When Bob Carlin sat down to write New York’s Great Lost Ballparks, he wasn’t just compiling a list of abandoned fields; he was tracing the cultural footprints of a sport that once defined whole neighborhoods.
The volume is organized by region, guiding readers from the bustling streets of New York City to the rolling hills of upstate New York, each chapter punctuated with historic photographs, detailed maps and anecdotes that bring the vanished venues to life.
A Mosaic of Forgotten Diamonds
Carlin devotes special attention to ballparks that hosted Negro League teams and all‑women squads, highlighting how these sites served as crucibles for integration and gender breakthroughs in a segregated America.
Readers are treated to ten meticulously crafted maps that pinpoint the exact corners where these fields once stood, allowing enthusiasts to walk the same ground that once echoed with the crack of a bat.
On August 13th, from 7 to 8 p.m., Carlin will host a Zoom presentation, sharing his favorite discoveries and inviting the audience to explore the lost ballparks of New York State. The event is organized by the Saratoga County History Center, a partner that has long championed the preservation of regional heritage.
Beyond nostalgia, the book argues that remembering these grounds is essential to understanding how baseball shaped community identity, influenced local economies, and reflected broader social shifts throughout the twentieth century.