Historic ‘League of Their Own’ baseball field burns down in overnight fire, investigation underway
There’s no crying in baseball, but grab your tissues for this.
The historic baseball field featured in the 1992 family comedy “A League of Their Own” was destroyed in an overnight fire. The Jay Littleton Ball Park in Ontario, Calif., built in the 1930s, could not be saved after it was engulfed in flames just before midnight Thursday.
According to local reports, the blaze broke out around 11:30 p.m. When firefighters responded to the scene, they discovered enormous flames coming from the stadium and dugout. Sadly, little could be done to save the landmark.
Photos showed the inferno ripping through the stadium as emergency responders desperately tried to put out the blaze.
It’s unclear how the fire started. The facility had been renovated several times over the years, but officials said there’s likely a lot of old wood in the structure, which is dry and burns quickly and could have contributed to the magnitude of the flames.
No injuries were reported and the fire is under investigation. Arson investigators were seen combing through the burnt remains on Friday morning.
While the baseball field has been featured in several Hollywood projects, it’s most famous for being the heart of “A League of Their Own” starring Tom Hanks, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell and Geena Davis.
The ’90s classic, directed by Penny Marshall, is about the first professional all-female baseball league developed during World War II. It became an instant success and is still beloved decades later.
“A League of Their Own” landed the No. 1 spot on the Wrap‘s 20 highest-grossing baseball movies list in 2022, being the only film to crack the $100 million mark. The legendary comedy turned 30 in July 2022.
Prime Video made a series of the same name a few years ago, an effort that The Post TV critic Lauren Sarner said wasn’t quite a home run.
“For fans of the movie, it’s worth tuning in. And for those looking for a dramedy about women playing baseball in the 1940s that doesn’t gloss over topics such as race and sexuality, it’s an enjoyable enough watch. The ensemble cast is winsome, and the issues they struggle with feel topical. But it’s also jerky and uneven — with the feel of a show that’s clearing its throat and trying to decide on its tone as it unfolds,” Sarner wrote.
Jay Littleton Ball Park was also featured in the 1988 sports drama “Eight Men Out,” starring John Cusack, Charlie Sheen, the late Clifton James and more. The facility was used for scenes in the 1992 film “The Babe,” featuring John Goodman as the professional baseball legend Babe Ruth, and a 1999 episode of “The X-Files.”
It became a historic landmark in 2003 and is owned by the city and operated by the public works agency.
Following the fire, the president of the Ontario Eastern Little League, Aaron Matthiesen, addressed the devastation the city feels over the loss.
“This ball park has been the heart of Ontario, it’s a historical ball park, place to play for our kids,” said Matthiesen shared per ABC 7. “Unfortunately, we’re not going to be able to get a chance to play in it anymore.”
