Miami Stadium – Later Bobby Maduro Stadium

Miami Stadium – Later Bobby Maduro Stadium

Miami Stadium was located at 2301 Northwest 10th Avenue in Miami, Florida. 

Deadball Baseball
Miami Stadium Postcard (Gulf Stream Card & Distribution Co., Miami , Florida, City of Miami News Photo, Genuine Curteich-Chicago C.T. Art Colortone)

Constructed in 1949, Miami Stadium hosted both Major League Spring Training and Minor League baseball games.

A corner street featuring a property
Former Site of Miami Stadium Front Entrance, NW 10th Avenue, and NW 23rd Street, Miami, Florida

In 1987, Miami Stadium was renamed Bobby Maduro Miami Stadium in honor of Miami resident Roberto “Bobby” Maduro. Mr. Maduro was the former owner of two professional baseball teams in Cuba, the Havana Cubans and the Havana Sugar Kings. He emigrated from Cuba in 1960 after Fidel Castro rose to power.

Miami Stadium front entrance
Entrance to Miami Stadium (From Cover, 1986 Baltimore Orioles Spring Training Program)

The Miami Sun Sox of the Florida International League began play in the ballpark in 1949, playing at Miami Stadium through the 1954 season. 

Miami Stadium ballpark field
Fan Photo of Miami Stadium, July 5, 1951

In 1950, the Brooklyn Dodgers made Miami Stadium their Spring Training home, where they played through the 1957 spring season. The Dodgers also trained in Vero Beach, Florida, beginning in 1948, however, the big league club played their Spring Training games in Miami.

Cars parked along the sides of a road
Former Site of Miami Stadium First Base Grandstand Paralleling NW 23rd Street

The following year, the Los Angeles Dodgers played their spring training games at stadium, but just for the 1958 spring season. The following year, the Los Angeles Dodgers moved their games to Holman Stadium, which was constructed in Vero Beach in 1953.

A postcard viewing the Miami Stadium from above
Miami Stadium Postcard (Tichnor Quality Views, Card 693, Tichnor Brothers, Inc., Boston)

The Baltimore Orioles took over Miami Stadium the following spring season, training there over 30 seasons, from 1959 until 1990. 

A baseball player holding his cap and bat
Miami Stadium Outfield and Scoreboard, April 1966

The Orioles previously had spent Spring Training in Daytona Beach, Florida (1955), and Scottsdale, Arizona (1956 to 1958).

A baseball player after swinging his bat
Baltimore Oriole Earl Williams Taking Batting Practice at Miami Stadium March 3, 1973
Orioles Baseball 1975 artwork
Miami Stadium 1975 Orioles Scorecard

The Florida State League Miami Marlins and the Miami Orioles also played their home games at Miami Stadium from 1962 to 1988. 

Miami Stadium general admission ticket
Miami Orioles Ticket, 1975, Miami Stadium

Once the Orioles departed, Miami Stadium hosted no additional major league teams, although a Miami entrant to the Inter-American League played for part of one season in 1979, and the Gold Coast Suns of the Senior Professional Baseball League played at Miami Stadium from 1989 to 1990.

Miami Stadium apartment homes banner
Banner Advertising Miami Stadium Apartments, Former Site of Miami Stadium Third Base Grandstand

The ballpark stood another 10 years, largely unused, with the exception of some college baseball games that were played there during the 1990s. 

Miami Stadium rental community
Entrance to Miami Stadium Apartments, Former Site of Miami Stadium Third Base
Grandstand

In 2001, Miami Stadium was demolished and construction began that same year on the Miami Stadium Apartments, which now sit on a majority of the former ballpark site.

A stop sign for a crossroad
Intersection of NW 10th Avenue and NW 24th Street, Looking Toward Former Site of Miami Stadium Third Base Grandstand and Infield

The entrance to the apartments is on NW 10th Avenue.

A gate of a community
Gated Entrance, Miami Stadium Apartments, Former Site of Miami Stadium Third Base Grandstand and Left Field

At the entrance is a historical marker, designated as a Florida Heritage Site. 

A sign about the Miami Stadium
Historical Marker, Miami Stadium

The marker was installed in 2017, courtesy of Abel Sanchez, Rolando Llanes of CIVICA Architecture Group, The Swezy Family, Friends of Miami Stadium, and the Florida Department of State.

A brief history about the Miami Stadium
Miami Stadium Historical Marker

The intersection of NW 10th Avenue and NW 25th Street is where the third base grandstand once stood. 

An intersection of NW 10th Avenue and NW 25th Street
Intersection of NW 10th Avenue and NW 25th Street, Looking Toward Former Site of Miami Stadium Third Base Grandstand

A parking lot for the apartments covers a significant portion of the former infield.

Cars parked outside the Miami Stadium Apartments
Miami Stadium Apartments, Former Site of Miami Stadium Approximate Location of Pitchers Mound Looking Toward Home Plate (intersection 10th Ave and 23rd st)
The parking lot of the Miami Stadium Apartments
Miami Stadium Apartments Parking Lot, Former Site of Miami Stadium Second Base Looking Toward Center Field

The same is true for a portion of the former site of center field. The paving of paradise . . . 

Parking spaces outside the Miami Stadium Apartments
Former Site of Miami Stadium Center Field Looking Toward First Base Line

Folks enjoying the pool at Miami Stadium Apartments are swimming in the area that was once left field.

A swimming pool in the Miami Stadium Apartments
Swimming Pool At Miami Stadium Apartments, Former Site of Miami Stadium Left Center Field Bleachers

A volley ball court also sits in a portion of what was once Miami Stadium’s left field. 

A fully packed parking lot
Volley Ball Court, Miami Stadium Apartments, Former Site of Miami Stadium Left Field

The former Site of Miami Stadium’s right field, and a portion of center field, remain undeveloped, with a grass field marking the spot.

A sign for prioritizing persons with disabilities
Former Site of Miami Stadium Looking Toward Center and Left Field
An open grassy field
Vacant Lot, Former Site of Miami Stadium Center and Left Field

Many buildings from the 1950s and 1960s surrounding the former stadium site remain.

A brown building next to a fence and street signs
House on NW 10th Avenue Dating Back to Time of Miami Stadium
White walls of a property
Building at Southwest Corner of NW 10th Avenue and NW 23rd Street, Across from Former Front Gates, Miami Stadium
A view of the road with parked cars
Warehouse at 864 NW 23rd Street, Across Street from Former Site of First Base Grandstand, Miami Stadium

Of particular note is the Miami Stadium Market, located across the street from the former left field corner. 

Miami Stadium Market building
Miami Stadium Market, Located Across The Street Former Site of Miami Stadium Left Field Corner

The store certainly captures a bit of the neighborhood/architectural feel of the old ballpark. 

Miami Stadium Market side view
Miami Stadium Market, Located Across The Street Former Site of Miami Stadium Left Field Corner

The Miami Stadium Apartments are located a mere two miles northeast of Marlins Park, home of the current-day Miami Marlins.

The US flag displayed on the field
Opening Day 2016 at Marlins Park, Home of the Miami Marlins

Byron Bennett

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