 pm “game between the Indianapolis nine (Blues) and the home nine.” The Chicago Inter Ocean said:

Although the day was very chilly and exceedingly unpleasant for out-door sports, fully 2,500 people assembled to witness the game and listen to a very ‘queer’ band, provided by President (William) Hulbert to officiate at the opening and funeral services of his white-hosed boys.

The ballpark was expanded after the 1882 season and remained the White Stockings’ home until they moved to West Side Park in 1885, but not before they won championships in 1880, 1881 and 1882.

This park became the location for the new Chicago Public Library in 1897.