Tragedy struck the baseball world on Thursday night as Jay Littleton Ball Park, famously featured in “A League of Their Own,” was engulfed in flames and destroyed.
The historic ballpark, which had been in operation since the late 1930s, held a special place in the hearts of both the local community in California and fans of the beloved film.
Local resident Rich Rivas expressed the community’s resilience in the face of the loss, stating, “It hurts a lot, but this community is very resilient. I believe at some point people will be coming out to see what they can do to rebuild it.”
Details emerged about the fire that ravaged the iconic baseball set, leaving behind a trail of destruction and uncertainty. The field, designated as a historic landmark in 2003, fell victim to the flames in a blaze that started late at night.
What happened to the ‘A League of Their Own’ field?
ABC’s Tony Cabrera reported on the tragic fire that consumed Jay Littleton Ball Park, with firefighters battling massive flames engulfing the stadium and dugout.
The structure, still containing remnants of its original 1930s construction, could not be saved. While no injuries were reported, the cause of the fire remained unknown as arson investigators sifted through the debris.
A SoCal ballpark rich with Hollywood history goes up in flames in a raging inferno in Ontario. The suspicious fire gutting the Jay Littleton Ball Park, which was used in movies like “A League of Their Own” and “The Babe.” The arson investigation – This morning at 6 from ABC7 pic.twitter.com/PByqo91a8b
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) August 23, 2024
Where was ‘A League of Their Own’ filmed?
The iconic baseball movie was shot in various locations, including Chicago’s Wrigley Field, Cooperstown, and Indiana. Jay Littleton Ball Park in Ontario, California, served as a key filming location for the movie.
Owned by the city and operated by the public works agency, the park also appeared in other films such as “Eight Men Out” (1988) and “The Babe” (1992), as well as a 1999 episode of “The X-Files.”