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Photos: Braves Field, Now BU's Nickerson Field, Is 100

An aerial view of Braves Field in 1933 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
An aerial view of Braves Field in 1933 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)

This week marks the 100th anniversary of a big moment in Boston baseball history. In August 1915, the Boston Braves — then the reigning World Series champs -- moved into a brand new home: Braves Field.

When it opened, Braves Field was major league baseball's biggest stadium — and a down-the-road neighbor to Fenway Park, which opened in 1912. Over the years Braves Field also hosted other sports, like pro football.

Braves Field, of course, no longer stands. In 1953, the team moved to Milwaukee (then on to Atlanta), and Boston University purchased the property for $430,000. Now it's Nickerson Field, where BU Terriers play.

As The Boston Herald's Steve Buckley reported this week in an anniversary piece: "Braves Field survives [at Nickerson Field], even if it’s only what’s left of the right-field grandstand, along with the old ticket office, now used as headquarters for BU’s campus police."

In 2012, BU Today offered a rich history of Braves Field and the Braves -- team history that includes the signing of a late-career Babe Ruth and racial integration in 1950. On the latter subject, BU Today detailed: "The Red Sox were the last team in the majors to hire a black player, Pumpsie Green, in 1959. But the Braves debuted outfielder Sam 'Jet' Jethroe in 1950, just a year after the Dodgers made history with Jackie Robinson."

See above for archival footage collected by BU, and below for photos from the Boston Public Library's (great) collection of Braves images:

A Braves player talks to a woman in the stands at Braves Field, in approximately 1921-'23. (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
A Braves player talks to a woman in the stands at Braves Field, in approximately 1921-'23. (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
Braves Field in approximately 1930 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
Braves Field in approximately 1930 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
Then-Gov. James Michael Curley, with the hat off, throws out the first pitch at Braves Field in 1935. (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
Then-Gov. James Michael Curley, with the hat off, throws out the first pitch at Braves Field in 1935. (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
A crowd after a game at Braves Field, in approximately 1930-'39. (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
A crowd after a game at Braves Field, in approximately 1930-'39. (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
Brave Babe Ruth, center, stands with Red Sox players at Braves Field during a 1935 "city-series" exhibition game. (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
Brave Babe Ruth, center, stands with Red Sox players at Braves Field during a 1935 "city-series" exhibition game. (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
For several seasons, the Braves were renamed the Bees. Here, Bees catcher Al Lopez and manager Bill McKechnie argue with an umpire in 1936. (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
For several seasons, the Braves were renamed the Bees. Here, Bees catcher Al Lopez and manager Bill McKechnie argue with an umpire in 1936. (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
Red Sox Ted Williams, left, and Bee Eddie Miller at Braves Field in 1939 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
Red Sox Ted Williams, left, and Bee Eddie Miller at Braves Field in 1939 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
Jackie Robinson signs autographs for kids at Braves Field in approximately 1947-'57. (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
Jackie Robinson signs autographs for kids at Braves Field in approximately 1947-'57. (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
"BU" is cut into Braves Field in 1955, after it was sold to Boston University and before it became Nickerson Field. (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
"BU" is cut into Braves Field in 1955, after it was sold to Boston University and before it became Nickerson Field. (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
Braves Field demolition in 1955 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
Braves Field demolition in 1955 (Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection)
Nickerson Field on Tuesday -- the 100th anniversary of the former Braves Field (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
Nickerson Field on Tuesday -- the 100th anniversary of the former Braves Field (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
(Jesse Costa/WBUR)
(Jesse Costa/WBUR)

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