 Messer Street Grounds, spring 1879, with Boston and Providence clubs | |
 | |
| Location | Providence, Rhode Island |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°48′47″N 71°26′13″W / 41.813179°N 71.437064°W |
| Owner | Providence Base Ball Association |
| Capacity | 6,000 |
| Field size | Left Field – 281 ft (86 m) Left-Center – 356 ft (109 m) Center Field – 318 ft (97 m) Right-Center – 356 ft (109 m) Right Field – 431 ft (131 m) Fences – 12 ft (3.7 m) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | May 1, 1878 |
| Closed | September 1886 |
| Demolished | 1887 |
| Tenants | |
| Providence Grays (NL) (1878–1885) Providence Grays (EL) (1886) | |
Messer Street Grounds, also known as Messer Park or Messer Field, was a former baseball park located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was home to the Providence Grays of the National League from 1878 to 1885 and of the minor league Providence Grays of the Eastern League in 1886.
In 1878, the Providence Base Ball Association formed and began scouting around the city for a good location for "the best baseball plant in the country". Team directors visited the old Josiah Chapin farm on city's west side and decided that it fit all of the requirements for a baseball park. It was close to level, it was raised up a few feet from the surrounding roads, and it was easily accessible by street car.
Construction on Messer Park began on April 1 and took exactly one month to complete; the final nail was hammered a mere five minutes before the opening game got underway on May 1.