Note that the book's caption calls it "West Side Ball Park" and the hand-written caption on the print says "National League Park". Both names are correct in a given context. The term "National League Park" was self-defining, as distinguished from the "American League Park" on the south side. "West Side Park" (also sometimes given as "West Side Grounds") was the name known to the fans and the writers of that era.

The photo appears to have been taken using a "fisheye" lens, which tends to distort the proportions. The version in the 1909 book was sliced off just below the umpire's feet, which fit the book better but also hid much of the distortion, providing a relatively undistorted panorama.

The various right angles painted in foul territory were part of the rules at that time, defining the boundaries of where the game's non-participants were to stand. The one remnant of those lines that still exist in the rules today are the coaches' boxes.