Fire at League Park 1898

On September 12, 1898, Several Reds players, including Harry Steinfeldt, Bill Dammann, Ted Breitenstein and Bob Wood, helped put out a fire at League Park in Cincinnati. The fire interrupted a morning workout. The players formed a bucket brigade to smother the flames, holding the damage to the stands to a minimum.

An alert waiter in a cafe on Western Avenue spotted the fire under the right-field bleachers and yelled a warning to the players. The fire was caused by a cigar dropped into a pile of refuse, which smoldered overnight. “The Cincinnati stands have been on fire several times,” reported the Enquirer, “but have been extinguished without trouble.” Provisions to prevent a fire called for a barrel of water every 50 feet with a bucket conveniently stationed nearby. Water taps and hoses were placed in several places. However, the precautions did not prevent most of the ballpark from being destroyed by fire in May 1900.