# The Ballpark in Brewster's Millions - Real? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 22, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ballpark-in-brewsters-millions-real/482480 "2009-01-22T17:46:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ballpark-in-brewsters-millions-real/482480/1 "2009-01-22T17:46:15Z")
In the 1985 version of [_Brewster’s Millions_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088850/), Richard Pryor and John Candy play struggling Minor League baseball players. To illustrate just how low on the pro ball ladder the team is, the game has to be delayed while a freight train passes through the outfield. My question is: does (or did) this ballpark really exist? If not, was it based on a real stadium; i.e. has ayone _ever_ built a baseball park on a railroad right-of-way? Seems to me this would create a horrific safety issue – you’d have outfielders with broken ankles all over the place – so I’m guessing at the outset that it was a fictional contrivance. But I need the Straight Dope. Anyone? (Edit: Not sure if this belongs in General Questions, but I stuck it here since it’s a film-related question. Mods, feel free to move it, of course.) ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ballpark-in-brewsters-millions-real/482480/2 "2009-01-22T18:53:13Z")
I’m nearly positive that the ballpark actually existed, but may no longer exist today. My google-fu is weak today, however, I couldn’t come up with anything. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ballpark-in-brewsters-millions-real/482480/3 "2009-01-22T19:03:21Z")
[From this article.](http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=18) > [@](#): > > In 1915, George Muehlebach, a 36-year-old Blues fan and owner of a local brewery, purchased a small interest in the team. The same year he built the Muehlebach Hotel which for many years was considered the city’s finest hostelry. Two years later he acquired the rest of the team from Tebeau, but did not purchase the ballpark. Tebeau sold the property to a railroad. In 1922, the railroad decided to build tracks through the outfield and after the season ended the ballpark was torn down. Muehlebach then constructed his own park, Muehlebach Stadium which opened in 1923. That park, greatly expanded and improved, became Municipal Stadium, home of the American League Kansas Athletics, starting in 1955. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ballpark-in-brewsters-millions-real/482480/4 "2009-01-22T19:08:56Z")
It exists. It’s called Safeco Field. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ballpark-in-brewsters-millions-real/482480/5 "2009-01-22T19:24:10Z")
The closest thing today would be [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahconah\_Park}Wahconah Park in Pittsfield, MA, where games are suspended for a few hours on some days so the setting sun isn’t in the batter’s eyes (it faces west; nearly all other ballparks face east for this reason). ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ballpark-in-brewsters-millions-real/482480/6 "2009-01-22T19:30:18Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > [From this article.](http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/history/top100.jsp?idx=18)“Tebeau sold the property to a railroad. In 1922, the railroad decided to build tracks through the outfield and after the season ended the ballpark was torn down.” Thanks for the link, runner pat, it’s an interesting article. But this doesn’t make clear whether the park was torn town because the railroad _decided_ to build tracks where the outfield was, or if they actually _did_ build the tracks before the park was torn down. Armed with “Kansas City Blues” and “Association Park,” I’m trying to find out more, but coming up empty so far. I’d love to find a photo of this if one exists. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ballpark-in-brewsters-millions-real/482480/7 "2009-01-22T19:42:33Z")
I wasn’t sure, either but it was the closest thing I found. Thought it might help narrow things down. ---
**Author:** ![McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@McDeath\_the\_Mad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/McDeath_the_Mad)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ballpark-in-brewsters-millions-real/482480/8 "2009-01-22T23:49:26Z")
Well I think the team Richard Pryor was playing for the Hacknsack Bulls (don’t know why I remember that, I could be wrong). And that’s in New Jersey right? Any diamonds like that in NJ? MtM ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ballpark-in-brewsters-millions-real/482480/9 "2009-01-23T18:13:00Z")
Reminds me of [Spiller Field](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiller_Field) in Atlanta which had RR tracks just outside the park, but more interesting was a magnolia tree in the outfield. Modern stadiums are great at throwing in dangerous conditions. Sharp angles and slopes (like in the Astros’ park). I don’t think the current MLB folk would stop an owner from putting in a RR track. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ballpark-in-brewsters-millions-real/482480/10 "2009-01-23T18:33:48Z")
When the Coyotes first moved to Phoenix they played in a building not designed for hockey. Some fans at one end could not see the goal below them at that end. This was a modern building, not an old place. They moved to a new place with clear sight lines a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Singh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@Singh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Singh)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ballpark-in-brewsters-millions-real/482480/11 "2011-10-04T23:06:06Z")
The Stadium was real - Bluebird Field. It was a “studio set” stadium in Sun Valley, LA, first used for the TV programme Bay City Blues, this is why it was called Bluebird Field. It was later used for filming of Brewsters millions. The property was owned by the Department of water and power and they let local teams use it for free for a while but it was torn down at the end of the eighties to be replaced by maintenance facilities. If you look at the ballpark scenes, you can see 4 red and white smokestacks in the background, they still exist. Cant see the statdium in google but you can see the red and white smokestacks. Look southeast from Truesdale St, Sun Valley ( which is off Glenoaks Blvd ). I think the big fuel dumps to the northeast of the smokestacks can also be seen in the film. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ballpark-in-brewsters-millions-real/482480/12 "2011-10-05T01:00:20Z")
[Opening credits for “Bay CIty Blues”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zd2ymHm2Sg). ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2011, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ballpark-in-brewsters-millions-real/482480/13 "2011-10-05T21:03:41Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > [Opening credits for “Bay CIty Blues”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zd2ymHm2Sg). Gotta wonder if Sharon Stone ever flashed her home plate. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ballpark-in-brewsters-millions-real/482480/14 "2011-10-17T16:05:54Z")
One question: what’s [an engine from Maine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine_Central_Railroad_Company) doing in Southern California? ---
**Author:** ![Camelback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c2a13f/32.png) [@Camelback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Camelback)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2011, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ballpark-in-brewsters-millions-real/482480/15 "2011-11-19T20:37:11Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > One question: what’s [an engine from Maine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine_Central_Railroad_Company) doing in Southern California? The locomotive in the movie is NOT Maine Central. MEC had black GE 44 Tonners: > **[MEC 16](http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1446169)** > > MEC 16 > **[MEC 14 and 13 awaiting next assignment, about August 1973,](http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=251097)** > > MEC 14 and 13 awaiting next assignment, about August 1973, The loco in the movie is a green GE 45 Tonner. Note these are similar weights but different details, notably side rods on the 45Ts but not the 44Ts. If you’re going by the “PINE TREE ROUTE” on the caboose, MEC didn’t paint their cabooses like this: > **[RUPO](http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2520344)** > > RUPO MEC C-649R > **[Maine Central Railroad (MEC) Caboose No. 582](http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1465916)** > > Maine Central Railroad (MEC) Caboose No. 582 Rigby Yard Realize Hollywood can paint anything they want, like the AmRail train in Silver Streak, actually a Canadian Pacific train. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-ballpark-in-brewsters-millions-real/482480/16 "2011-11-20T02:35:29Z")
> [@Camelback](#): > > If you’re going by the “PINE TREE ROUTE” on the caboose It’s been a long time since I saw the movie and thought the logo was on the locomotive’s nose. Anyway, the geography is still off. Brewster’s team is supposed to play in New Jersey.