I've never seen photos like this before. My favorite baseball book is "Ball Four" and to see the bullpen area was a real treat. Thanks for posting. The Pilots had the best road uniforms ever!
I like the video. It's too bad Lowes didn't keep the little Seattle Raniers exhibit up like they had when Eagle Hardware was there. I'm glad I live next not too far from Chenney Stadium in Tacoma to enjoy that kind of ball.
"It's a round ball, and a round bat, and you gotta hit it square. .... Let's go out there and pound that Budweiser." -- Joe Schultz (manager, Seattle Pilots, 1969)
I saw my first pro game ever here in 1955 at the age of 9. Back in the days when major league ball hadn't left New York for Los Angeles and San Francisco. That is an indelible memory. Walking up that ramp to see the field of green and brilliant while base lines and the Rainiers taking batting practice in there likewise brilliantly white unis. Thanks to the producer of this video. It's really a classic.
A great AAA stadium. They ruined it for the Mariners. Remember going there in the 50's with the moon and Mt Rainier over the right center field fence on a clear night. In 1967, Lou Pinella was a Portland Beavers and I can remember him screaming all kinds of obsenities at the umps over a " bad call". Lou went to the Royals right after that. Loved this stadium.
I know there are still a few of people in Seattle who lament the loss of the Pilots, but in the end (and with the benefit of hindsight), it's tough to argue that the failure of the Pilots didn't work out for the best for both the city of Seattle & MLB. The four-team expansion of 1969 was haphazard & half-assed. Seattle (& Montreal, for that matter) should have been given more time to build a proper, MLB-worthy facility. When MLB finally did return to Seattle in '77, it was done the right way.
Senator Symington of Missouri was steamed that the Kansas City A's were moved to Oakland. He threatened MLB with lawsuits, and MLB caved and awarded the Royals franchise ASAP. The original time table for Seattle was 1971.
I went to a game there with my dad and uncle - Pilots vs A's...sat down the right field line and Reggie hit a HR. What an incredible memory...I was 6 yrs old...
The Seattle Pilots were around for one season (1969)Joe Sparma of the defending World Champion Detroit Tigers pitched a one-hit shutout against them in Seattle. He actually lost a perfect game with two outs in the bottom of the 9th.
I lived on the high above center field 3 blocks away. We use to sit up on the dumpster at the Vista apartments and watch games when we didn't have money for tickets. Happy times.
The media and Pilot fans really dumped on Sicks Stadium during 1969 as totally inadequate (I've even heard rumors that water pressure in the restrooms fell to nothing by the late innings!). But it was a minor league park, and very suited to that role. My folks often went to Rainiers games, and said it was a nice and charming ballpark, and certainly provided an enjoyable baseball experience. Problem was, they simply ruined it by hasty expansion to try and bring it up to the bare minimum standards for a major league team. You couldn't simply add new bleachers to triple a park's seating capacity without "infrastructure" improvements, to say nothing of making a lot of the new seats simply undesirable for baseball viewing. My folks saw Mariner games in the Kingdome, and always maintained that watching a ballgame in old Sicks Stadium beat the Kingdome, hands down (provided, of course, that it didn't rain!). I told them what Sparky Anderson had once said about playing in the Kingdome -- that it was like playing inside a cement mixer -- and they totally agreed!
MKIVWWI they were supposed to start in 1971 but a Kansas or Missouri senator threatened to challenge their reserve clause if they did get a team by 1969.
The big mistake the Pilot owners made was they assumed there was such pent-up demand for major league sports in Seattle that all they had to do was unlock the gates every day and 10,000 people would be lined up for tickets. No TV, very few promotions. The one thing they did right was the radio network. I remember hearing this song before each broadcast...
They were underfunded from the day the franchise was awarded. The American League never should have approved that ownership. They would have gone broke had they drawn a million fans.
Seattle was rushed into it they were not ready. Their goal was to start the 1971 season, but some senator from Missouri threatened to sue MLB if a new team wasn't placed in in Kansas City after losing the Athletics to Oakland.
If the Mariners brass were smart people, they would put a weekend aside (perferably during Seafair) every season to have a Salute to the Pilots and Rainiers weekend.
markofly76 I think the Mariners should change their name to the Seattle Rainiers . It makes more sense because of the pacific coast league and mount rainier. I think it sounds better too.
They were in Seattle for one season -- 1969 -- in 1970 they became the Milwaukee Brewers when a group led by Bud Selig -- yes THAT Bud Selig -- purchased them in bankruptcy court.
I live right near there & could just walk over there. I wasn't born yet at the time, but I heard that people would watch the games from the apartment windows.
I hate baseball and if someone put a gun to my head, Id probably have to root for the White Sox because of where I live.....but I definitely gotta say, I absolutely without bias love this theme song!! its a crying shame this team only lasted one year ^^;
The Brewers lost money their first few years in Milwaukee. And by losses I mean actual cash losses. In 1972 the Brewers drew fewer fans than the Pilots had drawn in 1969. The difference was that Selig and his group were willing to fork over the cash to prop the team up and wait for things to turn around. By contrast, the Pilots owners were ready to bail out before the end of their first season
@SkyPilot53 I can understand your frustration. It really upset me when the Sonics moved to Oklahoma City, especially since they've some really good teams there. Although in my opinion, a lot of good came from the Pilots re-locating because if it hadn't happened, there would be no Toronto Blue Jays, who have kept Major League Baseball alive in Canada.
Long live the Pilots!! I LOVE that song!! Great stadium footage!! Unfortunately, I never actually got to se the inside of Sick's Seattle Stadium. Thanks, for posting!!!!
The Pilots were played in one season in 1969 in Sick's Stadium, before they moved to Milwaukee to become the Milwaukee Brewers. Also, in 1977, the Seattle Mariners were played after the Kingdome was built in 1976, until 1999, and it was torn down in 2000. The Mariners currently play in Safeco Field.
***** Good job here! I'd say 50% of the population wasn't even born before 1969...these fans probably don't even know of the Pilots or Sicks Stadium's existence.
@SkyPilot53 Yeah Amigo,Breaks my Heart. I remember getting a Topps Pilots card and then finding out they were gone! It was 69-70 When I 1st got into the game and collecting cards as a kid! Watching this was like watching the dismantleing pictures / video of 20.000 Leagues Under the Sea at Disney World Bot are such a Travesty in my Life! :-D
I believe sick stadium made for 35,000 then however bad ideas n lousy plumbin never worked at all so they lost money drew 554,000 in first year n bud selig Moved to Milwaukee in 1970 they filed for Bankrupty//////
It eventually and briefly seated about 22,000. The Pilots claimed a little more than 25,000 (which was the American League minimum), but it never got there.
I remember the come back game against, the Senators, I believe... we kept coming back and we hit a grand slam...memory fades don;t remember who it was. we won 14 to 12
Go go ye Pilots..and they went! Nice video! Great images..have you ever been to Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver, BC? It was built using Sick's blueprints. The light towers and scoreboard were also acquired from Sick's when they razed it years ago...
Not in Seattle, The bridge was in Tacoma, called the Narrows Bridge. However There was a floating bridge on Lake Washington (in Seattle) that "sunk" when the pontoons filled with water during a storm in the early 90's.
Lol.Yeah it was like walking around a junkyard and tidying up the junk in it.It was a minor league ballpark with minor league facilities like the bathrooms.In fact it was an old minor league ballpark.Still the action was close.You got to see the ballplayers up close because it was so small.
Sick's Seattle Stadium was considered the most beautiful park in the country back in the day. I was 9 in 1955 when I went to this sacred place, my friend's godfather was Carmen Mauro, who spent five years in the majors before coming to Seattle. I saw Vada Pinson steal home twice in a doubleheader, the base paths were about 25 feet from the stands, so many Hall of Famers played here.
The Pilots were required to seat 25,000 for American League minimum standards, but it seated about 22,000, and it took a while to reach that figure. The ballpark was unfinished on Opening Day. The carpenters literally had to stop working during the game, and then resumed after it was over. The core of the original stadium (from third, around home, to first and the rickety bleachers down the right field line) was added to with bleachers down the left field line and in left and left-center. There were also a smaller number of bleachers in right field.
I've never seen photos like this before. My favorite baseball book is "Ball Four" and to see the bullpen area was a real treat. Thanks for posting. The Pilots had the best road uniforms ever!
I like the video. It's too bad Lowes didn't keep the little Seattle Raniers exhibit up like they had when Eagle Hardware was there.
I'm glad I live next not too far from Chenney Stadium in Tacoma to enjoy that kind of ball.
"It's a round ball, and a round bat, and you gotta hit it square. .... Let's go out there and pound that Budweiser." -- Joe Schultz (manager, Seattle Pilots, 1969)
I saw my first pro game ever here in 1955 at the age of 9. Back in the days when major league ball hadn't left New York for Los Angeles and San Francisco. That is an indelible memory. Walking up that ramp to see the field of green and brilliant while base lines and the Rainiers taking batting practice in there likewise brilliantly white unis. Thanks to the producer of this video. It's really a classic.
A great AAA stadium. They ruined it for the Mariners. Remember going there in the 50's with the moon and Mt Rainier over the right center field fence on a clear night. In 1967, Lou Pinella was a Portland Beavers and I can remember him screaming all kinds of obsenities at the umps over a " bad call". Lou went to the Royals right after that. Loved this stadium.
The Mariners never played there. Pinella was originally a Pilot. He was traded to the Royals during spring training.
I know there are still a few of people in Seattle who lament the loss of the Pilots, but in the end (and with the benefit of hindsight), it's tough to argue that the failure of the Pilots didn't work out for the best for both the city of Seattle & MLB. The four-team expansion of 1969 was haphazard & half-assed. Seattle (& Montreal, for that matter) should have been given more time to build a proper, MLB-worthy facility. When MLB finally did return to Seattle in '77, it was done the right way.
Senator Symington of Missouri was steamed that the Kansas City A's were moved to Oakland. He threatened MLB with lawsuits, and MLB caved and awarded the Royals franchise ASAP. The original time table for Seattle was 1971.
Actually, Jarry Park was a good baseball facility from 1969 thru 1976. It's still in use today for tennis and (I think) soccer matches.
@@docadams7099 the problem with parc jarry though was the size
I went to a game there with my dad and uncle - Pilots vs A's...sat down the right field line and Reggie hit a HR.
What an incredible memory...I was 6 yrs old...
The Seattle Pilots were around for one season (1969)Joe Sparma of the defending World Champion Detroit Tigers pitched a one-hit shutout against them in Seattle. He actually lost a perfect game with two outs in the bottom of the 9th.
I lived on the high above center field 3 blocks away. We use to sit up on the dumpster at the Vista apartments and watch games when we didn't have money for tickets. Happy times.
The media and Pilot fans really dumped on Sicks Stadium during 1969 as totally inadequate (I've even heard rumors that water pressure in the restrooms fell to nothing by the late innings!). But it was a minor league park, and very suited to that role. My folks often went to Rainiers games, and said it was a nice and charming ballpark, and certainly provided an enjoyable baseball experience. Problem was, they simply ruined it by hasty expansion to try and bring it up to the bare minimum standards for a major league team. You couldn't simply add new bleachers to triple a park's seating capacity without "infrastructure" improvements, to say nothing of making a lot of the new seats simply undesirable for baseball viewing.
My folks saw Mariner games in the Kingdome, and always maintained that watching a ballgame in old Sicks Stadium beat the Kingdome, hands down (provided, of course, that it didn't rain!). I told them what Sparky Anderson had once said about playing in the Kingdome -- that it was like playing inside a cement mixer -- and they totally agreed!
MKIVWWI they were supposed to start in 1971 but a Kansas or Missouri senator threatened to challenge their reserve clause if they did get a team by 1969.
For years I've wondered who had the weird idea to name the place "Sick's Stadium". Seems like they could've picked a MUCH better name.
my mom wrote the words to that song
Dan Allen that's awesome. Did she work at an ad firm in Seattle or something?
it is a really cool fight song---too bad team only played 1 yr in Seattle before going bankrupt
I thought Rod Belcher wrote that song? No?
Seattle Pilots FOREVER!!!!!! Thanks for the look at their ballpark.
I want to go to the Lowe’s they have the old socks stadium as home plate at the front doors it’s sad they only lasted a year
Update I went to the lowes and stepped on home plate it felt awesome knowing this is where the rainiers and the pilots used to play
The big mistake the Pilot owners made was they assumed there was such pent-up demand for major league sports in Seattle that all they had to do was unlock the gates every day and 10,000 people would be lined up for tickets. No TV, very few promotions. The one thing they did right was the radio network. I remember hearing this song before each broadcast...
They were underfunded from the day the franchise was awarded. The American League never should have approved that ownership. They would have gone broke had they drawn a million fans.
Seattle was rushed into it they were not ready. Their goal was to start the 1971 season, but some senator from Missouri threatened to sue MLB if a new team wasn't placed in in Kansas City after losing the Athletics to Oakland.
nice video
If the Mariners brass were smart people, they would put a weekend aside (perferably during Seafair) every season to have a Salute to the Pilots and Rainiers weekend.
markofly76 I think the Mariners should change their name to the Seattle Rainiers . It makes more sense because of the pacific coast league and mount rainier. I think it sounds better too.
@@redsoxclover11 The AAA team in Tacoma is the Rainiers.
"Go, go, go , go you Pilots........Wait, wait come back!!!" #theywent
I live in one of the old sick s stadium apartments
in back of Sicks left field?
They were in Seattle for one season -- 1969 -- in 1970 they became the Milwaukee Brewers when a group led by Bud Selig -- yes THAT Bud Selig -- purchased them in bankruptcy court.
I live right near there & could just walk over there. I wasn't born yet at the time, but I heard that people would watch the games from the apartment windows.
Turn back the clock night was fun today. Was fun to honor the Emerald City's first major league team.
GO GO YE PILOTS! YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE BEST! Everyone come to detroit on august 25th with your pilots gear. show your pilots pride
I hate baseball and if someone put a gun to my head, Id probably have to root for the White Sox because of where I live.....but I definitely gotta say, I absolutely without bias love this theme song!! its a crying shame this team only lasted one year ^^;
The Brewers lost money their first few years in Milwaukee. And by losses I mean actual cash losses. In 1972 the Brewers drew fewer fans than the Pilots had drawn in 1969. The difference was that Selig and his group were willing to fork over the cash to prop the team up and wait for things to turn around. By contrast, the Pilots owners were ready to bail out before the end of their first season
Dave Bristol was the manager when the Pilots moved to Milwaukee. He's still alive. He's the earliest Reds' manager to still be around.
@SkyPilot53 I can understand your frustration. It really upset me when the Sonics moved to Oklahoma City, especially since they've some really good teams there. Although in my opinion, a lot of good came from the Pilots re-locating because if it hadn't happened, there would be no Toronto Blue Jays, who have kept Major League Baseball alive in Canada.
How were the Blue Jays connected to the move of the Pilots?
Jim Bouton was a Pilot.
So were Gene Brabender, Tommy Harper, Don Mincher, Jerry McNertney and Tommy Davis.
Long live the Pilots!! I LOVE that song!! Great stadium footage!! Unfortunately, I never actually got to se the inside of Sick's Seattle Stadium. Thanks, for posting!!!!
i've still got some pilots baseball cards.
No. It was torn down to make room for an Eagle Hardware which I believe became Lowes.
I don’t care for Lowe’s, I’d rather go to home depot but that Lowe’s is one I’ll go to just to see home plate. Rough area tho…
Very cool video. Well done.
Wasn't it a minor leauge stadium?
It was Major league stadium for only 1 season
@@joytotheworld2995 Yes, it was built for the Pacific Coast League Rainiers.
The Pilots were played in one season in 1969 in Sick's Stadium, before they moved to Milwaukee to become the Milwaukee Brewers.
Also, in 1977, the Seattle Mariners were played after the Kingdome was built in 1976, until 1999, and it was torn down in 2000. The Mariners currently play in Safeco Field.
They now play in T-Mobile Park.
After seeing this place,people had some nerve in attacking Jersey City's Roosevelt Stadium.
Gosh, this'll definitely be on my mind the next time I'll go to Lowe's...
Cheney Stadium is Tacoma... Sick's Stadium was demolished long ago.
Very well don TY
***** Good job here! I'd say 50% of the population wasn't even born before 1969...these fans probably don't even know of the Pilots or Sicks Stadium's existence.
That song is great!
Sick's Stadium was built in 1938, and it was torn down in 1979, after it was closed in 1976.
wish i'd been alive back then to take in the aroma of Sick's!
@SkyPilot53 Yeah Amigo,Breaks my Heart. I remember getting a Topps Pilots card and then finding out they were gone! It was 69-70 When I 1st got into the game and collecting cards as a kid! Watching this was like watching the dismantleing pictures / video of 20.000 Leagues Under the Sea at Disney World Bot are such a Travesty in my Life! :-D
I believe sick stadium made for 35,000 then however bad ideas n lousy plumbin never worked at all so they lost money drew 554,000 in first year n bud selig Moved to Milwaukee in 1970 they filed for Bankrupty//////
It eventually and briefly seated about 22,000. The Pilots claimed a little more than 25,000 (which was the American League minimum), but it never got there.
i like that song
I remember the come back game against, the Senators, I believe... we kept coming back and we hit a grand slam...memory fades don;t remember who it was. we won 14 to 12
An oldie! The mention of The Senators dates the song as before my time!
Go go ye Pilots..and they went! Nice video! Great images..have you ever been to Nat Bailey Stadium in Vancouver, BC? It was built using Sick's blueprints. The light towers and scoreboard were also acquired from Sick's when they razed it years ago...
The Pilots got their nickname because Seattle was the home of the Boeing aircraft company.
hey that is next to my high school
Franklin HS.
Why waiting so long to demolish it? Just rotting away, does the location have such little land value?
At the time of this writing the site of Sick's Stadium is now a Lowe's Home Improvement Store
When it first opened, at least one Ranier showed up at customer service joking about hiw he used to work there.
Why does this remind me of a 60's tv show theme song?🤔
The pilots were in seattle from 1969 - 1970.
Only 1969. They only played in Milwaukee in 1970, except for spring training.
Update
And now on that site, a 'Lowe's Hardware' now stands.
Not in Seattle, The bridge was in Tacoma, called the Narrows Bridge. However There was a floating bridge on Lake Washington (in Seattle) that "sunk" when the pontoons filled with water during a storm in the early 90's.
Garlic Gulch, now a Lowe's.
Yes, an Italian neighborhood in those days.
Any relation to Atlee Hamaker?
@DaTwoNinja ya got no class
This was a ballpark that truly lived up to its name.
Lol.Yeah it was like walking around a junkyard and tidying up the junk in it.It was a minor league ballpark with minor league facilities like the bathrooms.In fact it was an old minor league ballpark.Still the action was close.You got to see the ballplayers up close because it was so small.
Sick's Seattle Stadium was considered the most beautiful park in the country back in the day. I was 9 in 1955 when I went to this sacred place, my friend's godfather was Carmen Mauro, who spent five years in the majors before coming to Seattle. I saw Vada Pinson steal home twice in a doubleheader, the base paths were about 25 feet from the stands, so many Hall of Famers played here.
Thanks for posting!...are those old stands,etc., still there????
Everything is long, long gone. The site is a home store.
This was the best Seattle could do for a stadium? Yikes...no wonder that team only stayed there for one season.
Kingdome was only approved in 1968, wouldn't be ready until 1976.
What did the stadium hold? 20,000?
The Pilots were required to seat 25,000 for American League minimum standards, but it seated about 22,000, and it took a while to reach that figure. The ballpark was unfinished on Opening Day. The carpenters literally had to stop working during the game, and then resumed after it was over. The core of the original stadium (from third, around home, to first and the rickety bleachers down the right field line) was added to with bleachers down the left field line and in left and left-center. There were also a smaller number of bleachers in right field.