Alcatraz was once home to some of the most dangerous criminals in the years when it operated as a maximum-security prison from 1934 to 1963. Inmates were expected to follow strict schedules and rules, and those who adhered to the regulations were rewarded with a couple of hours to do recreational activities. The older inmates preferred to play quiet games of chess and cards, while others played sports. According to the Los Angeles Times, the most popular pastime for inmates was softball.

Alcatraz’s prison yard was where inmates spent their recreation time. The north part of the yard served as a small area where inmates played softball. Since they were walled in, home runs in which the ball goes over the wall were automatically considered outs. The sport was so popular, in fact, that Alcatraz inmates formed four competitive softball teams named after Major League Baseball teams in the 1930s — Tigers, Giants, Cubs, and Cardinals (via National Park Foundation). There were also four amateur teams named after minor league teams — Seals, Oilers, Oaks, and Bees. Softball games in Alcatraz were taken seriously and even recorded, complete with inmates’ statistics.

Games became heated in Alcatraz

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