Nearly every New Orleanian knows their names, but what's the story behind Kirsch-Rooney Stadium's moniker?

More than Six decades ago, on June 7, 1956, an ordinance was introduced to the New Orleans City Council to formally name the new Delgado baseball field Kirsch-Rooney Stadium. In a letter to the Kirsch family dated June 14, 1956, councilman James Fitzmorris informed the family of Cyril Kirsch, a New Orleans native killed in action in World War II, that the new ballpark would be named Kirsch-Rooney Stadium in honor of Cyril's sacrifice and that of another Lakeview native killed in action, Robert Rooney.

Cy Kirsch and Bob Rooney were two Lakeview boys, both born and raised in New Orleans. Ironically, they weren't baseball stars, but rather football letterman at Jesuit High School where they played next to each other on the Blue jays' offensive line  before Cy signed a scholarship to continue his career at Auburn University while Bob went onto Loyola and eventually, received a commission to the United States Military Academy at West Point.

When Pearl Harbor launched the country into World War II, Kirsch and Rooney both answered the call, Kirsch being drafted and stationed in the Pacific and Rooney, already enrolled in West Point, received his first assignment in Germany.

Cyril was killed in action, shot by a Japanese sniper in Okinawa shortly after leading his platoon to safety. He died on April 22, 1945 and was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously.

Robert was killed while returning from his last mission when he plane and another allied plane flew into each other, both pilots blinded by the setting sun. Rooney remained with his aircraft until its crew could evacuate, and he perished in the crash. He too was awarded the Purple Heart, as well as the Air Medal.

Both Kirsch and Rooney were twenty-three years old at the time of their deaths.

In a letter to the Kirsch family following his death, Cy's commanding officer said "his actions will be a standard for each of us to equal."
 
Two years later, Kirsch-Rooney Stadium was formally dedicated in June 1957. In the countless games that have followed, the stadium's moniker reminds each player, coach, and spectator of that standard that we all strive to equal.

In 2003, Delgado Community College added "Rags" Scheuermann Field to the facility's formal name to honor the stadium's original supervisor and longtime Delgado Baseball coach, who passed away in 1997. Prior to his death, it was Rags' wish to not have the stadium's name changed, noting that his name should never appear over those of the stadium's original namesakes.

Sixty years later, the memory of Cyril Kirsch and Robert Rooney still lives on, although not in a way that they could have possibly imagined. The Stadium that bears their name has come to be a landmark of baseball in the Crescent City and southeast Louisiana. Kirsch-Rooney Stadium hosts more than three hundred games each season, featuring Delgado Community College, local prep baseball, American Legion, and the All-American League. To generations of baseball fans, Kirsch and Rooney have been conversation staples...everyone knows their names.

Though just a ballpark, to the many young men and hundreds of thousands of spectators who have crossed its gates, it has been a destination full of baseball memories…New Orleans' own field of dreams.

Dreams made possible thanks to the sacrifices of Cy Kirsch and Bob Rooney, and all of our fallen heroes



Cyril Kirsch and Robert Rooney



The letter sent to the Kirsch family to introduce the stadium's name in 1956.