History
The grounds opened in 1871 beside the railroad tracks on the edge of Boston's South End and Roxbury. The Red Stockings won four straight National Association titles there before joining the new National League in 1876.
The park was rebuilt twice. An ornate double-decked Grand Pavilion opened in 1888 but burned in the Great Roxbury Fire of May 1894; a plainer stand went up within ten weeks. Later bleachers pushed capacity to about 11,000.
The Braves left in August 1914 for Fenway Park while Braves Field was being built. The land was sold with a restriction against baseball use and is now Northeastern University property near Ruggles Station.
Why it matters: It was the home of Boston's first major league club for more than four decades, including its 1870s dynasty.
Timeline
- May 16, 1871
Boston met the Troy Haymakers in the first league match at the grounds.
- May 25, 1888
A double-decked grandstand replaced the original stands.
- May 15, 1894
A fire that began during a game destroyed the Grand Pavilion and many nearby buildings. SABR dates it May 15; Wikipedia May 16.
- July 20, 1894
A smaller replacement park opened about two months after the fire.
- August 11, 1914
A 13-inning scoreless tie with Cincinnati; the Braves then moved to Fenway Park.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped[1] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Northeastern University property: the ISEC science building and the Columbus Parking Garage beside Ruggles Station[1] |
| Surviving remnants | A historical marker at Ruggles Station[1] |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Teams & events
| Boston Red Stockings | National Association · 1871–1875 |
|---|---|
| Boston Red Stockings/Beaneaters/Doves/Braves | National League · 1876–1914 |
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 | Walpole Street Grounds; Boston Baseball Grounds |
|---|---|
| Location | Northeast corner of Columbus Ave. and Walpole St. (now Saint Cyprian's Place), on the South End/Roxbury line, Boston, Massachusetts[1,2] |
| Venue type | Ballpark |
| Sports | Baseball |
| Level | MLB |
| Opened | May 16, 1871[1,2] |
| Last used for sports | August 11, 1914[1,2] |
| Demolished | 1914[1] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Original capacity | 6,800[1,2] |
| Final capacity | 11,000[1,2] |
| Capacity notes | Capacity varied across three successive grandstands; Wikipedia gives 6,800 (1888) rising to 11,000 (1912-1914). SABR also reports about 11,000 after the 1908 bleachers. |
| Surface | Grass |
| Closure | The cramped park was abandoned in 1914; the Braves played at Fenway Park until Braves Field opened in 1915. |
Documented details
Connected venues
Sources
- South End Grounds, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, capacity, closed, coordinates, current land use, demolished, events, opened, remnants, teams
- South End Grounds (Boston), Society for American Baseball Research (Bob Ruzzo). Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, capacity, closed, events, opened, teams
Research confidence
Key facts on this page (opening, closing, status and location) are each supported by sources, with key dates corroborated by at least two independent sources. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (3)
- Great Roxbury Fire: SABR May 15, 1894; Wikipedia May 16, 1894.
- SABR mentions an unofficial first game on April 6, 1871; the record uses the first league match (May 16, 1871).
- Demolition is given only as 1914 by Wikipedia; SABR does not date it.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.