Mills Stadium
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Chicago, IL

Team: Chicago American Giants AKA: Tiger Park, Garden City Park, Pyott Field, Niesen Field, Cermark-Mills Stadium
Capacity: 4,000 - 5,000 (1917) 6,000 - 7,000 (1930) 10,000+ for football

This park was used from 1913 to 1941 for semi-pro baseball and boxing. From 1913 to 1915, the Tigers were the main team here and the park was know as Tiger Park. In 1916, sportswriter Billy Niesen, formed a new team, called Garden City, and improved and enlarged the field. In 1919, the park was sold to George W. Pyott and the Garden City moved out. Pyott formed a team, called the Pyotts, that played here until 1923. Later that year, the Mills Novelty Company bought the park with the intent of tearing it down to expand their factory. However, Niesen leased the park and improved it once again. The team he fielded was known as the Niesens and the park was called Niesen Park. The Logan Squares also moved in but only stayed until 1925. In 1926, Niesen moved his team out and P.T. Harmons became the tenant of the newly renamed Cermark-Mills Stadium. 1927 brought along Bill Harley to manage the new tenants, the Mills, who remained in the renamed Mills Stadium until the park was finally torn down in 1941, for the enlarged factory.

On August 6, 1935, the American Giants played the New York Cubans in the only major league game held here. Although numerous professional teams played here, the other games were exhibitions.



© 2005-07 Paul Healey.