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WEST MICHIGAN WHITECAPS FIRST USRT VISIT: JULY, 2003
Located a few minutes north of downtown Grand Rapids in neighboring Comstock
Park, this venue has all the bells and whistles of the modern park, including a video
board, suites, plenty of party decks and massive food selection. Pete's favorite, the
fried twinkie, on sale here! Ballpark opened in 1994 and added outfield seating and
amenities in later years. Team celebrates community's heritage as a major player in
the defunct Women's Professional Baseball League with some great exhibits.
Located a few minutes north of downtown Grand Rapids in neighboring Comstock
Park, this venue has all the bells and whistles of the modern park, including a video
board, suites, plenty of party decks and massive food selection. Pete's favorite, the
fried twinkie, on sale here! Ballpark opened in 1994 and added outfield seating and
amenities in later years. Team celebrates community's heritage as a major player in
the defunct Women's Professional Baseball League with some great exhibits.
| "A" Leagues |
BATTLE CREEK YANKEES FIRST USRT VISIT: JULY, 2003
Great stadium without all the silly hype. Free parking outside. Enthusiastic fans here
make a lot of noise for their home team. Stadium is located in a municipal park north
of the city sporting a number of adjoining baseball diamonds. Some design
elements of the building, including an extended left field seating area with wooden
deck seating, kind of mimic Fenway Park. Battle Creek is the world headquarters for
Kellogg's, and their presence is felt everywhere in this nice and clean city. Team was
since renamed the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays and are vacating this venue at the
conclusion of the 2006 season.
Great stadium without all the silly hype. Free parking outside. Enthusiastic fans here
make a lot of noise for their home team. Stadium is located in a municipal park north
of the city sporting a number of adjoining baseball diamonds. Some design
elements of the building, including an extended left field seating area with wooden
deck seating, kind of mimic Fenway Park. Battle Creek is the world headquarters for
Kellogg's, and their presence is felt everywhere in this nice and clean city. Team was
since renamed the Southwest Michigan Devil Rays and are vacating this venue at the
conclusion of the 2006 season.
FORT WAYNE WIZARDS FIRST USRT VISIT: JULY, 2003
Located northeast of the city center,Memorial Stadium is part of a complex that also
includes Memorial Coliseum, home for their minor league hockey and arena football
teams. Clean and new stadium but no covered areas to protect from the beating sun
or the elements. Three concession areas actually face the in seat aisle in the
seating bowl, so fans can get their refreshments and watch the action at the same
time.
Located northeast of the city center,Memorial Stadium is part of a complex that also
includes Memorial Coliseum, home for their minor league hockey and arena football
teams. Clean and new stadium but no covered areas to protect from the beating sun
or the elements. Three concession areas actually face the in seat aisle in the
seating bowl, so fans can get their refreshments and watch the action at the same
time.
LANSING LUGNUTS FIRST USRT VISIT: SEPTEMBER, 2006
Here is your typical downtown minor league ballpark, just four blocks south of the
state capital building in Lansing. What makes this ballpark unique and somewhat
quirky are two things - the stadium is tightly wedged into a city block, and the
baseball diamond fans out towards city streets bisecting the venue on either side.
So the two foul poles are practically on the sidewalks; This also means some odd
field dimensions, including 30 foot high walls in each corner. The concourses are
lined with artifacts and memorabilia of Oldsmobile products, and concession stands
all bear automotive themes.
Here is your typical downtown minor league ballpark, just four blocks south of the
state capital building in Lansing. What makes this ballpark unique and somewhat
quirky are two things - the stadium is tightly wedged into a city block, and the
baseball diamond fans out towards city streets bisecting the venue on either side.
So the two foul poles are practically on the sidewalks; This also means some odd
field dimensions, including 30 foot high walls in each corner. The concourses are
lined with artifacts and memorabilia of Oldsmobile products, and concession stands
all bear automotive themes.
LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS FIRST USRT VISIT: JUNE, 2003
2003 was the inaugural season for this team here in the eastern suburbs of
Cleveland, and fans here have really taken to their newest team! It really helps having
a sparkling new ballpark. Here they have really done it up right, with a single
concourse overlooking the field, lawn seating, outfield bleacher seating, a tiered
picnic area and party decks. And yes --- a video board, at single A!!! Just a splendid
place to enjoy baseball, and the parent Cleveland Indians are just a few miles to the
west.
2003 was the inaugural season for this team here in the eastern suburbs of
Cleveland, and fans here have really taken to their newest team! It really helps having
a sparkling new ballpark. Here they have really done it up right, with a single
concourse overlooking the field, lawn seating, outfield bleacher seating, a tiered
picnic area and party decks. And yes --- a video board, at single A!!! Just a splendid
place to enjoy baseball, and the parent Cleveland Indians are just a few miles to the
west.
MIDWEST
LEAGUE
FIFTH THIRD
BALLPARK
Comstock
Park,
Michigan
C.O. BROWN
STADIUM
Battle
Creek,
Michigan
MEMORIAL
STADIUM
Fort
Wayne,
Indiana
OLDSMOBILE
PARK
Lansing,
Michigan
SOUTH
ATLANTIC
LEAGUE
CLASSIC
PARK
Eastlake,
Ohio
CAROLINA
LEAGUE
FRAWLEY
STADIUM
Wilmington,
Delaware
HARRY
GROVE
STADIUM
Frederick,
Maryland
CALIFORNIA
LEAGUE
MUNICIPAL
STADIUM
San Jose,
California
LEAGUE
FIFTH THIRD
BALLPARK
Comstock
Park,
Michigan
C.O. BROWN
STADIUM
Battle
Creek,
Michigan
MEMORIAL
STADIUM
Fort
Wayne,
Indiana
OLDSMOBILE
PARK
Lansing,
Michigan
SOUTH
ATLANTIC
LEAGUE
CLASSIC
PARK
Eastlake,
Ohio
CAROLINA
LEAGUE
FRAWLEY
STADIUM
Wilmington,
Delaware
HARRY
GROVE
STADIUM
Frederick,
Maryland
CALIFORNIA
LEAGUE
MUNICIPAL
STADIUM
San Jose,
California
WILMINGTON BLUE ROCKS FIRST USRT VISIT: JULY, 2009
Opened in 1993, this ballpark hugs the outskirts of downtown, located next to an arts
center, retail outlets and an arts center, all of which is part of a mixed use riverfront
development district. The Blue Rocks' venue is pretty much the template of other
ballparks in this league, with one home plate entrance, ramps and stairs to the
single concourse, and picnic decks down the baselines.
Opened in 1993, this ballpark hugs the outskirts of downtown, located next to an arts
center, retail outlets and an arts center, all of which is part of a mixed use riverfront
development district. The Blue Rocks' venue is pretty much the template of other
ballparks in this league, with one home plate entrance, ramps and stairs to the
single concourse, and picnic decks down the baselines.
FREDERICK KEYS FIRST USRT VISIT: AUGUST, 2010
Right across the street from this ballpark lies a huge cemetery, whose most notable
resident is Francis Scott Key, the author of "The Star Spangled Banner". But good
luck trying to breach the tall fence to actually see the marker and pay your respects.
The Keys play in one ordinary but somewhat spruced up venue, but the food
selection is incredible, and they sell beer by the pitcher with discounts for refills.
Bottoms up!
Right across the street from this ballpark lies a huge cemetery, whose most notable
resident is Francis Scott Key, the author of "The Star Spangled Banner". But good
luck trying to breach the tall fence to actually see the marker and pay your respects.
The Keys play in one ordinary but somewhat spruced up venue, but the food
selection is incredible, and they sell beer by the pitcher with discounts for refills.
Bottoms up!
SAN JOSE GIANTS FIRST USRT VISIT: JUNE, 2011
This WPA era stadium is a throwback to the past, with creaky concourses, bleacher
style seating, yet colorful frescoes and murals of pennants, baseball images,
quotable quotes, and a year by year championship roster adorns just about every
blank wall here. Food choices are plentiful, barbecue and garlic fries the staples,
and passionate Giants fans pretty much fill this place. Right net door is the practice
facility for the NHL San Jose Sharks.
This WPA era stadium is a throwback to the past, with creaky concourses, bleacher
style seating, yet colorful frescoes and murals of pennants, baseball images,
quotable quotes, and a year by year championship roster adorns just about every
blank wall here. Food choices are plentiful, barbecue and garlic fries the staples,
and passionate Giants fans pretty much fill this place. Right net door is the practice
facility for the NHL San Jose Sharks.
