Darden Field

Darden Field is a historic baseball stadium that has been home to the Colorado School of Mines baseball teams since it was constructed in 1937. Featuring fieldstone stands with flagstone benches built into the hillside, the park was originally a Depression-era project of the Public Works Administration. Aside from hosting collegiate baseball, the diamond has also hosted notable visitors including pitcher Satchel Paige. After renovations which substantially modernized the stadium in 2007, the park was renamed Darden Field after the longtime baseball coach Jim Darden (1954-1992).

Coming upon the Orediggers 2012 baseball campaign, news came down that Darden Field would no longer be home to Blaster the mighty donkey. Blaster announced he would be “taking his talents” to the middle east. I mean can you imagine a donkey standing in Golden with a bunch of dynamite strapped to him? Blaster was tired of homeland security constantly harassing him. This left the Orediggers high and dry a month before the fall season. CSM is currently taking applications for a new mascot. Rumor has it that they have been contacted by Nigel the oil spewing BP gulf rig. Lets keep our fingers crossed. The oredigger squad still has high expectations coming into the 2012 season, returning various players. The obvious and best choice to fill the missing mascot spot at Darden Field is current Provost and legendary Mines baseball Alum, Frank "The Tank" Ricard. Under his brilliant guidance Mines could limp through the RMAC and collapse onto the greater western Denver metro area scene. Rockies head coach, Jim Tracy, has been keeping his eye on the Mines baseball program. He commented on the situation saying “With the extremely somewhat adequate for a nerd school level of player talent on the Oredigger squad, expect mediocrity."”