David Shapinsky from Washington, D.C., United States — No Known Restrictions: Polo Grounds during World Series Game, 1913 from the Bain Collection (LOC) CALL NUMBER: LOT 11147–3 [P&P] REPRODUCTION NUMBER: LC-USZ62–69242 (b&w film copy neg.
The Cop Killer Arrested At The Polo Grounds Because He Loved Baseball
In 1926, A New York Giants fan was arrested on Opening Day after a string of serious crimes
Opening Day in baseball is a magical time of year. The first official baseball game of the season promises coming warmer weather and months of action from America’s Pastime. The special day is so sacred that it has proven hard to stay away from by some people, including Paul Emmanuel Hilton, a cop killer taken into custody while attending Opening Day at the old Polo Grounds in 1926.
The Giants opened the 1926 season on April 13th against their rival, the Brooklyn Dodgers. With a final score of 3–0, the Giants fell in large part due to Dodgers’ outfielder Zach Wheats’ three hits and a walk, and pitcher Jesse Petty’s complete game one-hit shutout (a sixth-inning double by Frankie Frisch was the only hit he yielded). It was a disappointing start to a disappointing year for New York, as the Giants finished 74–77 in fifth place.
Despite the heroics of Petty and Wheat, some of the hottest action that day took place in the stands. It was reported that detectives made a big arrest moments prior to the start of the game.
Just as he was about to get his ticket punched, detectives took 26-year-old Hilton into…
