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Another ballpark opening in this books, this time in Tulsa

A huge crowd showed up for the first ballgame in downtown Tulsa since 1929, as the Tulsa Drillers opened ONEOK Field with a 7-0 loss to the Corpus Christi Hooks. Despite the loss, more than 8,600 fans went home pleased.

A huge crowd showed up for the first ballgame in downtown Tulsa since 1929, as the Tulsa Drillers (Class AA; Texas League) opened ONEOK Field with a 7-0 loss to the Corpus Christi Hooks.

The attendance total did not include the numerous fans that watched the game from the nearby rooftops of surrounding buildings.

It was a historic night as it was the first professional baseball game played in downtown Tulsa in over 80 years.  The last game played in the area came in 1929 when the Tulsa Oilers played their final game of the season at McNulty Park which was located about a mile south of ONEOK Field.   

Official attendance was 8,665. 

The loss also spoiled the Double-A debut of Tulsa starting pitcher Christian Friedrich.  The lefthander has been ranked as one of the Top 50 prospects in Minor League Baseball.  Friedrich suffered the loss despite allowing only one run and four hits to Corpus Christi in six innings of work. He walked two and struck out five.

Country music star and actor Tim McGraw threw a ceremonial pitch before the game.  McGraw, the son of former major league pitcher Tug McGraw, performed a concert at the nearby BOK Center later in the evening.

We'll be visiting ONEOK Field in May.

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