History
William Cammeyer's Union Grounds opened on May 15, 1862, and was the first ballpark fully enclosed by a fence, so admission could be charged. It was flooded for skating in winter. The New York Mutuals made it their home from 1871 to 1876, sharing it with the Brooklyn Eckfords and Atlantics, and the Hartford club played its 1877 National League home games there.
The last major-league game was played on July 26, 1878. Amateur and barnstorming clubs used it through 1882, and it was demolished in July 1883. Heyward Street now crosses the site.
Why it matters: It is credited as the first enclosed ballpark, which made paid admission possible.
Timeline
- May 15, 1862Inaugural match[1]
The grounds opened with their first match.
- October 1871Chicago 'home' game[1]
The Chicago White Stockings played a season-ending home game there after the Great Chicago Fire destroyed their grounds.
- July 26, 1878Last major-league game[1]
Providence beat Milwaukee 4–1 in the last major-league game there.
- July 1883Demolished[1]
The grounds were demolished.
The site today
| Physical status | Site redeveloped[1] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Juan Morel Campos Secondary School and the Marcy Avenue Armory, divided by Heyward Street (as of 2009)[1] |
| Mapped location | Approximate historic location |
Teams & events
| Eckford Club | National Association of Base Ball Players · 1862–1863 |
|---|---|
| New York Mutuals | National Association / National League · 1871–1876 |
| Brooklyn Eckfords | National Association · 1872 |
| Brooklyn Atlantics | National Association · 1873–1875 |
| Hartford Dark Blues | National League · 1877 |
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 | Union Skating Rink; Union Skating Pond |
|---|---|
| Location | Block bounded by Harrison Avenue, Rutledge Street, Lynch Street and Marcy Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York |
| Venue type | Ballpark |
| Sports | Baseball |
| Level | MLB, Amateur |
| Opened | May 15, 1862[1] |
| Last used for sports | 1882[1] |
| Demolished | July 1883[1] |
| Physical status | Site redeveloped |
| Owner / operator | William Cammeyer |
Documented details
Sources
- Union Grounds, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, current land use, demolished, events, opened, teams
- Union Grounds, Brooklyn (park NYC01), Baseball Data Hub. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: coordinates, 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 cites the July 1883 demolition date to a New York Times article from May 1883 about a game, which does not support the date.
- Wikipedia says the Mutuals moved in in 1868 but lists their tenancy from 1871.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.