Springtime means baseball, and not just the major league species. Arrayed across this country are minor league gems: small, exquisitely-tailored ballparks where you can hang out, take the family and not spend a minor fortune.
Here are three of our favorites:
The Dayton Dragons breathe fire at the city’s Fifth Third Field. The 7,230-seat stadium is downtown, as good ballparks should be, and Dayton residents support the team passionately. There are a trio of party decks, a seven-story tall LED scoreboard, and an Entertainment Fun Zone for times when the action slows (baseball can be like that). The Zone’s behind the center field wall.
Down in Greenville, SC is a passable rendition of Fenway Park: Flour Field at the West End plays host to the Greenville Drive, and the stadium is a bonafide hit. Not only does it boast its own version of Fenway’s fabled Green Monster, all the park’s dimensions mimic those of its Boston big brother, including Pesky’s Pole out in right field. Want yet another reason to see Flour Field? Right next door is the Shoeless Joe Jackson (he of the infamous Chicago Black Sox scandal) Museum and Baseball Library. The museum is open during evening home games of the Greenville Drive.
South Bay fans swear by the San Jose Giants, a team that has the good fortune to play in the city’s Municipal Stadium. This is a classic, comfortable ballpark, the kind where you can feel at home and get down to the game, the reason you’re there to begin with. It may not have all the bells and whistles some newer minor league stadia do, but this place is passionate about showcasing the game.
So, can couch, turn off tube and get out to the ballpark. Springtime passes in a flash – so too some very good baseball.
Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image: Matt McGee)
