The Giants Move To San Francisco
"There have been recent rumors that the Giants, that the Giants, at the expiration of their current lease in 1962, will turn the tables and become tenants of the Yankees." - Jack Orr, Sport, 1953(1)
The final Giants game at the Polo Grounds
In the early 1950s, the future of the Polo Grounds was becoming uncertain as talk of its abandonment began. Robert Moses wanted to tear down the ballpark in order to use the land for public housing. In addition, parking was a problem and the neighborhood was deteriorating. In 1950, a fan was killed by a stray bullet fired from outside the stadium. Using Yankee Stadium was an alternative, but owner Charles Stoneham wanted a new stadium, built by the city. A site on the west side bordered by 60th Street, 72nd Street, West End Avenue and the West Side Highway was considered, but the $20,000,000 deal never made it past the proposal stage. Stoneham also looked in Queens, all the while making it clear that he was willing to leave New York City altogether. In 1957, National League officials gave the team the okay to move the team to San Francisco.(2) Like the Dodgers, the Giants left New York for lack of a suitable stadium.
The demolished Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds and Washington Heights Giants
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1 Thornley, p. 112.
2 Ibid, pp. 112-113.