Jake Cain is an entrepreneur and writer from Cincinnati, Ohio. He spends his free time driving around the country in his late 90’s conversion van, affectionately known as the “Monster Van” with his wife and 3 boys.
The Field of Dreams game will be back in 2024, but it won’t take place at its namesake field. Instead, the oldest professional ballpark in the United States, Rickwood Field, will host the 2024 Field of Dreams game between the Giants and the Cardinals. The former Negro League stadium will serve as a temporary stand-in for the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa.
The shift in location is due to ongoing construction at the Dyersville field, where an $80 million expansion is in the works. It’s likely that the Field of Dreams game will return to Iowa once construction is complete, but here’s a list of 11 other quaint, historic ballparks that we’d love to see host an MLB game in the future.
Durham Athletic Park
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Durham Athletic Park, made famous by the 1988 baseball movie “Bull Durham,” has a rich history. It has been the home of the Durham Bulls since 1926. The original stadium, El Toro Park, was destroyed in a fire in 1939 but was quickly rebuilt as Durham Athletic Park. The Bulls played there until 1994, when they relocated to a new $18.5 million ballpark, inspired in part by the film’s success.
Today, Durham Athletic Park is home to the North Carolina Central University Eagle baseball team and the Durham School of the Arts Bulldogs.
Engel Stadium
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Engel Stadium, constructed by Chattanooga Lookouts owner Joe Engel during the challenging era of the Great Depression, holds a remarkable history. Esteemed players such as Babe Ruth, Jackie Robinson, Lou Gehrig, and Bo Jackson graced its field throughout the years. It’s also famous for being the site where a local teenage girl named Jackie Mitchell, pitching for the Lookouts, struck out Babe Ruth in 1931.
Engel Stadium gained further recognition as the filming location for the 2012 biopic “42,” depicting the life of Jackie Robinson. Though currently inactive, the stadium remains standing under the ownership of the University of Tennessee Chattanooga.
Luther Williams Field
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Luther Williams Field, constructed in 1929 and named after a former Macon mayor, was originally the home of the Macon Peaches, a minor league team. It’s currently the home field for the Macon Bacon, a collegiate wood-bat summer baseball team.
Over the years, MLB players like Pete Rose and Chipper Jones graced this park as they made their way up to the major leagues. Luther Williams Field was also a filming location for baseball movies like “42” and “Trouble With The Curve.”
Muncy Bank Ballpark At Historic Bowman Field
Extremely happy to be back in the booth at Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field to be the Play-By-Play voice of the @crosscutters. Looking forward to covering the talented players of the newly minted @mlbdraftleague. #CarveTheW #LumberJacked pic.twitter.com/upeQbVQM4S
— 𝙸𝚊𝚗 𝙲𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚎 (@IanCatherine27) May 13, 2021
Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field is an ideal choice for a Field of Dreams game, offering a unique blend of rich history and captivating experiences. As the second-oldest ballpark in minor league baseball, Bowman Field has a nostalgic charm that sets the stage for unforgettable moments. This park serves as the home field of the Williamsport Crosscutters in the summer collegiate league, has been the annual host of the MLB Little League Classic since 2017, and even temporarily transformed into a hockey rink for the 2012 season. This versatile park is ready to wear one more hat!
Grayson Stadium
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Maybe you’ve visited this picturesque ballpark for a day of family fun watching the Savannah Bananas, but you may not know that it originated as Municipal Stadium, home of a minor league team called the Savannah Indians. A category 2 hurricane destroyed the original stadium in 1940, and it was rebuilt under the leadership of its new namesake, General William L. Grayson.
McCormick Field
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Built in 1924, McCormick Field is the third-oldest ballpark in minor league baseball. This home of the Asheville Tourists also has the unique distinction of being named after a bacteriologist, Dr. Lewis McCormick. The good doctor knocked out Asheville’s fly infestation in the early 20th century, and honestly, I think he deserves a ballpark named after him too!
McCormick Field was home to the Asheville Blues of the Negro Southern League during the 1940s, and just like Rickman Field, it is an important part of baseball history.
Doubleday Field
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Doubleday Field, located near the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, is a prime nostalgic choice for a Field of Dreams game. Since 1920, this historic field has been a baseball hub. While the Hall of Fame Game ended in 2008, Doubleday Field continues to host the Hall of Fame Classic, where Hall of Famers and retired players showcase their skills.
No lights? No problem! The lack of lights adds to the nostalgic ambiance. With its rich history and close proximity to baseball greatness, Doubleday Field offers the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable game celebrating the sport’s timeless spirit.
Bosse Field
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Thanks to the maybe-shady work of Benjamin Bosse, the then-mayor of Evansville, Bosse Field has been standing since 1915. He proposed to pull funding from the school board budget to fund the field, and the school board president wasn’t, well, on board. In response, Bosse terminated the school board president and replaced him with a supporter of Bosse’s vision. As a result, Bosse Field became the first municipally-owned sports stadium in the United States.
Today, it serves as the home of the Evansville Otters in the Frontier League and has previously hosted the Detroit Tigers for spring training. The historic ballpark also gained recognition through its appearance in the film “A League of Their Own.”
Cardines Field
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Cardines Field, one of the USA’s oldest parks, holds a rich baseball history. While debates persist regarding its earliest use, the first documented game took place in 1908. Originally a drainage basin for steam trains, the field emerged as an unofficial sandlot for railway workers.
Throughout the years, Cardines Field welcomed renowned players and teams, including Negro League legends such as the Baltimore Elite Giants, Boston Royal Giants, and New York Black Yankees. During World War II, nearby stationed former professionals played in the George Donnelly Sunset League here, showcasing all-stars like Satchel Paige, Yogi Berra, and Phil Rizzuto.
League Stadium
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League Stadium, dating back to 1894 and home to the DuBois County Bombers, possesses all the elements of a Field of Dreams location. As part of a wood-bat collegiate summer league, the Bombers don vintage-style uniforms with knickered pants and stirrups. The stadium itself exudes a timeless charm, adorned with nostalgic 1940s-era signage and a classic scoreboard.
League Stadium’s allure extends beyond its history, as it served as a captivating set location for the iconic film “A League of Their Own” and underwent renovations in 1991 specifically for the production. This ballpark also played a role in the HBO movie “Soul of the Game” in 1995.
Labatt Memorial Park
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Labatt Park in London, Ontario, holds the distinction of being recognized as the “oldest baseball field.” (Sit down, Fuller Field, we know you’re officially recognized by Guinness as the oldest baseball diamond.) Seated near the Thames River, Labatt Park has a rich history dating back to its opening in 1877 as Tecumseh Park.
Today, it proudly serves as the home of the London Majors minor league team and the Western Mustangs college team.