Rutgers Football at MLB Venues
Apr 01 | Football
Rutgers football has a long history of playing games in Major League Baseball venues dating back to a contest versus Washington & Lee at the Polo Grounds in 1914. It has happened 52 times, including seven bowls. Below is a listing of each ballpark with the number of total RU games played and the year of the team's last visit. Credit to newspapers.com for assorted clipping shown.
- Yankee Stadium (New York): 13, 2023
- Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg, Fla.): 1, 2009
- Rogers Centre (Toronto): 1, 2008
- Chase Field (Phoenix): 2, 2024
- Veterans Stadium (Philadelphia): 12, 2001
- Three Rivers Stadium (Pittsburgh): 1, 2000
- Riverfront Stadium (Cincinnati): 1, 1983
- Nickerson Field (Boston): 3, 1975
- Polo Grounds (New York): 11, 1946
- Baltimore Stadium (Baltimore): 1, 1940
- Fenway Park (Boston): 2, 1935
- Ebbets Field (New York): 3, 1932
- Navin Field (Detroit): 1, 1920
YANKEE STADIUM
Rutgers has played 13 games at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, the most among any MLB venue. That includes nine versus NYU in the original version that opened in 1923. Most recently, the Scarlet Knights competed in the 2023 Pinstripe Bowl.
1926: NYU 30, Rutgers 0
1927: NYU 60, Rutgers 6
1928: NYU 48, Rutgers 0
1929: NYU 20, Rutgers 7
1930: NYU 33, Rutgers 0
1931: NYU 27, Rutgers 7
1932: NYU 21, Rutgers 0
1933: Rutgers 6, NYU 6
1948: Rutgers 40, NYU 0
2011: Rutgers 27, Army 12
2011: Rutgers 27, Iowa State 13 (Pinstripe Bowl)
2013: No. 25 Notre Dame 29, Rutgers 16 (Pinstripe Bowl)
2023: Rutgers 31, Miami 24 (Pinstripe Bowl)
Photos: (1) Rutgers Hall of Famer William "Bucky" Hatchett on the catch in 1948 (2) 1932 (3) 1932 (4) 1928 (5) 2011 Pinstripe Bowl (6) Celebrating the 2011 Pinstripe Bowl victory (7) Brandon Coleman following a 38-yard touchdown reception from Chas Dodd in 2011 (8) First time in the current stadium versus Army in 2011 (9) Tyler Kroft in the 2013 Pinstripe Bowl (10) Taking the field for the 2013 Pinstripe Bowl (11) 2013 Pinstripe Bowl (12) 2023 Pinstripe Bowl
TROPICANA FIELD
Rutgers defeated UCF, 45-24, in the 2009 St. Petersburg Bowl inside Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays.The Scarlet Knights showed a great display of balance in all three phases of the game, recording touchdowns on offensive, defensive and special teams. RU ended the night with two rushing touchdowns, two passing touchdowns, one interception and one kickoff returned for scores. True freshman Mohamed Sanu had 13 carries for 41 yards and a pair of touchdowns, in addition to catching four passes for 97 yards and a score. For his performance, Sanu was awarded the Most Outstanding Player trophy.
2009: Rutgers 45, UCF 24 (St. Petersburg Bowl)
Photos: (1) Mohamed Sanu (2) Kevin Haslam and Anthony Davis celebrating with the trophy (3) Fan support in Florida (4) Tropicana Dome (5) Ryan D'Imperio and Damaso Munoz both had six tackles in the win
ROGERS CENTRE
Rutgers took part in the 2008 International Bowl following the 2007 season, routing Ball State, 52-30, at Rogers Centre, the home of the Toronto Blue Jays. Ray Rice rushed for a school-record 280 yards and four touchdowns en route to being named the bowl's Most Valuable Player. It was the second time RU played a game outside the United States.
2008: Rutgers 52, Ball State 30 (International Bowl)
Photos: (1) Rutgers sideline (2) Mike Teel takes the snap (3) Rogers Centre (4) Kenny Britt, Tiquan Underwood and Tim Brown with the trophy (5) Ray Rice on the carry
CHASE FIELD
The Scarlet Knights returned to postseason for the first time since 1978 with an appearance in the 2005 Insight Bowl against Arizona State at Chase Field, the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The team traveled back to Arizona for the 2024 Rate Bowl.
2005: Arizona State 45, Rutgers 40 (Insight Bowl)
2024: Kansas State 44, Rutgers 41 (Rate Bowl)
Photos: (1) Brian Leonard on the carry (2) Scarlet Knight ready to go (3) Rutgers captains with Greg Brown, James Gandolfini and Mark Ohlstein before the coin flip (4) Chase Field (5) Ryan Hart (6) Marching Scarlet Knights (7) Ian Strong (8) Chase Field (9) Antwan Raymond
VETERANS STADIUM
Rutgers played Temple 12 times at Veterans Stadium, also the former home of the Philadelphia Phillies. That ranks second behind Yankee Stadium for the most among any MLB venue.
1977: Temple 24, Rutgers 14
1980: Rutgers 21, Temple 3
1982: Rutgers 10, Temple 7
1985: Temple 14, Rutgers 13
1987: Rutgers 17, Temple 14
1989: Temple 36, Rutgers 33
1990: Temple 29, Rutgers 22
1992: Rutgers 35, Temple 10
1995: Rutgers 23, Temple 20
1997: Temple 49, Rutgers 7
1999: Temple 56, Rutgers 28
2001: Temple 20, Rutgers 10
Photos: (1) Veterans Stadium setup for baseball (2) Rutgers Hall of Famer Ray Lucas went 28-for-47 for 300 passing yards and two touchdowns in the 1995 win ... The quarterback capped the game-winning drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to put the Scarlet Knights ahead with 1:28 remaining
THREE RIVERS STADIUM
Rutgers traveled to Three Rivers Stadium, former home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, to play Pittsburgh in 2000. The Scarlet Knights forced seven turnovers that day, still the most in a game by the team this century.
2000: Pittsburgh 29, Rutgers 17
Photos: (1) From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette of a forced fumble (2) Three Rivers Stadium setup for baseball
RIVERFRONT STADIUM
The 1983 matchup between Rutgers and Cincinnati was staged at Riverfront Stadium, the previous home of the Cincinnati Reds. Tight end Alan Andrews (pictured right) scored a touchdown on a 3-yard reception from Jacque LaPrarie.
1983: Cincinnati 18, Rutgers 7
Photos: (1) Riverfront Stadium (2) Alan Andrews
NICKERSON FIELD
Nickerson Field was the home of the Boston Braves before the franchise moved to Atlanta. Rutgers played three games at the site versus Boston University.
1965: Boston U 30, Rutgers 0
1970: Rutgers 6, Boston U 3
1975: Rutgers 41, Boston U 3
Photos: (1) Mark Lassiter fighting for yards in 1975 win (The Central New Jersey Home News) (2)The Boston Globe recaps the 1975 victory (3) Pete Hayes dives for a fumble as shown in The Boston Globe in 1965 (4) Don Rissett pictured in The Central New Jersey Home News from 1965
POLO GROUNDS
Rutgers played in 11 games against various opponents at the Polo Grounds in New York City, being the only school to see action in all four versions of the stadium. The New York Giants and New York Yankees both called the building home at one point.
1914: Washington & Lee 20, Rutgers 13
1915: Rutgers 28, Hamilton Fish All-Stars 7
1916: Washington & Lee 12, Rutgers 9
1918: Syracuse 21, Rutgers 0
1919: Syracuse 14, Rutgers 0
1920: Nebraska 28, Rutgers 0
1921: Notre Dame 48, Rutgers 0
1922: Rutgers 25, LSU 0
1923: West Virginia 27, Rutgers 7
1936: NYU 46, Rutgers 0
1946: Rutgers 26, NYU 0
Photos: (1) John Hipolit punts in the 1946 win over NYU (The Brooklyn Daily Eagle) (2) 1922 headline in The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (3) Program from the 1921 matchup against Notre Dame (4) 1914 versus Washington & Lee (Flickr Common)
BALTIMORE STADIUM
Baltimore Stadium later became Memorial Stadium and the home of the Baltimore Orioles. Rutgers traveled the park to play Maryland on Thanksgiving in 1940.
1940: Maryland 14, Rutgers 7
Photo: (1) Action shown in The Baltimore Sun
FENWAY PARK
Opening in 1912 and still in use today, Rutgers took on Boston College in 1919 and Boston University in 1935 at the historic venue, home to the Boston Red Sox.
1919: Rutgers 13, Boston College 7
1935: Rutgers 12, Boston U 6
Photos: (1) Headline in The Central New Jersey Home News from 1935 (2) The Des Moines Register with an Associated Press photo of Morris Grossman (3) As seen in The Boston Globe in 1919 (4) 1935 action
EBBETS FIELD
The former home of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Ebbets Field played host to Rutgers three times. The 1917 win over Newport Naval Reserves marked the first college football game at the park.
1917: Rutgers 14, Newport Naval Reserves 0
1918: Great Lakes Naval 54, Rutgers 14
1932: Manhattan 7, Rutgers 6
Photos: (1) Jack Liddy carrying the ball versus Manhattan in 1932 (Daily News) (2) As seen in the Chicago Tribune in 1918
NAVIN FIELD
Navin Field later became Tiger Stadium, hosting the Detroit Tigers. Rutgers traveled for to Michigan for a game in 1920 versus Detroit.
1920: Detroit 27, Rutgers 0
Photos: (1) Tiger Stadium (2) Detroit Free Press shows the lineup and line score
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