PHOTOS: Savannah's Grayson Stadium through the years

News

PHOTOS: Savannah's Grayson Stadium through the years

During its 100-year history, Grayson Stadium has hosted baseball greats, a president, legendary musicians and more recently the Savannah Bananas.

Then-President Franklin Roosevelt speaks at what is now Grayson Stadium during Georgia's bicentennial celebration in 1933. Roosevelt, who was a part-time Georgia resident with a home in Warm Springs, told the crowd he felt a “kinship” with Georgia’s founder, James Oglethorpe, and the first settlers, according to a report on his remarks in the Savannah Evening Press. (Courtesy of Georgia Historical Society)

The Savannah ballpark now known as Grayson Stadium is decked out for a visit from then-President Franklin Roosevelt, who delivered a speech there during Georgia's bicentennial celebration in 1933. (Courtesy of Georgia Historical Society)

Spectators pack the grandstand of what is now known as Grayson Stadium for a visit from then-President Franklin Roosevelt, who delivered a speech there during Georgia's bicentennial celebration in 1933. Those grandstands survived a 1940 hurricane that destroyed the rest of the ballpark and still stand today.(Courtesy of Georgia Historical Society)

Banners of baseball legends who have played at the stadium, including Babe Ruth, line the walls underneath the stands. Ruth played exhibition games there twice in Grayson’s first decade, hitting a home run in his first at bat. (Sarah Peacock for the AJC)

The Savannah Indians won the 1938 league championship. Minor League teams played 82 seasons at Grayson Stadium before the current tenant, the Savannah Bananas, debuted there in 2016. The Bananas will play more than 25 games in the 100-year-old ballpark in 2026. (Courtesy of Georgia Historical Society)

Jackie Robinson, who broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier, took the field as a minor league player in 1951, five years after his first scheduled appearance in Savannah was canceled because city leaders objected to Black players competing alongside whites. (Sarah Peacock for the AJC)

Savannah High School plays a football game at Grayson Stadium. The ballpark hosted many games featuring local teams over the years, including a Thanksgiving Day doubleheader involving rivals Savannah High vs. Benedictine and Tompkins vs. Beach. (Courtesy of Georgia Historical Society)

Savannah's longtime mayor, John Rousakis, waves to the crowd on opening night of the 1971 baseball season at Grayson Stadium. (Courtesy of Georgia Historical Society)

Famed Savannah photographer Jack Leigh documented Grayson Stadium in 1994. Leigh, best known for his photograph of the "Bird Girl" statue that appeared on the cover of the best-selling book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," died in 2004. (Courtesy of Georgia Historical Society)

Grayson Stadium in February 2026 ahead of the Savannah Bananas' home opener. (Sarah Peacock for the AJC)

Another view of Grayson Stadium in February 2026 as it marks its 100-year anniversary. (Sarah Peacock for the AJC)

Savannah Bananas pitcher Kyle Luigs throws a pitch during a Feb. 22, 2026, preseason game between the Bananas and Texas Tailgaters. The Bananas have called Grayson Stadium home since 2016. (Sarah Peacock for the AJC)

The original brick archways of historic Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Ga. (Sarah Peacock for the AJC)

Savannah's Grayson Stadium grandstand has a distinctive brick facade as shown in this architectural drawing. (Courtesy of City of Savannah Municipal Archives)

Grayson Stadium was designed to seat 12,000 spectators but was scaled back to 5,000. (Courtesy of City of Savannah Municipal Archives)

Savannah's Municipal Stadium, later renamed Grayson Stadium, opened in 1926. (Courtesy of City of Savannah Municipal Archives)

A timeline shows the history of 100-year-old Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Ga. (Sarah Peacock for the AJC)

1/18

Then-President Franklin Roosevelt speaks at what is now Grayson Stadium during Georgia's bicentennial celebration in 1933. Roosevelt, who was a part-time Georgia resident with a home in Warm Springs, told the crowd he felt a “kinship” with Georgia’s founder, James Oglethorpe, and the first settlers, according to a report on his remarks in the Savannah Evening Press. (Courtesy of Georgia Historical Society)

Today's Gallery Headlines

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport long lines

PHOTOS: Scenes from Hartsfield-Jackson airport

Atlanta’s socially anxious are facing their fears through improv

Photos: Atlanta’s socially anxious are facing their fears through improv

Grayson Stadium 100 years

PHOTOS: Savannah's Grayson Stadium through the years

Saturday and weekend airport wait times

PHOTOS: Long security lines snarl airport travelers to start weekend

More Galleries

DeKalb school closure plans, north region

DeKalb school closure plans: Here's the March proposal for each region of the district

Interstate checkpoint ruse

PHOTOS: Motorists fall for checkpoint ruse

Georgia's NFL Pro Day

PHOTOS: UGA Pro Day draws Falcons, others

St. Patrick’s Day parade gamer

PHOTOS: St. Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah