Shabram’s Guide
Professional Ballparks of the
West Coast
by Patrick L. Shabram
BAEB PUBLISHING
Copyright Š 2009 by Patrick L. Shabram. All rights reserved. No portion of this book, except in the case of brief quotations in critical articles and reviews, may be reproduced, stored in retrieval systems, or transmitted by any means including graphic, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America. Published by BAEB Publishing. BAEB Publishing 201 Sand Creek Road, Suite H Brentwood, California 94513 To order call 888-775-BAEB. ISBN: 978-0-9795107-2-4 Cover photo: PGE Park in Portland, Oregon.
Contents Introduction................................................................................... 7 About This Guide......................................................................... 9 A Note on Attending Minor League Games..................... 10 The Northwest League............................................................. 11 The California League............................................................... 12 The Pacific Coast League......................................................... 14 The Golden Baseball League................................................. 16 Northwest League..................................................................... 18 Everett Memorial Stadium.............................................. 19 Avista Stadium....................................................................22 Yakima County Stadium..................................................25 Gesa Stadium.......................................................................28 Volcanoes Stadium............................................................ 31 Civic Stadium....................................................................... 35 California League....................................................................... 39 Banner Island Ballpark......................................................40 John Thurman Field.......................................................... 43 Municipal Stadium............................................................46 Recreation Park...................................................................50 Sam Lynn Ballpark.............................................................54 Clear Channel Stadium.................................................... 59 Mavericks Stadium............................................................63 The Epicenter.......................................................................66 Arrowhead Credit Union Park.......................................68 The Diamond....................................................................... 71
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Pacific Coast League................................................................. 74 Cheney Stadium................................................................. 75 PGE Park................................................................................ 78 Aces Ballpark........................................................................ 81 Raley Field.............................................................................84 Chukchansi Park................................................................. 87 Cashman Field.....................................................................90 American League.......................................................................94 Safeco Field..........................................................................95 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum..........................99 Angel Stadium..................................................................103 National League........................................................................107 AT&T Park............................................................................108 Dodger Stadium............................................................... 112 Petco Park........................................................................... 115 Golden Baseball League........................................................ 118 Nettleton Stadium........................................................... 119 Goodwin Field...................................................................122 Blair Field.............................................................................125 Bonus Reviews..........................................................................128 Nat Bailey Stadium..........................................................129 Franklin Covey Field........................................................132 Arizona Winter League..................................................135 Palm Springs Stadium....................................................136 Alexander Field.................................................................139 Mileage Charts Between Cities with Professional Baseball Stadiums....................................................................141 Professional Ballparks of the West Coast
Washington and Oregon Mileage Chart................. 141 California and Nevada Mileage Chart.......................142 State Maps Showing Cities with Professional Baseball Stadiums......................................................................................143 Washington and Oregon...............................................143 California and Nevada....................................................144
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Introduction Thank you for picking up Professional Ballparks of the West Coast. I’ll guess that you, like me, are a fan of baseball. If you are, you know that the appeal of the game is more than just the game. Maybe you enjoy the personal battles between the pitcher and batter, guessing what pitch will be thrown next, or whether or not a hit-and-run is in play. Maybe it’s just the smell of the grass, hotdogs, and barbeque. After all, does anything say “summer” more than that? For me the appeal is hanging out. Yes, I love watching the games…but what I love even more is sitting outside, relaxing, cool beer in my hand, taking in the fans, the games, the kids, rookies with aspirations and hopes to make it to the big leagues, all of it. I started making visits to ballparks a few years ago, just for the trips themselves. Why not? You take a trip to the beach to sit in the sand and play in the waves. Why not take a trip to Modesto to sit in the stands and watch a game? Of course, you can’t help compare one stadium with another. It was through those comparisons that my wife and a friend encouraged me to write this book. I hope you view this guide a tribute to the game, and not a critical review of the stadiums visited. I have included basic information on each stadium, with the intent of providing you with enough information to visit a stadium you have never been to. For those that like some of the more technical aspects of the ballpark, as well as insight to how the field plays, I have provided such information when available and as I understand it from interviewing fans, media, front office personnel and even players. Along the way, I have found inconsistencies in views. I have also included my impressions of the stadium, or at least my experience at the stadium. I am positive your experience will be different, and I encourage you to disagree (that’s half the fun). There is not a stadium in this book that I do not recommend you visit. No two are alike and every one has good and bad points. If you disagree with my experience you’ll just have to let me know. Please email me at Professional Ballparks of the West Coast
patrick@baebpublishing.com. You may also present your own thoughts and comments on stadiums in California by visiting the “Ballparks� section at CaProParks.com Thank you for reading Professional Ballparks of the West Coast. I hope you have as much exploring the ballparks as I have.
Professional Ballparks of the West Coast
About This Guide This guide is designed for the traveling baseball fan, and hopefully will encourage a few of you to get out and catch some more games. Despite the tradition of the sport, baseball is far from static. Stadium names change, prices change, and team affiliations change with every new season. That being said, I’m sure you will find the information helpful in your planning for some time to come, even if a few of the details may have changed since its printing. A few notes on the stadium guides: Affiliations. Minor league affiliations are current at the time of printing. Addresses. Addresses are for the stadium itself, not the teams’ administrative offices or mailing addresses. Directions. Not all directions have been verified. Freeway/ highway designations are for the direction of travel when capitalized (for example, “Interstate 5 North” equals “Interstate 5 heading north”). Dimensions. Dimensions are posted outfield dimensions, left field to right field, in feet and may not reflect all dimensions of the outfield. Fence. Fence is a reference to the height of the outfield wall and in many cases is an approximation. Food. Ratings are comparative. In other words, a five diamond rating is relative to other baseball parks, not to five star restaurants. Ratings are for quality of food based on price, so food at major league stadiums must bear greater scrutiny than at minor league stadiums. Ticket prices. Ticket prices are for single game admissions and usually refer to individual seat tickets, not all inclusive tickets that offer all you can eat food or other less common options. Professional Ballparks of the West Coast
A Note on Attending Minor League Games Minor league games are typically like movies. Decide to go, pull into parking (except you often pay for parking), and walk up to the window to buy your tickets. Minor league baseball, however, is also home to some of the more creative promotions and more than a few fireworks shows, which can translate into sellouts. As such, it’s always a good idea to check your team’s schedule, just to make sure that some event isn’t going on that would advise you to buy your tickets early. Fireworks, in particular, can draw large crowds.
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Everett Memorial Stadium Everett, Washington Everett AquaSox League: Northwest Class: Single A Short Season Affiliation: Seattle Mariners Stadium Built: 1949, major renovations in 1998 Ticket Prices: $7.00 or $15.00 Parking: Free on south side, $5 to $6 on north side Address: 3900 Broadway, Everett, WA 98201 Directions: From Interstate 5 take Exit 192. Turn left on 41st Street, then left onto Broadway. The stadium will be on your left. Food: Not very good. Only a decent selection saves it. Clam chowder, a Northwest staple, is available. PBJ seemed like an interesting offering until I realized it was of the Welch’s pre-packaged variety. A hotdog costs $2.75 and a soda is $3.50. Beer is $5.50 and premium beer is $6.50 for a 20oz beer. Review: I was particularly interested in visiting Everett Memorial Stadium. The AquaSox have a good following for this level. Upon my travels, I seem to have run into a lot of AquaSox fans, or at least I’ve seen a lot of fans wearing AquaSox apparel. Perhaps the popularity comes from the fact that the AquaSox are an affiliate of the nearby Seattle Mariners, and that gets fans excited to see some of the up and coming players. Perhaps it is because long time Mariners fan favorite Jay Buhner is part owner, and he commonly can be spotted at the games. Or maybe people just like the unique frog logo complete with colors that seem to be day-glow green with neon blue and Professional Ballparks of the West Coast
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orange thrown in. Whatever the reason, I have doubts that it is the stadium that people are so fond of. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I really wasn’t all that impressed with Everett Memorial. It just didn’t have much of a traditional ballpark feel. The multiple rebuilds of the stadium gives it a bit of a piecemeal feeling, especially in the outfield. The aluminum bleachers down either line feel cold (and noisy) in the mild northwest climate. The experience was, however, extremely family friendly, and that very well might explain the popularity. The family nature of the park is experienced both in the facilities and in the entertainment. Of the 3000 fans (it was a fireworks game), perhaps half of them were children, free to roam in the grassy field behind the grandstands when not in the stands. Children were even invited down onto the field to lead “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” One drawback to this bundle of activity was that it was hard to concentrate on the game. It didn’t take much to notice that not many in the stands were actually watching the game. True, the AquaSox, sometimes referred to as “The Frogs” for their logo, were getting demolished at the game I went to, so I guess you can’t blame fans for losing interest. What was important, however, was that even with the lopsided score, everyone seemed to be having a good time. At first glance, Everett Memorial Stadium seems like a hitter’s paradise. Right centerfield seems especially homer friendly, coming in from a depth at center of 380 to just around 340, and that’s about two thirds the way from center to the right field pole. A fence that ranges from 17 feet to 23 feet helps counter the smallness of this field. Still, first time visiting batters get excited to see the dimensions. Insiders will tell you, however, that despite the hitter friendly nature of the park, it is not quite the home run haven it would appear to be, primarily because baseballs don’t seem to carry in the park. I had a hard time believing that the moist, sea level air could really have that much of an effect, yet there I sat in the stands watching well-hit ball after well-hit ball die mid-air and drop well short of the fence. 20
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Pluses: Very family friendly. Nice views of the Cascade Mountains. Minus: Subpar food. Quirky intangibles: Piecemeal nature of the outfield. Strange dimension to the park that would have you believe it is a home run haven. Tips: Free parking in the south lot (first left) fills up fast. There is pay parking on the north side of the stadium. The will call window is at the north side, which doesn’t make sense since most of the parking is on the south side. Dimensions: 325, 380, 330 Fence: 17 ft to 23 ft Scouting Report: An apparent hitters’ park with the right center field at only about 340 feet, balls tend to die in the thick, moist air. The park is still a hitters’ park, but not as much as you would believe from the dimensions. While in Town: Visit the Future of Flight aviation center to learn, and maybe even see, how commercial airliners get built. Located next to the Boeing airfield, 8415 Paine Field Blvd., Mukilteo, Washington 98275. The last tour of the Boeing factory is at 3:00 PM. 800-464-1476.
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Avista Stadium Spokane, Washington Spokane Indians League: Northwest Class: Single A Short Season Affiliation: Texas Rangers Stadium Built: 1958, major renovations in 2008 Ticket Prices: $5.00 or $10.00 Parking: $1.00 (when collected). Address: 602 N. Havana Street, Spokane, WA 99202 Directions: From Interstate 90 East – take Broadway Exit 286. Turn right on Broadway. After about two miles, the stadium will be on your left. From Interstate 90 West – take the Thor/Freya Street Exit 283B. The exit will put you on 3rd Street. Go through two stoplights and turn left onto Havana Street. The stadium will be on your right. From North Spokane – take Division Street south. Turn left on Sprague Avenue. Turn left on Havana. The stadium will be on your right. Food: Good. Good barbeque and a good standard hotdog. A generous sized beer can be had for $5.00, but don’t expect a large selection. A Canadian microbrew gives a good premium beer option. A hotdog costs $3.00 and a soda $2.50. Review: Spokane is a bit unexpected. After driving for a couple of hours east on Interstate 90 through the drier vicinities of Ellensburg, Moses Lake, and the wheat fields east of 22
Professional Ballparks of the West Coast
Moses Lake, you suddenly start to see trees dot the landscape. Within minutes, you are in an area that feels more wooded than prairie, and soon you are in Spokane. Avista Stadium also has a few surprises. For one, the food. It’s good. Not the best I’ve had, but a great barbeque, one of the better standard hotdogs, and a generous sized beer for only $5.00 makes food here a good experience. Granted, the beer selection is a little weak, but includes a British Columbian brew that could appeal to those who prefer premium suds. Built in 1958, the stadium is also newer than one might expect. Part of that is because of new cement put in for the 2008 season, which, as one person in the Indians front office put it, will add another 50 years to the life of the stadium. With the new cement came wider aisles, better spacing, and a small reduction in stadium capacity. Funding for the new cement was made possible in part by funding from the State of Washington, which within the last couple of years approved funding for improvement to Washington’s professional sports venues. Because of this grant, a number of improvements (but not new stadiums) are expected at all of Washington’s ballparks over the next couple of years. The game I went to was a fireworks game, so it was one of those few sellouts in minor league baseball. I usually don’t stay for fireworks, but as I had my wife and daughter with me, we decided to take it in. It was a good show, perhaps the best I have seen in the minor leagues, and I noticed that a number of Indians stayed to watch the show. I later learned from other fans that this was better than past fireworks shows, but I still give the team and their sponsors credit for actually putting something together that was worth sticking around for. The team has scored a winner in seeking a partnership with the Spokane tribes of Indians, which helped design the team’s most recent logo. No Cleveland Indians, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Braves controversy here. The local tribe is proud to have a team named after them, and a wall in the concession area tells the story of these Native Americans. Other little surprises includes a concession stand deProfessional Ballparks of the West Coast
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signed for children and the Indians radio broadcast piped into the concession area, which, like at many ballparks, is outside the stadium, making it impossible to see the game. Thirsty? Rather than pay for bottled water, a number of concession stands have pitchers of water for fans to help themselves. For those fans sitting towards the outfield, how about a handplaced scoreboard on the press box high above home plate? Perhaps the only real negative was the inter inning entertainment, which left a little to be desired in terms of originality or fan participation. The scoreboard was also a bit lacking in information. Nevertheless, one can tell this is a well-run organization, and it shows. Pluses: Good food. Lots of little touches. Minus: Between inning entertainment is lacking. Quirky Intangibles: The team’s tribute to the Native Americans of the area, including a wall telling the story of the Spokane Indians. One of the logos used says “Spokane Indians” in a written language adapted by these Native Americans. Also, being located on the fairgrounds, a barn and silo beyond left field gives a great hometown feeling. Tips: If you like premium beer, try the Canadian microbrew. Dimensions: 331, 365, 395, 356, 331, 296 Fence: 12 ft., except at right field pole. Scouting Report: Plays fair. Very shallow right field with a short fence is a very tempting target, but offers a very small window.
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Yakima County Stadium Yakima, Washington Yakima Bears League: Northwest Class: Single A Short Season Affiliation: Arizona Diamondbacks Stadium Built: 1993 Ticket Prices: $5.50 or $8.50 Parking: $4, which seems steep given the wide open lot with plenty of room. Address: 1220 Pacific Avenue, Yakima, WA 98901 Directions: From Interstate 5 East – take Exit 34 (Hwy 24/Nob Hill Blvd/Moxee). Turn left onto Nob Hill Blvd. Turn right onto Fair Ave. Turn right onto Pacific Ave. Access the fairgrounds Gate 15 parking lot. From Interstate 5 West – take Exit 34 (Hwy 24/Nob Hill Blvd/ Moxee). Turn left onto Nob Hill Blvd. Turn right onto Fair Ave. Turn right onto Pacific Ave. Access the fairgrounds Gate 15 parking lot. Food: Good. Very fair prices and a nice picnic area makes food here a pleasant experience. Beer costs $4.50 for domestic and $5.50 for microbrew (20oz). A hotdog will cost you $2.25. Review: The stadium is the smallest of the Northwest League Stadiums. It doesn’t take long to realize that given the attendance, Yakima really doesn’t need a bigger one. The first clue are the ticket windows, small with just two people working both ticket sales and will call. The next clue is a very pleasant Professional Ballparks of the West Coast
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picnic area in the concession area behind the right side of the stadium. The tables are clean with a pot of flowers adorning each one. These tables are located on green lush grass the likes of which couldn’t stand up to the day-to-day wear of a stadium like Municipal Stadium in San Jose or The Epicenter in Rancho Cucamonga. For the game I went to, the crowd actually seemed larger than I anticipated upon my entry, and that was likely because the smaller stadium made the crowd seem larger. Maybe a 1000 showed up for a Sunday afternoon game. Sometimes you can just tell when a team doesn’t have a large local following, and this was just the case. The Bears, in fact, have the lowest attendance in the league, and significantly so, if not for the Tri-City Dust Devils who have historically had a low turnout. The stadium has one of the strangest entries to your seats. Instead of entering through the traditional tunnels or gaps between stands, one has to climb a staircase to get to your seat. Even those without the nosebleed seats (and in a stadium this small, none of the seats are nosebleed) must face the daunting task of climbing these stairs every time they have to use the restroom or get some concessions, which are all located outside the stadium. I have to wonder if this hurts concession sales any. An elevator in the middle of the stadium and ramps at either end of the grandstand help those who have difficulty climbing stairs. Inside, the stadium reminds me both of Recreation Park in Visalia, and Pecolle Stadium in Reno. It reminds me of Recreation Park because you feel as if you are sitting above the action no matter your vantage point. The effect is not as dramatic primarily because you are not as close, but with the first row of seats about 8 to 9 feet above the playing surface, the similarities are there. The stadium reminds me of Reno’s U of N stadium because of the aluminum benches and blue box seats that dominate throughout. Not quite the industrial feeling you get at Pecolle, but similarities are there. The pride of Yakima County Stadium is a small video board installed before the 2008 season. The Bears website 26
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even showed a “New Scoreboard Watch” showing the various stages of construction. Given the hype, I expected a bit more. First, the video board is small. Second, the colors on display were not very good. If I did not know this was a new board, I would have suspected that it had been there since the stadium was constructed in 1993. On the plus side, the graphics used were impressive for a first year effort. Unfortunately, personnel may have adapted Modesto’s habit of relying on the video board for inter-inning entertainment, as much of the field contests where absent. While the video board may be exciting for the folks in the front office, I am not sure it will help fill seats. Engaging fans during the breaks, however, just might. In all, I would have to say that Yakima offers a pleasant experience. The picnic area makes for a relaxing meal, even more so by prices at the concession stands, which are the best in the state of Washington. Pluses: Pleasant picnic area. Tickets and food both well priced. Minus: Concessions and restrooms are inconvenient. Quirky Intangibles: The need to climb stairs to get into the stadium. Raised position of front row seats. Tips: Not really a bad seat in the house, so go for the shade if any is available. Food is perhaps better enjoyed at the picnic area behind the third base side of the stadium. Dimensions: 293, 375, 406, 365, 340, 293 Fence: 20 ft. Scouting Report: Close-in foul poles makes field feel small, but most insiders will tell you that it plays pretty fair, perhaps in large part to a higher outfield wall.
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Gesa Stadium Pasco, Washington Tri-City Dust Devils League: Northwest Class: Single A Short Season Affiliation: Colorado Rockies Stadium Built: 1995 Ticket Prices: $6.00 or $9.00 Parking: $2.00 Address: 6200 Burden Blvd., Pasco, WA 99301 Directions: Take Interstate 182 to Pasco, and take Exit 9. Go north on Road 68 and turn right on Burden Road. The stadium will be on your right. Food: Just okay. Unfortunately my hotdog and other standard concession food was not very good, but the “Gourmet Soul BBQ,” where you can get a single rib for $1.00 made up for it. If soul food is not your thing, try one of the other specialty food stands instead of the standard concession. A hotdog costs $3.00 and a soda is $2.50. A good beer selection is available, and a 20 oz. beer can be had for $5.00. Review: Folks living in the Tri-Cities area love their small strip along the Columbia River. Over 300 days of sunshine, they say, along with plenty of outdoor recreation make for a lifestyle that’s hard to beat. Numerous wineries exist to the east and west for those who seek a little more upscale flavor. It’s taken the locals a while to catch on to the local professional baseball team, but that’s changing. Like the Tri-Cities, Gesa Stadium has plenty to offer. Great views of the game and the surrounding area, clean aisles, and reasonable prices are 28
Professional Ballparks of the West Coast
just a few of the positives this place offers. A recent change in ownership has had a lot to do with growing attendance. Now owned by the Brett brothers along with the Spokane Indians, fans have noticed a difference. (Technically George Brett leads a group that owns the Tri-City Dust Devils and Bobby Brett owns a major stake in the Spokane Indians.) As one fan put it, “Before George Brett bought the team, the team was very rinky dink.” Perhaps the biggest reason for the increase in attendance, however, is the sunshade installed over the first base side of the stadium. Installed in 2007 and looking like something designed by NASA, the sunshade is the most notable feature of the stadium. So much so, that it shouldn’t have taken me four paragraphs to mention it. Made possible by a grant provided by the Washington State Legislature, this $1.3 million structure is brilliant in its simplicity, yet greatly appreciated by the fans. When most people were thinking of escaping the heat, maybe with a cool beer at the Ice House Brewery or a dip in the river, sitting in the scorching sun at Gesa just didn’t seem appealing. Engineering wise, the sunshade was designed to block the shifting sun over the entire season. It might not sound as sexy as a video board or a new party platform, but it sure does the trick. Catching a game at Gesa has other things going for it. For one, the view is nice, and apparently dictated the orientation of the place. The view out left field is of soccer fields with farmland beyond. The view out right field, while not as immediately pleasant, includes views of mountains beyond soccer fields, a freeway, and houses. A new scoreboard for the 2009 season will alleviate one of the few drawbacks to watching a game at Gesa, as the previous scoreboard was hard to read, especially during the day. Gesa also has plenty of good on-field entertainment. At this level it is all about engaging the fans, and the team and its ownership seem to have clear understanding of that.
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Pluses: Good on-field entertainment. Good, inexpensive beer selection. Minus: Regular concession food is subpar. Quirky Intangibles: The sunshade, and perhaps one of the most pristine views in minor league baseball beyond the outfield wall. Tips: For food, try one of the specialty food stands. I recommend the soul food booth on the third base side. Dimensions: 335, 400, 335 Fence: 10 ft. Scouting Report: The orientation of this park was dictated by the view (the park faces southeast). Winds usually come from the south, giving pitchers an advantage. Another advantage to pitchers is large foul ball areas down the lines.
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