Hammons Field
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hammons Field | |
|---|---|
  |
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| Location | Corner of Trafficway Blvd and Sherman Avenue |
| Broke ground | Summer, 2002 |
| Opened | April, 2004 |
| Owner | John Q. Hammons Industries |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction cost | $32 million |
| Architect | Pellham-Phillips-Hagerman |
| Tenants | |
| Springfield Cardinals (2005-present) Missouri State Bears (2004-present) Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Tournament (2004, 2007) |
|
| Seats | |
| 7,500 | |
| Dimensions | |
| Left Field - 355 ft ( m) Left-Center - 365 ft ( m) Center Field - 400 ft ( m) Right-Center - 365 ft ( m) Right Field - 330 ft ( m) |
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Hammons Field is a minor league ballpark in downtown Springfield, Missouri. The facility, funded entirely by local businessman, hotel mogul and benefactor John Q. Hammons, is the centerpiece of the midtown development project, Jordan Valley Park, on the corner of Sherman Avenue and Trafficway Boulevard. Completed in April 2004, it is home to the Springfield Cardinals, the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals as well as the Missouri State University Bears.
One of the interesting things about this stadium is its history: Hammons built the ballpark before he had a minor league team secured to play in the stadium, though he steadfastly assured local residents it would be the Doulble-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. He was ultimately able to persuade the Cardinals to purchase the El Paso Diablos franchise of the Texas League (still around, but now as an independent league club in the new American Association) from the Brett Bros. and relocate it to Springfield. They became the Springfield Cardinals soon thereafter when the parent club ended its brief two-year affiliation with the Tennessee Smokies of the Southern League.
[edit] External links
- "The Jewel of Jordan Valley Park" Webpage
- Joe Mock names Hammons Field BASEBALLPARKS.COM 2005 "Ballpark of the Year"
- Minor League News ranks Hammons Field the #5 Minor League Ballpark in America in 2006
- Official Springfield Cardinals Site
- Texas League Web Site
- MSU Baseball Bears Page
| Current ballparks in the Texas League | ||
| North Division | South Division | |
|---|---|---|
| Dickey-Stephens Park • Drillers Stadium Hammons Field • Lawrence-Dumont Stadium |
Citibank Ballpark • Dr Pepper Ballpark Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium • Whataburger Field |
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