CINCINNATI — Opening day is here, celebrating the start of a new season, but what’s left of a century-old baseball field is still inspiring fans today.

What You Need To Know

  • Crosley Field was home to the Cincinnati Reds for decades

  • A homeless shelter, City Gospel Mission, now sits on top of where the field used to be 

  • The original first and second base are inside of the building, third base and home are painted where they used to be in an ally way outside 

  • The shelter still gives tours to anyone who wants to find out about its history

For Andre Harmon, it all started more than 50 years ago in a Cincinnati neighborhood off of Dayton Road. From there, he could see where the Cincinnati Reds were playing at Crosley Field.

“There used to be like a garage door that you could walk up under the bridge and go with the game,” said Harmon. 

It was all he needed to see to start pitching baseball. 

“I used to pitch and play with my uncles and stuff,” said Harmon, “You just twist your wrist and the ball will curve for the right pitch”

But he says he got hurt and fell on hard times just like his old neighborhood, and the old Crosley Stadium.

In its prime, the stadium made Major League Baseball history. It was the first to have a night game.

It fell into disrepair, and the stadium was torn down in 1972. By 2015, the field was turned into City Gospel Mission, a homeless shelter.

Gerald Cooper is one worker at the shelter. He said the shelter houses dozens of homeless men and what’s left of the old stadium.

The original first and second bases are inside the building with a hall of fame showing who stepped on them.

“Your favorite Pete Rose Reds player stepped there as well,” said Cooper.

In a small alleyway outside of the building is where third base and home plate were, along with historical markers explaining what used to be.

“We want we want everyone to know these places did exist, they were real. We honor the history that was put upon Cincinnati within these areas,” said Cooper.

But Harmon doesn’t need a sign. He lives at the homeless shelter and said it’s those baseball memories that help keep him going.

“It was just fun times, you know,” said Harmon.

If you’d like a tour of the old Crosley Stadium, you can reach out to City Gospel Mission and find more information here.