The Historic Hinchliffe Stadium: One Year in Review
August 7, 2024
Felicia Sherelle
When something or someone turns one, it’s monumental. It’s brag worthy. It's a really big deal. For the little ones especially, parents go absolutely insane. They go all out for a first birthday. Balloons. Cake. Guests. An assortment of cupcakes. What about first anniversaries for newlyweds? These are most special. It’s so special that tradition says we eat one-year-old wedding cake that day. I don't know if that’s a good or bad celebration but you get the point.
How do you mark the momentous occasion of the first anniversary for the reopening of a 92-year old stadium that had been closed for almost three decades? How is that even possible? Where do you start?
I’ll tell you. The Historic Hinchliffe Stadium, sprawled atop the Great Falls of Paterson, a National Historical Park, was built in 1932. It hosted some of the most famous Negro Leagues ball players of the 20th century. Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige and Patersonian Larry Doby, all played in the famous ballpark. After the integration of Major League Baseball, the stadium’s primary use was for youth sports and as an entertainment venue. It shut its doors in 1996 due to serious disrepair.
Fast forward to 2023, one of only two remaining Negro Leagues stadiums in the country - the other located in Birmingham, Alabama - was completely restored and opened its doors to the public in May, 2023.
The ribbon cutting ceremony was a star studded event. Remarks were made by Senator Cory Booker, Mayor Andre Sayegh, Congressman Bill Pascrell, former baseball player Harold Reynolds, and many others. There was an unusual face in the crowd, award winning actress Whoopi Goldberg also addressed the audience. "This is why we have to continue to insist that no history be erased," Goldberg said in her remarks. "Anything that's happened in this country should never be erased from books of any kind because we need to know, we need to remember. Little kids need to know, and they need to understand. There's not a color in this country that doesn't participate in our collective history."
The capstone of the reopening was a music concert featuring Paterson native and 90’s R&B star, Sybil.
Explore the historic stadium’s first year of reopening in photos.
As the Historic Hinchliffe Stadium has closed its first full year of operations and boldly enters into the next, only one conclusion can be drawn by all the events, festivities, charity, and memories made in the first year: The fun is only just getting started. Stay tuned and thank you for your support.