On this very ground, where players now chase victory, once lay materials for a very different kind of battle. Kirsch-Rooney Stadium, a New Orleans landmark since 1957, wasn’t always about home runs and stolen bases. This field, nestled in the heart of Lakeview, once held the timber and steel that would become Higgins Landing Crafts, those iconic vessels that stormed the beaches of Normandy.
But Kirsch-Rooney Stadium’s story is about more than echoes of wartime industry. It’s a testament to two young men, Cyril Kirsch and Robert Rooney, whose lives were tragically cut short in World War II. They were more than namesakes; they were local boys, Jesuit High School football stars, who answered their nation’s call. Both were killed in action just weeks apart in the spring of 1945, their sacrifice forever etched in the heart of this stadium.
Their legacy lives on, not just in the roar of the crowd or the crack of the bat, but in every game played on “Rags” Scheuermann Field, named for the beloved Delgado Dolphins coach. From MLB exhibitions featuring legends like Hank Aaron and Pete Rose to the thrill of high school championships, Kirsch-Rooney Stadium has seen it all.
Even Hurricane Katrina’s wrath couldn’t dim its spirit. The stadium, though flooded, was the first of its kind to reopen, a beacon of resilience for a city rebuilding. Today, as you take in the sights and sounds of this cherished ballpark, remember those who played here, those who built it, and those whose memory continues to echo through the cheers.