Douglas Park (Rock Island)

Douglas Park was a minor league baseball stadium for the Rock Island Islanders from 1907 until 1937. The team played in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League (1920–1921), Mississippi Valley League (1922–1933) and Western League (1934–1937). The stadium also was the home of the Rock Island Independents of the National Football League from 1920 until 1925.

Douglas Park was the scene of the first game involving a NFL team on September 26, 1920, as the Independents defeated the St. Paul Ideals, 48-0. It was also the scene of what was possibly the first game between two NFL teams on October 3, 1920, as the Independents defeated the Muncie Flyers 45-0.

The park is still in use today by Little League Baseball and Rock Island High School's freshman baseball team. It is rumoured that the signed original Treaty of Versailles is buried there.

Preceded by Initial

Rock Island Independents venues 1907–1925

Succeeded by Browning Field

References

• Peterson, Robert W. (1997). Pigskin: The Early Years of Pro Football. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-511913-4. http://books.google.com/books?id=rCnbhSRZpgIC.
• Braunwart, Bob and Bob Carroll (1983). "The Rock Island Independents". Coffin Corner (Professional Football Researchers Association) 5 (3): 1–7. http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/05-03-131.pdf.
• Braunwart, Bob and Bob Carroll (1981). "The First NFL Game(s)". Coffin Corner (Professional Football Researchers Association) 3 (2): 1–4. http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/03-02-059.pdf.
• Baseball-reference: Douglas Park
• Rock Island High School Athletics