Paterson Attempts to Revive Negro League Stadium

By PATRICK CAHILL 

PATERSON, N.J. – Gov. Phil Murphy signed off on a $1 million urban parks grant towards the reconstruction of Hinchliffe Stadium, one of the historic Negro League stadiums that allowed African-Americans to play baseball during a time where no black players were allowed in the MLB.

The grant, which was signed on Jan. 21, is part of a $76 million project led by Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh, that not only reconstructs the stadium, but also includes a senior-housing complex, a parking garage, and a restaurant with museum exhibits about the stadium’s role in the segregated Negro baseball leagues of the mid-20th century. The project is currently waiting on an approval from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for $50 million in economic redevelopment tax credits.

But since the grant had been signed last month, little progress has been made, causing some to worry about whether or not this project will get off the ground.

“The mayor continues to have confidence in the Hinchliffe Stadium reconstruction project, and understands that, similar to other projects in the range of $80 million, sometimes the final pieces of the financial stack change or shift,” said Sayegh’s chief of staff, Kathleen Long.

The developer looking to rebuild the stadium, Baye Adofo-Wilson, remains positive that the project will start soon despite the uncertainty over the state historic tax credits. Adofo-Wilson said he expects the project to start going under construction this summer, and should be finished by the summer of 2020.

“The Historic Tax Credit is a key component of Governor Murphy’s plan to invest in communities,” said state Economic Development Authority spokesman Jake McNichol. “The bill is currently in draft form, and we are waiting for the Legislature to act.”

Baseball fans believe that, despite the immense amounts of money required for this project, it’s vital to hold onto the history of the game.

“I hope Paterson’s city officials can avoid this obstacle and figure out a way to restore Hinchliffe,” said Ethan Alpern, 22, an avid baseball fan from Oradell. “It played such an important role in the ending of segregation across the baseball community. The level of play there helped produce some amazing ball players.”

History of Hinchliffe Stadium

Opening in 1932, Hinchliffe Stadium played host to the Colored Championship of the Nation, which was the World Series equivalent to the Negro League. Starting in 1934, the New York Black Yankees called the stadium their home field until 1945. Throughout the 1940’s and 1950’s, baseball was one of many sports that was played in Hinchliffe, which also featured boxing, auto-racing, track events, and football.

The biggest “claim to fame” for Hinchliffe Stadium is being the home to Hall of Fame baseball star, Larry Doby. Doby was the first African-American to play for an American League MLB team, breaking the color barrier by debuting with the Cleveland Indians in July of 1947, three months after Jackie Robinson’s debut for the National League’s Los Angeles Dodgers. Doby grew up in Paterson, and played baseball and football at Hinchliffe Stadium for Paterson’s Eastside High School.

Great new Larry Doby mural on the facade of Hinchliffe Stadium, one of the few Negro League ballparks still standing, adjacent to the Great Falls, Paterson, NJ! Doby was a Paterson HS star, and Hinchliffe home to the NY Black Yankees, NY Cubans, & the 1933 Colored Championship pic.twitter.com/riyEB4C3L5

— Behind the Bag (@behindthebagbtb) January 4, 2020

In October of 2019, the city of Paterson unveiled a mural outside of Hinchliffe Stadium, recognizing all of Doby’s legendary achievements.

If all goes according to plan, the city of Paterson will have baseball at Hinchliffe Stadium again in the summer of 2020, where others can aspire to accomplish what Larry Doby did.