On This Day In Sports History

On April 16, 1898, a second-inning fire destroyed most of St. Louis's Robinson Field during a game between the Perfectos (Cardinals) and Orphans (Cubs). The blaze sparked a panic among 6,000 fans, resulting in one death and over 100 injuries as the wooden stands were leveled within 30 minutes. Remarkably, reconstruction began immediately, and a game was played on the field the very next day.