Baseball giant’s home runs to historic status
- Share via
A two-story house that was once owned by legendary pro baseball manager Casey Stengel took a big step toward securing its place in history this week after being added to the Glendale Register of Historic Resources.
The Glendale City Council voted 3-0 on Tuesday in favor of the designation of the Mediterranean revival-style home built in 1925 and first owned by John Lawson, a former councilman, mayor and co-founder of Valley National Bank.
Stengel moved into the home in 1945 with his wife, Edna, who was Lawson’s daughter.
The property is now referred to as the Lawson-Stengel home.
Stengel’s storied career included playing for the 1922 World Series-winning New York Giants — now the San Francisco Giants — and winning seven more titles as manager for the Yankees.
Despite his professional commitments outside the city, he was still well known in Glendale.
“Even though his entire career was spent on the East Coast playing ball and also managing the Yankees for the greater part of his career, he was regularly connected to Glendale,” said Jay Platt, a senior urban designer with the city. “The current owners who nominated [the house] recognize that and wanted to celebrate the Casey Stengel connection.
Platt said he’s waited since his first day on the job with the city of Glendale to help get the Lawson-Stengel home historic designation.
When back at home, Stengel also served on the board of directors of Valley National Bank. In 1952, the Verdugo Park Municipal Baseball Field was renamed Stengel Field.
Stengel died on Sept. 29, 1975, at the age of 85 and is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.
The addition of Stengel’s former home to the historic resource list means any proposed alterations, repairs or demolitions must be approved by the city’s Community Development Department.
The current homeowners also were granted a Mills Act contract, which means they will receive a reduction in their property taxes as a means to better facilitate rehabilitation or restoration of the house.