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20 Vintage Photos of Baseball Fans Before the Big Leagues Went Corporate

Vintage Photos Nostalgia Sports May 28, 2025

Last Updated on May 28, 2025 by Matt Staff

Before baseball became a billion-dollar business with luxury boxes and corporate sponsors stamped on every surface, it had a very different feel. It was a working-class ritual, sunburned afternoons in the cheap seats, radios pressed to ears, and fans who wore their hearts (and team colors) on their sleeves.

You’ll see packed stands full of characters, families, and diehards, each one part of a culture that turned ballparks into second homes. There were no Jumbotrons or fan cams, just voices shouting from the stands, kids chasing foul balls, and people connecting through a shared passion. Here are 20 vintage photos of baseball fans before the big leagues went corporate.

1. Dodgers fans at Ebbets Field, 1950

A jubilant crowd of men and women, many in suits and hats, cheer and raise their hands inside a packed, multi-level building, celebrating with wide smiles and energetic gestures.
l0st_in_the_stars

2. Al Capone at a baseball game, 1931

A man in a suit sits among a group of people at an outdoor event. He is in the foreground, looking slightly to the side, while others around him are engaged or looking elsewhere. Everyone is dressed in formal attire.
inkintodark

3. The babe posing with his fans, 1925

A baseball player in a "Yankees" uniform stands by a wooden fence while a group of men, dressed in suits and hats, smile and lean eagerly over the fence to watch or greet him.
harvickfan4life

4. A crowd at Herald Square watching mechanical updates of the 1911 World Series

A large crowd, mostly men in hats and coats, gathers outside a building with arched columns to watch a scoreboard display updates for a baseball game, likely in the early 1900s. Some police officers stand in front.
l0st_in_the_stars

5. Gabby Hartnett signs a ball for Sonny Capone, 1931

A baseball player leans over a dugout railing, speaking to a smiling man in a suit and tie seated in the stands among other spectators. The crowd is dressed in formal attire, including hats and jackets.
jneebs

6. Vincent Price at Dodger Stadium, 1965

A man in a tan suit enthusiastically passes a bag to a woman in the stands at a crowded stadium, while others watch or enjoy snacks like popcorn. The atmosphere is lively and cheerful.
downwarddawg

7. White Sox outfielder Al Smith got soaked, 1959

A split image: the top shows a crowd of people in mid-century attire, many reacting with surprise, while the bottom shows a baseball player pressed against a green wall as a glove with a ball sits on top of his head.
pharoahsbarber1313

8. A riot broke loose at Comiskey Park in 1979

A large crowd of people covers a baseball field at night, with stadium lights shining and stands filled with spectators in the background. The scoreboard is visible above the chaotic scene.
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9. Frank Sinatra with the Dodgers, 1977

A group of five men, four in Los Angeles Dodgers baseball uniforms and one in a Dodgers jacket, stand smiling together, surrounded by people and cameras in a black-and-white photo.
norrisrw

10. Braves fans watching the 1957 World Series on a department store television, 1957

A black-and-white photo of a large group of people seated and standing in a spacious, well-lit room, viewed from behind a grand piano, with the audience facing forward and watching intently.
morganmonroe81

11. Baseball fans waiting in line for the World Series grounds to open, 1920

A group of men and women dressed in early 20th-century clothing stand in a line outside on a sidewalk, some smiling and others with neutral expressions. Trees and buildings are visible in the background.
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12. Opening day at Comiskey Park in Chicago

A black-and-white photo shows people lined up outside Comiskey Park as two mascots in Chicago White Sox uniforms and large hats walk by in front of the stadium entrance.
axlcobainvedder

13. She is emotionally invested in this game, 1962

A woman in a sleeveless blouse sits in a crowd, mouth open as if shouting, with a handbag on her lap. Behind her, another woman holds a notepad and appears to be yelling as well.
userdeleted

14. Baseball fans gather to watch the 1913 World Series across from Shibe Park, Philadelphia, PA

A large crowd of people, many sitting on rooftops and porches of row houses, watch a parade passing by on a city street. Early 20th-century cars and American flags are visible along the sidewalks.
scabiebaby

15. Fans crowd at the newly opened Candlestick Park, 1960

A black-and-white photo of a crowded scene with many people, some wearing hats and suits, gathered near a wall with signs for buses and taxis. One person in white carries a large box above their head through the crowd.
axlcobainvedder

16. Selling Cokes at Yankee Stadium, 1947

A vendor wearing a paper hat sells bottled drinks to fans seated in a crowded baseball stadium during a game, with players and the scoreboard visible in the background.
axlcobainvedder

17. Chicago baseball fans watching the ’52 World Series

Black-and-white photo of a crowded diner bar, with men in hats and coats sitting on stools. A bartender in white serves drinks. Signs advertise food and prices. The atmosphere feels busy and lively.
hooverpaul

18. Dodgers fans expressing their discontent with the team, 1940

Black and white photo of two men in tank tops sitting in a crowded stadium, passionately shouting or cheering, surrounded by other enthusiastic spectators.
jocke75

19. Watching the new ’58 Dodgers play at Memorial Coliseum

A baseball player in uniform stands on a grassy field holding a bat, facing a group of people. Some fans take photos and others watch, with another player visible in the distant outfield.
chrisjayyyy

20. Bat day at Yankee Stadium, 1968

A packed stadium crowd holds up inflatable bats, filling the stands during a baseball game. The black and white image captures the energy and excitement of the fans, with people densely seated under a covered stadium section.
againforthrfirstrime

Want to see more vintage baseball content?

Check out 10 Outdated Baseball Rules From The Early Days of the Game, or take a look at 17 Photos From The Early Days of American Baseball (1940s-1950s). Finally, if you want to see some baseball records, check out 16 Strange Baseball Records That May Never Be Broken.

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