TeamNew York Lincoln Giants
LocationBronx, New York
Closed1938
Capacity5,000
About Catholic Protectory Oval
An early-20th-century Bronx ballpark on land owned by the Catholic Protectory — a Catholic charitable institution for boys. The venue was the principal home of the New York Lincoln Giants from the 1913 opening through the early 1930s, featuring Hall of Famers Pop Lloyd (considered by Babe Ruth himself as the best shortstop in baseball history), 'Smokey Joe' Williams (whom Walter Johnson called the greatest pitcher he ever saw), and 'Cannonball' Dick Redding. The site was demolished in 1938 to make way for Parkchester, the massive 12,000-unit Metropolitan Life housing complex that still occupies the location today.
Fun facts
- Pop Lloyd — sometimes called 'the Black Honus Wagner' — played most of his career here; Babe Ruth famously said Lloyd was the best shortstop in baseball history regardless of color.
- Joe Williams' nickname 'Smokey Joe' came from the speed of his fastball — Walter Johnson called him "the greatest pitcher who ever lived."
- The Bacharach Giants moved here from Atlantic City for the 1923 NNL season.
- Site now occupied by Parkchester — the 12,000-unit MetLife housing complex built starting 1939.
Been to Catholic Protectory Oval? Track it — along with 390+ ballparks — and build your baseball story.
Get Ballpark Bucket ListMore negro leagues ballparks
- Borchert Field · Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Bugle Field · Baltimore, Maryland
- Comiskey Park · Chicago, Illinois
- Dyckman Oval · New York, New York
- Frederick Douglass Memorial Park · Washington, District of Columbia