History
Red Sox owner Robert S. Lewis built the park in 1923. In 1927 the team and park passed to brothers W.S. and J.B. Martin, who renamed it and enlarged it in 1947 for $200,000.
Owning their ballpark gave the Red Sox scheduling flexibility and spared them the gate fees charged at leased venues. The Martins disbanded the team and sold the stadium in 1960, it was demolished in 1961, and a truck dealership and a historical marker now occupy the site.
Why it matters: It was one of the few Negro league ballparks owned by its team.
Timeline
- 1923Built[1]
Team owner Robert S. Lewis built the park.
- 1927Martin brothers take over[1]
Brothers W.S. and J.B. Martin acquired the team and park and renamed it.
- 1947Enlarged[1]
The park was enlarged at a cost of $200,000.
- 1960Sold[1]
The Martins disbanded the Red Sox and sold the stadium.
- 1961Demolished[1]
The stadium was demolished.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped[1] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Semi-truck dealership; a historical marker stands at the site[1] |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| Memphis Red Sox | Negro American League · 1923–1959 |
|---|
Listed here are organizations that used this physical venue. A franchise's history and a venue's history are tracked separately.
Venue facts
| Other names | Lewis Park; Martin Park |
|---|---|
| Location | Between Iowa Avenue (now E.H. Crump Boulevard) and East Railroad Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee |
| Venue type | Ballpark |
| Sports | Baseball |
| Level | Negro leagues |
| Opened | 1923[1] |
| Last used for sports | 1960[1] |
| Demolished | 1961[1] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Owner / operator | Robert S. Lewis; from 1927 W.S. and J.B. Martin |
| Closure | The Martin brothers disbanded the Memphis Red Sox and sold the park in 1960. |
Documented details
- The Red Sox were one of only a few Negro league teams to own their ballpark, which gave them scheduling flexibility and spared them the gate fees charged at leased venues.[1]
Sources
- Martin Stadium (Memphis), Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, coordinates, current land use, demolished, events, opened, teams
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (2)
- Wikipedia mentions a 1907 Sanborn map showing the ballpark although it says the park was built in 1923.
- Wikipedia's text is unclear whether 1947 was a renovation or new construction.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.