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Karl R. Josker | profile | all galleries >> Buffalo >> War Memorial Stadium tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

War Memorial Stadium

Buffalo's War Memorial Stadium opened in 1938, as Civic Stadium, constructed as a WPA project. It was home to the Buffalo Bills until 1972, and remained a baseball and soccer facility to 1988, when it was mostly demolished, leaving only the two main entrances, with an athletic field built behind them.

It was affectionately or derisively known as the "Rockpile" depending on one's perspective. It was the stadium used in the filming of 1984's movie, "The Natural."
Dedicatory Plaque
Dedicatory Plaque		 Main Entrance
Main Entrance		 Mid-sixties Upper Deck
Mid-sixties Upper Deck		 Mid-sixties Upper Deck
Mid-sixties Upper Deck
Upper Deck Addition
Upper Deck Addition		 Western End Zone
Western End Zone		 Last Row
Last Row		 Pressbox
Pressbox
Pressbox
Pressbox		 Scoreboard and Bleachers
Scoreboard and Bleachers		 View From Bleacher Tunnel
View From Bleacher Tunnel		 Western End Zone From Last Row
Western End Zone From Last Row

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Guest 18-Oct-2014 22:28
Thanks for remembering those exciting Bills years. I had the privilege of being the public address announcer from 1960 until 1972. Great years. Championship teams
pete hubbell
Guest 14-Sep-2014 12:13
The company I worked for demolished the rock pile. It was an exiting job because of the history of the Bills and the Natural.Got some sweet pictures of us Tearing down all that history. L.Schmidt ; Lockport.
Paul 08-Aug-2012 11:27
Does anyone know about the actual construction, contractors etc?
lencorben16-Mar-2012 00:57
I made my way to this site via the digitalballparks.com site. It was quite exciting to see that the one game I saw at War Memorial Stadium on August 10, 1962, was noted in the captions. That's when Bob Veale struck out 22 batters for an International League record. I was writing a story about Gerry Reimer for The Vancouver Sun at the time and just as the game was about to start, a sportswriter stood up and announced to everyone in the press box, "The International League record for strikeouts in a game is 21. Tonight Bob Veale will break that record." And he did. After the game, I got a ball from Reimer (who struck out once)and had Veale sign it. He wrote, "Bob Veale 22Ks Aug. 10, 1962." I still have the ball.
David Tomei 17-Oct-2009 17:23
I got to be a stringer for UPI after Hal Franklin went off to work for Ebony magazine. It was 1969 and my only real job was to shoot the Bills games from the high catwalk suspended beneath the roof. An unforgettable experience especially in the high wind and driving snow. The other photographers had a bad habit of bumping and pushing to get the shots which made it a tough place to work if you're prone to vertigo.
Gary 03-Oct-2008 14:44
Its been awhile between visitors I guess but I loved this old place.
Great memories? Dennis Shaw vs Joe Namath- lousy Bills teams 1969-1972- Beach Boys 1987- great smells and BBQ smoke during Bisons games- The Butcher- The old black guy who danced to "Tequila" in 7th innings.
Long live the Rockpile!
Thanks for these pictures.
Chuck 20-Aug-2007 20:53
Like Skip I remember the stock cars races, but in a different way. As a kid, we llivd on Dodge Steet, and every weekend watched the cars begining towed down the street on their way to the races. We could than hear the races on a clear night.

I also remember going and watching the Bills play, and was at the game when Cookie Gilcrest broke the single game record for yards gained.
matthew 25-Apr-2007 05:05
I was in the stands for "The Natural". In 1986? I went to see the beach boys and the Bisons. I rode my bike all the way up Fillmore, and locked it up to a pole in the parking lot. When I got out, the only thing worth taking home was the lock! Everything else was wrecked. I ended up driving out in a brand new Porsche. We were going to an after party and I was Designated driver, but thats another story,
bill bill 24-Jan-2007 05:18
I used to drive the POLICE TOW TRUCK moving cars off of JEFFERSON AVE.One time we were done and we were going to go in the tunnel,a bunch of concrete rocks started raining downing down on the roof of the truck,I GOT out of the area until security got rid of yhe punks who were dropping the rocks.
Michael Mondia 17-Dec-2005 20:59
I used to see the Bills here in the mid 60's with my Dad and friends. I remember once in about '67 or '68, a group of myself and four others went to a double header to see the Bisons. We sat in the right field bleachers and we all caught homerun balls. The one I caught was from my hero at the time "DUKE CARMEL'. It was his 36th homer that year. He hit over 40 that season. I wonder what ever happened to him? Michael Mondia getbackmack@aol.com
Michael Mondia 17-Dec-2005 20:58
I used to see the Bills here in the mid 60's with my Dad and friends. I remember once in about '67 or '68, a group of myself and four others went to a double header to see the Bisons. We sat in the right field bleachers and we all caught homerun balls. The one I caught was from my hero at the time "DUKE CARMEL'. It was his 36th homer that year. He hit over 40 that season. I wonder what ever happened to him? Michael Mondia getbackmack@aol.com
Guest 30-Nov-2005 20:20
What great pictures of the Rockpile. I remember my first Bills game that i went to
was there. It really had character, not like some of the stadiums today.
Stu 08-Nov-2005 13:51
I'm from Brooklyn, but had the good fortune to go to UB (Class of 1974) and "The Rockpile" during (you should pardon the expression) "The OJ Years"..During my first yr at UB I made the (understandable)mistake of thinking you could purchase Bills tickets at War Memorial Stadium...I took a bus to the hood (by myself--talking about living on the edge!) and found out that they did NOT sell tickets at War Memroail--only at the old Statler-Hilton Hotel in downtown...War Memorial had real character---obstructed seats and baseball configuration...Nothing like watching the Bills play thereon a gray damp day!!
skip 02-Nov-2005 04:46
i remember going to war memorial,as a kid with my sister,to watch stock car races. that was a few years ago.
Guest 20-Sep-2005 15:29
Rich Szczygiel
I remember going to the stock car races at this stadium during the 50's. The stadium at that time was called Civic Stadium. Some drivers I remember were Roy Campbell, Dick Flagg and Bill Hurd.
Guest 01-Jul-2005 18:06
I remember seeing Seals & Crofts and Chicago here in '69 or '70. For the night it was renamed Peace Memorial Stadium. Sign of the times. We stormed the field, knocked down the fence and got close to the stage. I was on the right side of the stage near the bank of speakers. Couldn't hear out my right side for 2 days after. What a rebel! 25 or 624.
Ron Sander 02-Jun-2004 15:20
I only went here a couple of times. The first time was to see the late 19402 or early 1950s high school championship football game between Kensington and Bennett. Does the attendance record for that game (I recall about 60,000) still rank high for high school football games ?

The other time was to see the Bills play someone. The Bills' fullback, "Lookie, lookie, there goes Cookie" Gilchrist, ran wild that game over the opposition. I think Jack Kemp was the QB. I enjoyed the game a lot but was soon sad to see that the "good citizens" living in the neighborhood around the stadium had decided that my lkawfully parked car needed to "keyed" all over and its head and tail lights smashed. Those "good boys" probably wondered while the Bills soon left for Orchard Park or why their own lives never met their ("I am due it") expectations of success and wealth.
Rob 31-May-2004 13:25
Thanks for those memorable pictures. Anyone who isn't from Buffalo might notice this stadium as the one that was filmed in "The Natural" with Robert Redford.
Shirley Short 16-Apr-2004 02:16
I remember these pic's well. I saw my first baseball game there when I was about seven years old. My God parents took me. My God Father let me have a taste of his beer.
I loved the hot dogs...I is such a warm memory...Thanks for all the pic's on your site.
I live in Texas now but you know....There is no place like HOME....SB
terry 31-Mar-2004 06:22
Excellent photos of the Rockpile. I used to lov it there for Bills games (night ones too) and for concerts. A classic place...
Don Kick 29-Mar-2004 18:22
Thanks for the memories... Rember this always as "Civic Stadium". Spent many an evening there as a boy watching the "Midget Racers" Long before the Bills.

Also enjoyed your shots of Crystal Beach...

Many thanks again
Karl R. Josker27-Mar-2004 14:16
Yes, this was the stadium that was known as "The Rockpile."
Donna 27-Mar-2004 14:00
Is this the "Rock Pile?"
click on thumbnails for full image