The final game at the polo grounds

This Day in Ballpark History: Final Sporting Event at Polo Grounds

December 14, 1963

New York’s Polo Grounds hosted its final sporting event 56 years ago today, a 19-10 Buffalo Bills win over the Jets. The Jets move with MLB’s Mets to Shea Stadium in 1964.

Hall of Famer Don Maynard’s 73-yard touchdown reception put New York on top early. Buffalo overcame a 10-3 halftime deficit with 16 unanswered points, including a four-yard rush by quarterback and future congressman Jack Kemp.

Polo Grounds notes:

*Polo Grounds III was built in 1890 and destroyed by a 1911 fire. The renovated Polo Grounds IV’s baseball tenants included the Giants through 1957, Yankees (1913-1922) and Mets (1962-1963.)

*Baseball’s Giants played in a combined 14 World Series at Polo Grounds III and IV. The Giants defeated the Yankees in 1921 and 1922, with all games at the Polo Grounds.

*1922 featured the third and final tie in World Series history, a 3-3 result in Game Two.

*Capacity ranged from 34,000 in 1911 to 56,000 in 1963.

*Five NFL championship games were played at Polo Grounds, four featuring the Giants plus a neutral field battle between Boston and Green Bay in 1936.

*The center field fence was 483 feet from home plate. A homer to right needed to travel just 258 feet.