We all have hobbies, maybe you like photography or baking, or maybe you just spent 3.8 million dollars on a facility to house your model train collection. Probably not, but you wouldn’t be the first to do so if you had. The first would be an anonymous Californian building a scale replica of New York City for his model railroad display. Clearly, this man loves trains. Like, a lot. One of the first additions to this replica is Ebbets Field, the home of a previous California transplant: the Brooklyn Dodgers.
The Brooklyn Dodger’s original stadium, Ebbets Field, was built 100 years ago in Flatbush. The stadium hosted dozens of amazing ballplayers, including the legendary Jackie Robinson, before it was ultimately abandoned by its home team in 1957 when the Dodgers left New York for the sunshine and golden shores of California. Only three years later, in 1960, was the stadium torn down and left to history. Now, however, the building is being remade, only this time it’s a little smaller.
Commissioned by an anonymous client, Mark Williams, the owner of That Laser Art Productions, has been diligently working with his team for the last 13 months to create a 1:48 scale replica of the original that includes everything: 31,000 retractable seats, 800 working lights, even some pigeons, and yes, their droppings, too. The field is made out of laser cut wood that has been meticulously painted to get the right amount of weathering and age while the roof is made of toilet paper as a stand-in for the real tar paper exterior.
All in all, the model cost somewhere “in the six figures” range and is the first of three baseball stadiums commissioned by the train enthusiast (the other two being the old Polo Grounds and the old Yankee Stadium). While the general public may not be able to see these mini marvels in person, it’s nice knowing that the stadium will live on and the Dodgers will be just a little closer to their roots. See Mark Williams talk about his creation below.
Next, check out 10 Former and Lost Sporting Venues in and Around NYC and 8 of NYC’s Lost Baseball Stadiums.
