A poster hangs in the interior of Engel Stadium calling attention to the movie "42," the story of Jackie Robinson. Parts of the movie were filmed in the historic baseball stadium. Today is the 68th anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier of major league baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
photo by Dennis Norwood
While the 2015 version of the Chattanooga Lookouts prepares for its home opener tonight – first pitch at 7:15 p.m. – against long-time rival Birmingham Barons, it’s worth looking back at baseball on this date.
Engel Stadium – The House that Joe (Engel) Built officially opened for business 85 years ago today - Tuesday, April 15, 1930 - as 16,000 crammed into Engel Stadium at the corner of 3rd and O’Neal.
The Lookouts sent their fans home happy that afternoon by scoring three in the home half of the ninth for a 6-5 triumph against the Atlanta Crackers.
Jackie Robinson – The UCLA football and baseball star broke the color barrier April 15, 1947 as he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers in a home game against the Boston Braves. While Robinson was 0-3 at the plate, he played flawlessly at first, did reach first base on a throwing error in the seventh and later scored what proved to be the winning run as the Dodgers won 5-3.
Robinson went on to be selected as the National League Rookie of the Year that season.
All major league teams honor Robinson each year on this date.
Engel Stadium Today – the former home of the Lookouts sits empty of pro baseball today, but with the hard work and recently announced partnership of UTC and the Engel Foundation, exciting plans are in the works for the ball park.
UTC has announced intramural competitions will be held at the Engel Stadium complex most likely by the fall semester of this year.
Thanks to the leadership of former Engel Foundation chair Janna Jahn and many others in the public and private sector, a half million dollars worth of renovations have made Engel Stadium ready for use today as evidenced by hosting the 2014 Southern League home run derby June 16, the day prior to the S.L. All-Star game being played at AT&T Field across town.
The Future: Led by UTC’s Dr, Richard Brown and current Engel Foundation director Beck Browder, the future use for Engel Stadium will include a concert May 1 and aforementioned UTC student intramural use.
Possibilities: Hopefully, those leading the way will consider what Birmingham’s Rickwood Foundation has done at Rickwood Field with the possibility of a tenant on property which allows for the stadium to be open during regular business hours 12 months a year and gives the general public a chance to take tours of the facility.
A Lookouts Museum and Hall of Fame could be housed at Engel Stadium and hopefully in the next year or two the new Lookouts owners will have a second Lookouts Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
The inaugural HOF class (8) was Kiki Cuyler, Joe Engel, Clark Griffith (former Washington Senators owner), Burleigh Grimes, Rogers Hornsby, Ferguson Jenkins, Harmon Killebrew, Satchel Paige (played for the Black Lookouts).
Local high schools have played baseball games there in recent years and softball and soccer contests are viable sporting events on property.
Staff members from UTC and the Engel Foundation will meet again this summer to discuss fund raising plans and possible uses for the complex.
A view of the field at Engel Stadium as she stands today. This date, April 15th, marks the 85th anniversary of "The House That Joe Engel Built."
photo by Dennis Norwood