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We love any aerial photo of an old ballpark and we really love any aerial photo that has TWO old ballparks like these historic gems. The only thing that separates these two beauties is the Harlem River.
Trying to date this photo I noticed there were no lights on Yankee Stadium and they weren’t installed until 1946. Don Stokes was able to spot the lights on the Polo Grounds and knowing they were installed in 1940 we can place this photo between 1940 and 1946, so I put the circa at 1943.
That photo is pre-1937, as the RF grandstand extension on Yankee Stadium has not yet been done.
I’m almost certain it’s 1936. The feature that most gives it away here isn’t the stadium, but rather the apartment complex under construction along 151st street. Those are the Harlem River Houses, and were built in 1936-1937. Judging by the early state of construction, it was probably taken earlier in 1936.
I think this picture was taken in the 1930s for two reasons:
If you look closely, you will see that the extension of the right field upper deck at Yankee Stadium has not yet been built. That was done in 1937. Also, I don’t see the lights on the Polo Grounds roof; I’m not sure what you are seeing. You are correct that those were installed after the 1939 season and were first used in 1940.
So I believe this picture was taken around 1936.