The baseball stadium featured in the classic film “A League of Their Own” tragically burned down, leaving local residents in shock and some even saying they heard explosions.
Jay Littleton Ballpark in Ontario, California, was destroyed in a five-alarm fire that completely destroyed the stands and dugouts featured in the film, although the scoreboard remains standing.
This park is 1992 film Starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis and Madonna (among many others), the film follows a women's baseball team struggling to make it in the league during World War II without the men.
“In the past, perpetrators have entered buildings, cut gas lines and turned on the gas themselves.”
in press releaseThe Ontario Fire Marshal said 51 crew members responded to the blaze and contained it to the building where it originated.
The fire department added that the ballpark has been a local landmark for nearly 90 years and features all-wood bleachers built in 1937.
No casualties have been found and the primary cause of the fire remains under investigation at the time of writing.
At least one local resident suspected foul play. Aaron Mathiesen, president of the Eastern Ontario Little League, said: Fox 11 Los Angeles Homelessness is rampant in the park.
“We've had constant trouble with homeless people in the park,” Mathiesen said. “In the past, they've broken into buildings and cut the gas lines to try to get their own gas.”
“It's become a mess, and unfortunately I think that's what happened,” he added.
The Little League president said another resident “heard an explosion” and then saw flames.
“I hope there was no one inside, but homelessness is a big problem in this park.”
Matthiessen told reporters: ABC7 No. 7 Local residents were reportedly crying in grief over the incident, with many children playing in the streets.
“I was just talking to the president of the neighborhood league across the street. One of the parents is across the street, one of the coaches is across the street. He's sitting on the side of the road crying because this ballpark was the heart of Ontario,” the baseball fan continued.
“This is a historic ballpark where our kids get to play, and unfortunately we're not going to get the opportunity to play there anymore.”
Dan Bell, Ontario's director of public affairs, spoke about the importance of the park's history in an interview. Entertainment Weekly.
“This is a tremendous loss for our community,” he told the outlet. “Everybody here has either played on that field over the years or has a relative or a child who played on that field. A lot of people have played on that field in the 87 years since it was established.”
Officials added that the stadium's historical significance will require the city to closely consider how to proceed.
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