The team’s home, Ebbets Field, was a few thousand seats too cozy ... Liz Ronk, who edited this gallery, is the Photo Editor for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LizabethRonk.

“I came here to step on home plate,” he added. “To see where Ebbets Field was before it was torn down.” Ebbets Field was converted to housing projects after the Dodgers played their final ...

Photo courtesy of the American History Museum ... Today is the 100-year anniversary of the opening of Ebbets Field, Brooklyn’s now-demolished major league baseball park, and in celebration ...

On April 5, 1913, Ebbets Field opened its doors for the first time as the Brooklyn Dodgers hosted the New York Yankees in an exhibition game. More than 25,000 fans were in attendance for the first ...