September 4, 1925 – Sign for the future site of Maple Leaf Stadium, once located at the foot of Bathurst St and Lake Shore Blvd W (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 6161)
Maple Leaf Stadium was once located at the foot of Bathurst St, south of Lake Shore Blvd W, in the Bathurst Quay neighbourhood of Toronto.
Home of the Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Club
The stadium was home to the professional minor league Maple Leafs baseball team, owned by Lawrence “Lol” Solman. Mr. Solman commissioned the architectural firm Chapman & Oxley to design the jewel box-style stadium, which had a seating capacity of 23,500. Construction took place between 1925 and 1926 on reclaimed land owned by the Toronto Harbour Commission, and the structure was built using concrete and steel.
Opening day was postponed by a day due to a soggy field. On April 29, 1926, with great fanfare, the new stadium opened. The festivities featured dignitaries, mounted police, marching bands, and a flag-raising ceremony. Parachutes were launched with Union Jacks attached that floated onto the field. During the event, Mayor Thomas Foster threw the first pitch, while one of the city’s former mayors, Tommy Church, was at bat. Despite the lingering rain, 14,000 hopeful and happy fans watched as Toronto defeated Reading, 6-5 in a ten-inning battle.
The Park and Stadium on Toronto Island
Before the ball team moved to Maple Leaf Stadium in 1926, they played at Hanlan’s Point Stadium/Maple Leaf Park on Toronto Island. In May 1897, Toronto played its first professional baseball game at Hanlan’s Point against Rochester. The team, part of the Eastern League, lost that inaugural game in front of 2,000 cheering fans. From 1901 to 1907, the team played at Diamond Park (once in the Liberty Village area) before returning to Toronto Island in 1908.
At Maple Leaf Park in September 1914, 19-year-old Babe Ruth hit his one and only home run in the minors. At the time, Ruth was pitching for the Providence Grays, who won in a 9-0 shutout. Nine years later, the “Sultan of Swat” returned to the Island stadium, this time playing for the New York Yankees in an exhibition game against the Leafs. During that game, Babe Ruth hit a homer that soared high over the right field wall and fell out of sight into Toronto’s bay. That ball would be worth a fortune today. The Leafs won 8 to 2.
Maple Leaf Park on the Island was demolished in the 1930s to make way for the Toronto Island Airport, which is now known as Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
Maple Leaf Stadium
1930 – Looking south towards the entrance of the Maple Leaf Stadium (Library and Archives Canada PA-098369)
Back to Maple Leaf Stadium… by the early 1950s, the ball club had attracted many fans, and in 1951, the team was sold to Jack Kent Cooke. He was also the owner of the CKEY radio station. Mr. Cooke signed the team’s first Black players, pitcher Leon Day and catcher Charlie White. The Maple Leafs, recognized as one of the top 100 minor league teams of all time, thrived under Mr. Cooke’s ownership. He made some renovations to upkeep the stadium and used various techniques to promote the team, but by the early 1960s, attendance started to dwindle. The team was sold a few times in the 1960s, then moved to Louisville, Kentucky, in 1968. The stadium was demolished that same year.
The Area Today
Today, the land is part residential and home to Little Norway Park as well as a gas station. The area also has a street that’s been appropriately named Stadium Rd.
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Maple Leaf Stadium Photos
March 5, 1929 – Looking southeast towards Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 465)September 4, 1925 – Sign for the future site of Maple Leaf Stadium, once located at the foot of Bathurst St and Lake Shore Blvd W (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 6161)1925 – Future site of Maple Leaf Stadium (Library and Archives Canada PA-073462)Circa 1926 – The Maple Leaf Stadium design (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 845)March 6, 1926 – The building of the new ball stadium Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 7259)April 1926 – Construction on Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1548, Series 393, Item 20393a)April 26, 1926 – Scaffolding on the west side of Maple Leaf Stadium the year it was built. The 23,500-seat Fenway-style stadium was designed by architects Chapman & Oxley (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 7685)April 25, 1926 – This photo of Maple Leaf Stadium was taken four days before opening day (City of Toronto Archives, Globe and Mail fonds, Fonds 1266 Item 7651)April 25, 1926 – Eastern face of the Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 7654)1926 – Advertising on a billboard for the grand opening of the Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 2892)April 29, 1926 – The Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Club team photo on the grand opening day of Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 7698)Circa 1926 – The former Maple Leaf Stadium was built in 1926 and was home to the minor league baseball team, the Maple Leafs. The stadium was torn down in 1968. Notice Queen’s Wharf Lighthouse near the stadium (Toronto Public Library R-942-1-55) Late 1920s – Looking east along Lake Shore Blvd W from west of Bathurst St towards Maple Leaf Stadium on the right, Crosse & Blackwell factory in the centre and Loblaws Groceterias Company Limited building on the left (Toronto Public Library 942-1-16)September 14, 1928 – Ty Cobb of the Philadelphia Athletics and Bill O’Hara, the manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, chatting at Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Globe and Mail fonds, Fonds 1266 Item 14852)May 1, 1929 – A lineup of fans is waiting for tickets to the opening day baseball game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Baltimore Orioles. Ticket prices are as follows: 25¢ for boys under 15, $1 for reserved seats, and $1.25 for box seats. In the background, the top of Queen’s Wharf Lighthouse is visible (City of Toronto Archives, Globe and Mail fonds, Fonds 1266 Item 16348)August 30, 1929 – Looking north at an aerial view of Maple Leaf Stadium and Tip Top Tailors on the left (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 17770)Circa 1930 – The former Maple Leaf Stadium was built in 1926 and was home to the minor league baseball team, the Maple Leafs. The stadium was torn down in 1968. Notice Queen’s Wharf Lighthouse near the stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 1715)1930 – Looking south towards the entrance of the Maple Leaf Stadium (Library and Archives Canada PA-098369)1930 – Looking east from Tip Top Tailors on Lake Shore Blvd W. Notice Maple Leaf Stadium in the background on the right (Library and Archives Canada PA-098304) Circa 1930 – An aerial view looking southwest towards Maple Leaf Stadium and Tip Top Tailors. Notice in the upper right corner of the photo the Toronto Maple Leafs former ballpark, Hanlan’s Point Stadium, which was demolished in the mid-1930s to make way for the Island Airport (City of Toronto Archives)June 8, 1930 – Shrine parade near the Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 20629)July 22, 1930 – Queen’s Wharf Lighthouse with Tip Top Tailors and Maple Leaf Stadium in the background. Notice the Fleet St TTC streetcar loop encircling the lighthouse (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 21235)2023 – Looking southeast towards Queen’s Wharf Lighthouse with Tip Top Lofts in the background. From 1926 until 1968, Maple Leaf Stadium was located just east of what was originally Tip Top Tailors. Today, the area has a street appropriately named Stadium Rd. Notice the Fleet St TTC streetcar loop still encircling the lighthouseApril 3, 1931 – T.T.C. bus at the former Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 16, Series 71, Item 7516)May 5, 1931 – On opening day, in front of 14,000 fans, a ceremony was held in memory of the late Lawrence Solman. Players from both teams, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Jersey City Skeeters, formed a cross between the plate and the pitchers’ box at Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Globe and Mail fonds, Fonds 1266 Item 23783)June 4, 1931 – Looking south from Bathurst St towards Fleet St with the Maple Leaf Stadium in the background. Notice Loblaw Groceterias warehouse on the left (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 16, Series 71, Item 3602)Circa 1932 – The Maple Leaf Stadium parking lot at the foot of Bathurst St, near Lake Ontario. The photo shows part of the field and stadium, with the National Yacht Club on the left, a portion of Tip Top Tailors behind the stadium, and in the distance, the Automotive Building and Exhibition grounds (City of Toronto Archives, William James Family fonds, Fonds 1244, Item 1163) June 8, 1934 – Looking southeast from Fort York towards the Maple Leaf Stadium on the right and Loblaws Groceteria building on the left (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 602)1934 – Looking south from Fort York towards Maple Leaf Stadium and Tip Top Tailors (Toronto Public Library R-6871)Circa 1934 – An aerial view looking southeast towards Bathurst St, Fleet St and Lake Shore Blvd W. Notice Loblaw Groceterias, Crosse & Blackwell, Maple Leaf Stadium and Tip Top Tailors (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1244, Item 7297)Between 1935 and 1936 – Looking east along Lake Shore Blvd W from west of Bathurst St. Notice Maple Leaf Stadium on the right, the Crosse & Blackwell factory in the centre background and the Imperial Gasoline sign on the left (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 4284)1930s – Looking east from the roof of Canada Malting Co. grain elevators. The aerial photo shows a portion of the field, stadium and Tip Tip Tailors on the right, with the National and Alexandra Yacht Clubs at the marina. In the distance are the Exhibition grounds (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 264, Item 42 – Urban Design photographs) May 12, 1937 – Looking northwest from the field of Maple Leaf Stadium. Notice Tip Top Tailors, which are today the Tip Top Lofts, in the background (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 848)Between 1939 and 1940 – Tony Lazzeri, Maple Leafs Baseball Club manager from 1939-1940, with Newark Bears player Mr. Nenn at Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 3364)1946 – An Imperial Oil Limited billboard outside the Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, E.L. Ruddy Company fonds, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 6994) 1947 – Spiff Evans with OHA group at the Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 3004)Date unknown – Looking west towards the crowds lining up outside Maple Leaf Stadium on the right with Tip Top Tailors in the background (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 857)1946 – Maple Leaf Stadium program (City of Toronto Archives)Between 1940 and 1960 – Toronto players leaving the dugout at Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 853)1940s – Circus horse act at Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 1961)Circa 1950 – Looking southwest towards the entrance of Maple Leaf Stadium on Lake Shore Blvd W (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 843)1951 – Owner Jack Kent Cooke signed the team’s first Black players, pitcher Leon Day (left) and catcher Charlie White (right), at Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 2621)Circa 1951 – Jack Kent Cooke with the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball players in the dugout at Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 2609) Circa 1951 – Jack Kent Cooke, owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team, presents a watch to one of the players. Notice Canada Malting Co. silos/plant in the background (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 2618)Between 1940 and 1960 – Nat Turofsky wearing the Toronto Maple Leaf Baseball Club uniform at Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 9526)1951 – Jack Kent Cooke, owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team, is pictured with pitcher Leon Day (left), followed by an unnamed player, and catcher Charlie White (right) on the field at Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 2620)1951 – Jack Kent Cooke, owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Club, is shown in his office looking at a promotional poster for the 1952 season, “Buy Baseball Tickets Now! and Save Money!” (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 2648)1954 – The marquee over the main entrance of Maple Leaf Stadium advertising a Labour Day double-header against Rochester. Notice the “Bulova Watch Time” clock above the entrance (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 844)Circa 1955 – Enjoying a baseball game at Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 872)Between 1955 and 1962 – Nathan Phillips, once Mayor of Toronto at Maple Leaf Stadium (Library and Archives Canada PA-098304)1950s – Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Club member signs autograph at Maple Leaf Stadium. Notice the Canada Malting Co. silos in the background (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 4851)1950s – Jack Kent Cooke and Maple Leafs team members at the pennant-raising ceremony at Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 2627)May 3, 1961 – The Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Club season opener at the Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 880)Date unknown – Aerial view looking north towards Maple Leaf Stadium, with Tip Top Tailors on the left (Library and Archives Canada PA-052430)Between 1955 and 1962 – Mayor Nathan Phillips, Jack Kent Cooke and Metro Chairman Frederick Gardiner at Maple Leaf Stadium (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 2624)Circa 1960 – A crowd seated at the upper levels of the Maple Leaf Stadium during a baseball game (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 869)June 12 1962 – Looking southwest along Lake Shore Blvd W, from east of Bathurst St, towards Loblaw Groceterias on the right and Crosse & Blackwell, which has a Royal Bank of Canada billboard on its roof, on the left. Behind it is Maple Leaf Stadium and Tip Top Tailors (City of Toronto Archives, E.L. Ruddy Company fonds, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 9669) January 1963 – Looking southeast towards Maple Leaf Stadium on the left, Joy Gas Station and the side of Tip Top Tailors on the right (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds Series 65, File 168, Item 5)January 1968 – Looking southeast towards the Maple Leaf Stadium on Lake Shore Blvd W and Bathurst St (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 124, File 15, ID 12)September 4, 1925 – The sign reads:
This is the site of the Maple Leaf Stadium
Home of Toronto Base Ball Club
Capacity 30,000 – Ready for Season 1926
(City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 6161) Circa 1925 – Plan of the intersection of Bathurst St and Fleet St. Highlights of the plan include Maple Leaf Stadium, the Loblaw Groceterias property, and the Crosse & Blackwell property (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 726 Item 113)2023 – Looking southwest towards the corner of Bathurst St and Lake Shore Blvd W in the Bathurst Quay neighbourhood of Toronto. Once the site of Maple Leaf Stadium, today, the land is part residential and home to Little Norway Park as well as a gas station. The area also has a street that’s been appropriately named Stadium Rd2023 – Stadium Rd is located on the south side of Lake Shore Blvd W, just west of Bathurst St in the Bathurst Quay neighbourhood of Toronto. The street has been appropriately named Stadium Rd after Maple Leaf Stadium, which once stood on the site2023 – The heritage plaque reads:
Maple Leafs Stadium
“The Toronto Maple Leafs, the city’s first professional minor-league baseball team, played at a stadium on this site from 1926 to 1967.
Designed by architecture firm Chapman & Oxley with Roy Bishop and financed by team owned Lawrence “Lol” Solman, Maple Leafs Stadium replaced a smaller ballpark on Toronto Island. The new stadium held 23,500 in its large, single-tier stand.
The Toronto Maple Leafs won the international league in their first season at the stadium and would win five of their ten championships here. In 1951, new owner Jack Kent Cooke transformed the Maple Leafs. He signed the team’s first black players, pitcher Leon Day and catcher Charlie White, and drew record crowds with promotions, celebrity appearances, and other game day entertainment. The team won two titles during this time.
Cooke sold the Maple Leafs in 1964. Falling attendance and rising costs forced the team to stop playing in 1967. The Maple Leafs moved and became the Louisville Colonels in 1968, then the Pawtucket Red Sox in 1972. Maple Leaf Stadium was demolished in 1968, ending professional baseball in Toronto until the arrival of the major-league Toronto Blue Jays in 1977.”
Heritage Toronto 2018
The plaque is located at 50 Stadium Rd, west of Bathurst St, south of Lake Shore Blvd W 1953 – The Toronto City Directory showing the address and phone number of Maple Leaf Stadium (Toronto Public Library)
