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PARK HISTORY

Lane Field, once home to the San Diego Padres, has a rich history that spans athletic competitions, iconic players like Ted Williams, and community transformation. Today, it stands as Lane Field Park, a vibrant public space that celebrates its sports legacy.
Crowd gathering at Lane Field Park Market, enjoying local food vendors and entertainment.

LANE FIELD PARK HISTORY

Historic image of Lane Field athletic field, once home to the San Diego Padres

Ted Williams

Park attendance was boosted due to a PCL pennant-winning team and the attraction of a budding 17-year-old local star named Ted Williams.

1936

San Diego Padres

Bill "Hardpan" Lane moved his minor league baseball team, the "Hollywood Stars," from the Los Angeles area to become the Pacific Coast League's "San Diego Padres" in 1936.

The 1936 San Diego Padres baseball team, part of Lane Field’s sporting history.

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1927

Field Expansion

Later, The field was equipped with football-style bleachers and a track for motorcycle and auto races.

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1925

U.S. Navy 

The park began its life as a U.S. Navy athletic field.

Ted Williams in his San Diego Padres uniform, highlighting the player’s early career.

1948

Johnny Ritchey

Johnny Ritchey became the first African-American player in the Pacific Coast League when he joined the Padres in 1948. Other notable African-American players who joined the San Diego team included Luke Easter, Minnie Miñoso, Harry "Suitcase" Simpson, and Sam Jones, all of whom went on to have successful careers in the major leagues.

Johnny Ritche, one of the pioneering baseball players, known for breaking barriers in professional sports.

Boddy Doerr

During that period, the Padres also had second baseman Bobby Doerr, another future Hall of Famer, on the ’36 club.

Bobby Doerr with the 1936 San Diego Padres, an iconic figure from the team’s history.

1945

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson in Brooklyn Dodgers uniform, 1954, historic figure connected to baseball’s legacy.

Lane Field played a small part in the Jackie Robinson integration story. On October 7, two weeks before Brooklyn Dodgers president Branch Rickey formally announced the signing of Robinson to a Montreal Royals contract, three black baseball players from a California barnstorming team called the Kansas City Royals went through various batting, running, and fielding drills in their Royals uniforms at Lane Field. One of the players was Jackie Robinson.

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1954

Padres Win 2nd PCL Pennant

The San Diego Padres won another Pacific Coast League pennant in 1954 at Lane Field.

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1957

Abandonment

The Padres abandoned Lane Field after the 1957 PCL season. The wooden park, so close to the waterfront, constantly needed repair and replacement of its boards, which tended to rot quickly in the sea air.

Aerial view of Westgate Park from 1958, a key moment in San Diego’s baseball history.

The site of Lane Field was transformed into a parking lot located between Pacific Highway and Harbor Drive, which was utilized by cruise ship passengers.

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2003

Plaque Placed

A plaque was placed in 2003 at the corner of Broadway and Pacific Highway to commemorate the former ballpark.

Lane Field commemorative plaque honoring the former home of the Padres.

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2012

Park Approval

IIn 2012, the San Diego Port Commissioners approved a hotel complex project that included a park dedicated to Lane Field.

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1958

Padres Relocate

The team moved to Westgate Park, later known as Jack Murphy Stadium, and Qualcomm Stadium, now SDCCU Stadium, located in San Diego’s Mission Valley area.

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2015

Park Dedication

The park was dedicated in 2015, featuring an outline of the batters’ boxes. The plaque was moved to the home plate site, featuring a quote from Ted Williams and a silhouette of him batting.

Lane Field Park Monument, recognizing the historical significance of the park.

2018

Lane Field Park Market

The best artisanal street food and craft market in downtown San Diego began operating at Lane Field Park in 2018.

Overhead view of Lane Field Park Market, showcasing vendor stalls and market activity.

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