Best Baseball Parks that nobody's heard of (or seen)

Home ▸ Archive ▸ Serious Business ▸ Best Baseball Parks that nobody's heard of (or seen)
B

bartsimpson

Senior Member

168 posts
Feb 18, 2010 11:29 AM
The story on the "other huddle" about the Legion tournament moving to Lancaster got me reading about Beaver's Field. Basically a guy built this field because they needed a place to play. Sounds like the guy just truly loves the game and did it for the right reasons. The field looks beautiful. I'll probably make a trip down there this summer to see it. Any other fields in Ohio (or otherwise) that have a "story" behind them. Could be HS/College or just a local park.
Feb 18, 2010 11:29am
ManO'War's avatar

ManO'War

Senior Member

1,420 posts
Feb 18, 2010 11:37 AM
I've watched Big Red play some tournament games at Beaver's Field. It's cool how the stands are built up on the hill, giving you a great view. My only complaint was the gravel parking lot, which may have been paved by now.

Steubenville has Vaccaro Field ( http://www.rollredroll.net/baseballVaccaro.htm ) and Toronto has Red Knight Field, which are both the best around these parts.
Feb 18, 2010 11:37am
S

SnotBubbles

Feb 18, 2010 11:42 AM
Modern Woodmen Park; home of the Quad Cities River Bandits

My first baseball game at a pro level was actually at John O'Donnell Stadium, which is where the River Bandits (formerly QC Angels) used to play. I say "used to play" because the stadium (built in 1931) had a complete renovation in 2004. The stadium doesn't even look the same.

I've been to the "renovated" park once on a visit home and it is beautiful....right on the shore of the Mississippi.





Feb 18, 2010 11:42am
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

Senior Member

10,760 posts
Feb 18, 2010 11:44 AM
PNC Park. The Pirates play there. They are an alleged major league team.
Feb 18, 2010 11:44am
BCBulldog's avatar

BCBulldog

Senior Member

824 posts
Feb 18, 2010 11:55 AM
gorocks99 wrote: PNC Park. The Pirates play there. They are an alleged major league team.
Liar!! I know my baseball and I have never heard of this so called team.

Beavers Field is a great place to play or watch baseball. I am pretty sure that the parking lot is now paved, too.

It's a little slow, but they have a decent website.
http://www.beaversfield.com
Feb 18, 2010 11:55am
C

Con_Alma

Senior Member

12,198 posts
Feb 18, 2010 12:01 PM
Snotbubbles...that field is stunning.
Feb 18, 2010 12:01pm
Sykotyk's avatar

Sykotyk

Senior Member

1,155 posts
Feb 18, 2010 12:10 PM
Pullman Park in Butler, PA was just renovated and is hosting a Prospect League (the league that Chillicothe is now in). Beautiful old park redone very well. Nice layout. Maybe not the best backdrop (just trees, etc), but it's an ancient minor league park. Got to see a game there last year, very nice quaint park. Worth the price if you're in the area.

Sykotyk

P.s., added a photo: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pullman_Park3.JPG

Sadly, they still haven't done a better job cordoning off the area, rather than a temporary chain link fence. One of the great 'facades' for a minor league park.
Feb 18, 2010 12:10pm
darbypitcher22's avatar

darbypitcher22

Senior Member

8,000 posts
Feb 18, 2010 12:22 PM
VA Stadium in Chillicothe is a nice park... played there one time, I hate field turf but everything else surounding the park was pretty nice
Feb 18, 2010 12:22pm
brutus161's avatar

brutus161

The Navy Guy

1,686 posts
Feb 18, 2010 1:31 PM
The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville is one of my favorite minor league parks.
Feb 18, 2010 1:31pm
End of Line's avatar

End of Line

It's Clobberin Time!

6,867 posts
Feb 18, 2010 2:37 PM
PNC Park, nobody knows how much of a beauty it is unless you've been there.

Feb 18, 2010 2:37pm
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

12,949 posts
Feb 18, 2010 2:44 PM
brutus161 wrote: The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville is one of my favorite minor league parks.
Yes sir we have a great baseball park here in Jacksonville, home of the Suns:




Feb 18, 2010 2:44pm
krambman's avatar

krambman

Senior Member

3,606 posts
Feb 18, 2010 3:11 PM
The U.S. Steel Yard in Gary, IN.

Okay, so Gary may be the crappiest town in America, but the Steel Yard, home to the Gary Southshore Railcats is a gem. Located next to I-90, this is a beautiful minor league ball park.









Feb 18, 2010 3:11pm
Speedofsand's avatar

Speedofsand

Troublemaker

5,529 posts
Feb 18, 2010 3:34 PM
Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach. Opened in 1914. It is where he broke the color barrier in baseball, in '46 spring training. It was named City Island until 1989 when they renamed it after Robinson.



Feb 18, 2010 3:34pm
T

thavoice

Senior Member

14,376 posts
Feb 18, 2010 3:34 PM
The_Crosby_Show wrote: PNC Park, nobody knows how much of a beauty it is unless you've been there.

Someone did a good job of photoshopping in all the fans!


NEver been in it but would the Washington Pa Wild Things park looks pretty sweet.

Didnt go that one in Gary that is posted but a guy I coached played for them last year. Said it was a pretty nice park.
Feb 18, 2010 3:34pm
N

Nate

Formerly Known As Keebler

3,949 posts
Feb 18, 2010 3:45 PM
darbypitcher22 wrote: VA Stadium in Chillicothe is a nice park... played there one time, I hate field turf but everything else surounding the park was pretty nice
Very nice, the field turf ruined its luster to me.

I love the field in Avon for the Lake Erie Crushers.
Feb 18, 2010 3:45pm
B

bartsimpson

Senior Member

168 posts
Feb 18, 2010 6:56 PM
Drove by the Lake Erie Crushers stadium last year...unfortunately we couldn't get there for a game.

How about smaller fields......or old municipal park stadiums?
Feb 18, 2010 6:56pm
darbypitcher22's avatar

darbypitcher22

Senior Member

8,000 posts
Feb 18, 2010 8:07 PM
Gant Stadium in Zanesville is kind of a fun place to play if t hey could fix the lighting
Feb 18, 2010 8:07pm
stroups's avatar

stroups

Senior Member

3,223 posts
Feb 18, 2010 8:09 PM
darbypitcher22 wrote: Gant Stadium in Zanesville is kind of a fun place to play if t hey could fix the lighting
I have played there many times and think it's a POS. My favorite around central ohio would probably be beaver.
Feb 18, 2010 8:09pm
darbypitcher22's avatar

darbypitcher22

Senior Member

8,000 posts
Feb 18, 2010 8:10 PM
^^^^

the time I played there it looked like it was halfway decently taken care of.

Since I've been in college the Pipe Yard in Lorain and Thurman Munson have been my two favorite places as far as the playing surface goes
Feb 18, 2010 8:10pm
stroups's avatar

stroups

Senior Member

3,223 posts
Feb 18, 2010 8:11 PM
Also Don Edwards in Newark is not bad
Feb 18, 2010 8:11pm
darbypitcher22's avatar

darbypitcher22

Senior Member

8,000 posts
Feb 18, 2010 8:12 PM
Don Edwards is a nice park
Feb 18, 2010 8:12pm
stroups's avatar

stroups

Senior Member

3,223 posts
Feb 18, 2010 8:12 PM
darbypitcher22 wrote: ^^^^

the time I played there it looked like it was halfway decently taken care of.

Since I've been in college the Pipe Yard in Lorain and Thurman Munson have been my two favorite places as far as the playing surface goes
Maybe POS was a little harsh but it's nothing special. IMO
Feb 18, 2010 8:12pm
darbypitcher22's avatar

darbypitcher22

Senior Member

8,000 posts
Feb 18, 2010 8:13 PM
yeah you're right but I like older ballparks. They have some character to them.
Feb 18, 2010 8:13pm
stroups's avatar

stroups

Senior Member

3,223 posts
Feb 18, 2010 8:17 PM
darbypitcher22 wrote: yeah you're right but I like older ballparks. They have some character to them.
Yeah it has a lot of history to it. I'm pretty sure they remove the outfield fence and play football there too, or at least they did.
Feb 18, 2010 8:17pm
darbypitcher22's avatar

darbypitcher22

Senior Member

8,000 posts
Feb 18, 2010 8:19 PM
yeah they used to. Doesn't Rosecrans play their home games there?
Feb 18, 2010 8:19pm