In the late 1980s, Major League Baseball was of a high mind to expand, looking for potential cities to host brand-new franchises. Into this fray leapt the city of Buffalo…. FAST FACTS Opened: April 14, 1988 Capacity: 18,025 seating + 150 standing room Dimensions: 325L, 371LC, 404C, 367RC, 325R Surface: Kentucky Blue Grass Owner: City […]
Archive | Visits
Zephyr Field / New Orleans Zephyrs
What do the NBA’s New Orleans Hornets, Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers have in common? Each team’s nickname predates its current city. The Hornets came from Charlotte, the Jazz moved from New Orleans, and the Lakers once played in Minneapolis. So it is with the Zephyrs, originally the Denver Zephyrs, who moved to New […]
Municipal Stadium / San Jose Giants
Built as a WPA project in 1942, Municipal Stadium — home of the San Jose Giants (High Class A; California League) — is a beautiful old ballpark in a suburban setting. FAST FACTS Year Opened: 1942Capacity: 4,200 (2,900 in 1942)Dimensions: 341L, 383LC, 391C, 395RC, 340RSurface: Baby Bermuda GrassOwner: City of San JoseWebsite: sjgiants.comOnline Ticket Sales: […]
Appalachian Power Park / West Virginia Power
Replacing venerable Watt Powell Park as the home of South Atlantic League baseball, Appalachian Power Park features a recessed playing field, a tiered picnic area and a large public plaza. Year Opened: 2005 Capacity: 4,500 Suites: 14 Architects: HNTBConstruction: BBL Carlton Dimensions: 340L, 400C, 320R Playing Surface: Natural grass Website: wvpower.com Phone: 304/344-BATS (2287) Ticket […]
Touring the ballparks of Cuba
When outsiders visit Cuba for the first time, they’re struck by how much of the country is seemingly frozen in time — 1958, to be exact, the height of the Cuban Revolution. For our John Moist, a visit was an occasion to tour the historic ballparks of Cuba — which seem to be frozen in […]
Whitaker Bank Ballpark / Lexington Legends
It is a ballpark that pays homage to the rich horse-racing traditions of the region while not forgetting that baseball is the main attraction at a ballpark. It’s also a facility where there are plenty of diversions, but not so many that you won’t keep en eye on the diamond action. Welcome to Whitaker Bank […]
Memorial Stadium / Boise Hawks
It might have been a stunner when opened in 1989, but Memorial Stadium, home of the Boise Hawks (short season A; Northwest League), is now coming dangerously close to being an outdated professional facility, as the team is seeking a new ballpark after concluding it’s not worth renovating the old place. FAST FACTS Year Opened: […]
Werner Park / Omaha Storm Chasers
Sometimes, it seems, we overthink what goes on in a ballpark. At the end of the day, baseball is a simple game: You throw the ball, you hit the ball, you catch the ball. And, at the end of the day, a ballpark is simply a place to have fun. That realization is on full […]
Ballpark Visit: Harry Grove Stadium / Frederick Keys
When it opened in 1990, Harry Grove Stadium was state of the art when it came to things like suites and an open concourse. Today, despite some TLC from the city and the owners of the Frederick Keys in recent years, Harry Grove Stadium is now just a decent, well-run but low-key ballpark in a […]
Modern Woodmen Park / Quad Cities River Bandits
This was already one of our favorite ballparks in the minors before it was dramatically revised in 2004. Basically, a classic 1930s-era was enhanced for the new millennium in dramatic fashion, with an iconic exterior retained and the best of modern facilities — club seating, suites, a wraparound concourse, integration with the waterfront, inserted. Since […]
Ballpark Visit: Historic Bowman Field, home of the Williamsport Crosscutters
Next up in our tour of Pennsylvania ballparks: Historic Bowman Field, the home of the Williamsport Crosscutters. Bowman Field is the second-oldest ballpark used regularly in Minor League Baseball, but it’s a place where TLC over the years has maintained it as a wonderful place to take in a baseball game. We loved visiting; so […]
Ballpark Visit: Historic Bowman Field / Williamsport Crosscutters / 2
We visit Historic Bowman Field, the home of the Williamsport Crosscutters. Page 2: Touring the Ballpark, Concessions. TOURING BOWMAN FIELD Forget about walkaround concourses and suites: this is a place with real box seats (four to a box), reserved seats no farther than seven rows from the field, and a covered grandstand with bleacher seating […]
Ballpark Visit: Historic Bowman Field / Williamsport Crosscutters / 1
We visit Historic Bowman Field, the home of the Williamsport Crosscutters. Page 1: Fast Facts, Where to Sit, Introduction. FAST FACTS Opened: 1926 Original Cost: $75,000; almost $3 million spent in renovations since 2000 Architect: Anthony H. Vicso Jr. Architects (renovations) Capacity: 4,200 Dimensions: 345L, 405C, 350R Playing Surface: Grass Owner: City of Williamsport Past […]