Historic Paterson baseball stadium reopens decades after abandonment
Historic Hinchliffe Stadium was built during the Great Depression and hosted Negro League games in the 1930s and '40s.
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A piece of baseball history was resurrected in Paterson Friday.
Historic Hinchliffe Stadium officially reopened, bringing out baseball legends, Whoopi Goldberg and hundreds of proud Paterson residents.
Hinchliffe Stadium was abandoned 25 years ago and fell into disrepair. The stadium was built during the Great Depression and hosted Negro League games in the 1930s and '40s.
A short list of some of the greats to play there includes Larry Toby, Monte Irvin, Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, Buck Leonard and Cool Papa Bell.
Those athletes were denied their place in the major leagues due to the color of their skin, but now the stadium is a place for all. Its history will now be celebrated at its own museum, which also includes football, motorsports and track and field.
Minor league baseball will take the field at Hinchliffe on Saturday, when the New Jersey Jackals open up their home schedule in Paterson. The Jackals play in the Frontier League.
