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Tag Archives | crosley field

Fifth Third fire brings back memories of past ballpark blazes

Ballpark fires are extreme rare these days, but at one time were a major threat to baseball operations. Jesse Goldberg-Strassler looks at how ballpark design changed because of fire awareness. On January 3, a fire significantly damaged Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the Midwest League’s West Michigan Whitecaps. Thankfully, no one was injured.  Photographs of […]

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Endangered: First pro ballpark hosting night games under the lights

We may be on the verge of losing a little history: the Independence (Kan.) ballpark where pro baseball was first played under the lights is slated for demolition. The Independence Producers (Class C; Western Association) are important for one historic fact: they hosted the first official, regular-season pro baseball game played under the lights. On April […]

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The Week That Was: April 29

Nostalgia, front-office changes and a resolution of the SWB Yankees ballpark/ownership situation. Here are the most popular stories of the past week on Ballpark Digest, as measured in page views. Lost in the shuffle: Tiger Stadium and Crosley Field Tal Smith joins ODP as special advisor Pacifics: Fate of NAL’s Northern Division rests on winning […]

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