Hailed as an engineering marvel when it opened in 1982 and abandoned by the Minnesota Twins for a spiffier Target Field, the Metrodome is still a functioning ballpark, hosting Golden Gopher baseball as well as a slew of small-college and high-school games every winter and spring. FAST FACTS Address: 34 Kirby Puckett Place, Minneapolis.First Game: […]
Archive | Visits
Alfred A. McKethan Stadium at Perry Field / Florida Gators
Named for Alfred A. McKethan, a wealthy benefactor who contributed $2.4 million toward the construction of the ballpark, Alfred A. McKethan Stadium at Perry Field has been home to University of Florida baseball since 1988. Year Opened: 1988Capacity: 5,500 (5,100 seats, 400 bleacher seats)Dimensions: 329L, 365LC, 400C, 375RC, 325R Playing Surface: Natural grass Website: www.gatorzone.com/baseball […]
Port Arthur Stadium / Thunder Bay Border Cats
There are some ballparks that are just plain likable, in spite of some deficiencies. Port Arthur Stadium, tucked into a corner of Thunder Bay, is one of those places. It’s not a very large facility, and it’s not very fancy. In fact, it’s a pretty basic ballpark and the Thunder Bay Border Cats don’t do […]
Hi Corbett Field / Arizona Wildcats
A venerable and historic baseball facility gets yet another new lease on life, as Tucson’s Hi Corbett Field — home to MLB spring training for decades — will be the home of the Arizona Wildcats beginning with the 2012 collegiate season. FAST FACTS Capacity: 9,500 Year Opened: 1937; renovated in 1992, 1997 and 1999 Dimensions: […]
Witter Field / Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
Once home to professional Wisconsin State League and Midwest League baseball, Witter Field is now home to the summer-collegiate Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and a great example of how community care for an older ballpark translates into a memorable game experience today. Fast Facts Year Opened: 1928; metal grandstand constructed in 1949-1950Capacity: 1,900, including seating for […]
TD Ameritrade Park / College World Series / Creighton Bluejays
Like many traditionalists, we were dismayed with Omaha officials announced plans to build a new downtown ballpark for the College World Series, abandoning Rosenblatt Stadium in the process. With TD Ameritrade Park now open and hosting a handful of CWS games, it’s easy to see the ballpark’s many strengths – and some high-profile weaknesses. FAST […]
Henley Field / Florida Southern Mocs
Built to serve the spring-training needs of the Cleveland Indians in 1925, Lakeland’s Henley Field is still a charming place to take in a college-baseball game as a welcome diversion from the crowds at Tiger Town and Joker Marchant Stadium. FAST FACTS Year Opened: 1923; grandstand opened in 1925; renovated in 2002 Capacity: 1,000Dimensions: 325L, […]
Bill Taunton Stadium / Willmar Stingers
Taunton Stadium is, at first glance, pretty reminiscent of other ballparks in the summer-collegiate Northwoods League. Then it hits you: the grandstand is exactly the same as found in Copeland Park, home of the La Crosse Loggers; the grandstand, put up in 2005 after a tornado wiped out the old grandstand, was built off the […]
Joannes Stadium / Green Bay Bullfrogs
Mark Twain once remarked, “Clothes make the man.” While this statement is often true when it comes to ballparks, such is not the case at Joannes Stadium. Through no fault of their own, the Green Bay Bullfrogs’ home field has little outside beauty connected to it. There are no trees swirling behind an outfield fence. […]
Ballpark Visit: Franklin Rogers Park / Mankato MoonDogs / 3
We visit Franklin Rogers Park, home of the Mankato MoonDogs and the former home of the Mankato Mets. Page 3: Concessions, Parking, For the Kids, Before/After the Game. CONCESSIONS At first glance the concessions are limited at the Frank, but you won’t go home hungry. Culver's frozen custard and shaved ice will cool you down […]
Ballpark Visit: Franklin Rogers Park / Mankato MoonDogs / 2
We visit Franklin Rogers Park, home of the Mankato MoonDogs and the former home of the Mankato Mets. Page 2: The Mankato Mets.Though Key City Park opened in 1961, the city’s pro history begins in 1966, when Bismarck-Mandan dropped out of the Northern League at the end of the season. Charlie Frey, supervisor of scouting […]
Franklin Rogers Park / Mankato MoonDogs
Franklin Rogers Park is one of those older ballparks you can find scattered across the United States: too small to house a minor-league baseball team but large enough to attract the attention of entrepreneurs looking to bring in a summer collegiate team. Such is the case with Franklin Rogers Park, home of the Mankato MoonDogs. […]
Howard Lamade Stadium / Little League World Series
We drop by Howard J. Lamade Stadium, home of the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa. FAST FACTS Opened: 1959Capacity: 15,000 in grandstand, 40,000 on groundsDimensions: 225R, 225C, 225R Address: 539 U.S. Hwy. 15, South Williamsport, Pennsylvania 17702.Directions: Highway 15 runs north-south through Pennsylvania; the nearest larger cities are Wilkes-Barre, Scranton and Harrisburg. […]