Minor league ballparks of the Midwest
Posted on January 17th, 2008 – 10:21 AMBy Michael Rand
So instead of hunkering down at a table for one and gorging ourselves on wings last night, we did some preliminary research for the Great Baseball Road Trip 2K8. This year’s trip, it has been decided, will be an all minor league affair, likely taking us to the loveliest parts of Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and possibly beyond. This year’s trip is partially in response to a disconnect with the salaries and scandals of the big leagues; more to the point, however, it is a recognition that on virtually every other GBRT, the one or two minor league games sprinkled in among the five or six major league games have ended up being the baseball highlight of the trip for our crew. There’s something far more intimate and far more pure about the small stadiums, the fans and even the specialty foods at minor league games. There are no retractable roofs, everybody hustles and sometimes, if you’re lucky, you see a rising star on the way up or a washed-up former major leaguer on the way down. You can hear yourself think at a minor league game. You can start strange conversations. Yeah, so anyway: We haven’t been to any of the ballparks that we plan to visit this year. We haven’t set an itinerary yet for sure, but like we said: Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Indiana are definitely in play. Has anyone visited parks in these or surrounding states, and would you have any recommendations for a crew of baseball lovers?
21 Responses to "Minor league ballparks of the Midwest"
Madison, WI Mallards. Get seats in the Duck Blind and it’s all you can eat and drink for most of the game. Can’t really see the game that well from that area, but you won’t really care with all the great Wisconsin brews and chicken samiches to enjoy.
Definitely hit up the LaCrosse Loggers. The stadium is pretty nice, set right by the Mississippi. And, hey, it’s Wisconsin. So there’s plenty of beverage options. And naturally your seating options are the Miller Lite Mezzanine, the Kul Lite Lumber Lounge and the Export Light Oasis. Really.
My favorite minor league ballpark is the Metrodome in beautiful downtown mpls. where I have been sticking it to the naive fans for years.
Once we get a new stadium, I’ll open my wallet!!!
Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, WI is fairly nice, especially on a nice summer night out on the grassy hills in the outfield watching the Timberrattlers play.
Sorry Mike, but as someone who has been forced to go to see the Mallard too many times for various scout and other kid functions I would say that if you are interested in Baseball avoid the Duck Pond!!!
It is the worst of what Midway stadium had become without the Veeck humor. It also has awful parking and it is over crowded. Rumor has between stunts they play ball.
I live in SW Wisconsin and have hit most of the parks in the area. If you are coming from the Cities you will see Beloit, don’t expect much. It reminds me of old Parade stadium in a way. But the brew is cheap (and from a local microbrew)and the brats are good and you will see Ben Revere and maybe decide for yourself if the Twins got a steal or just went cheap. You might also see Janesville native Terry Ryan at the game, I have sat next to a very relaxed TR a couple of times and you could see how much he enjoyed just watching the boys play.
I like two parks in the area-Quad Cities has a real nice park right on the river. I used to go down there when the River Bandits were the Twins A ball team and since then they have redone it with wide concourses and decent food and beverages. Side note they just changed the name from John O’Donnell to Modern Woodman park-has some nice possiblities for banter in the new corporate sponsored name.
Cedar Rapids has a good park. Parking is easy, prices are good and the food and beverages decent. You can really get close to the action at all these parks.
Clinton is also over here. It is your classic A ball-small town park. Nothing great, down by the river-Parking is a not as good and there was not lot of upgrades last time I was there.
A park that intrigues me is the Steel Yard in Gary, Indiana. Only been by it on my way east. It looks nice, but of course the problem is it is in Gary.
Those are my recommendations after traveling to the area.
Should definitely take a detour through Omaha, Neb. and see the Royals play. Obviously, when you think of Rosenblatt you think of the CWS, but going there for a traditional Royals home game isn’t bad either.
GBRT? I didn’t know that you got an abbreviation just for yourself in the gay group: Gay, Bizsexual, Randball, Transgendered, right? Congrats!
In all seriousness, though, DON’T go see the Gary Rail Cats in Indiana unless you want to smell US Steel the whole time (the stadium is literally across the street from the refineries). I’ve heard that the Quad City River Bandits (or are they the Quad City Swing? No, wait, let’s re-name them the River Bandits AGAIN) are fun to watch, and now they are actually associated with MiLB again, being the Cards’ A team (not sure if it’s high or low A).
Agreed on the Timber Rattlers in Appleton. Fox Counties is a great ballpark and you can see where A-Rod cut his teeth in low-A ball.
After hitting Appleton, I recommend going to a Beloit Snappers game. Gotta keep the Twins love going. I would recommend the Clinton Giants and Quad City River Bandits (those games were a blast when I was in college in Iowa) but I’m not sure if both exist anymore, and Clinton is kind of an armpit, but the games are fun.
BOOOOOO!!!
Whatever you do, do not, and I repeat, do not go to a game in Gary Indiana.
It smells.
Super Rookie, do you know this Gary Indiana that you speak of? He might take umbrage at his insides being called “smelly”.
They aren’t actually a minor-league team, but if you should make it down as far as Missouri, there’s some very decent minor-league-quality ball being played. For example, down in Kansas City there’s a team that plays in Kauffman Stadium - the Royals, I think they’re called?
This has been Obvious Joke Theatre.
Rand
I wouldn’t plan out that trip just yet. The Wolves are turning things around and I expect them to be making a deep run towards an NBA championship.
Seats at the Target Center for a showdown with KG will be more exciting than minor league baseball.
I know it’s local, but I had the privilege of playing on one of the nicest amature ballparks in the 5 state area. The Jordan Ballpark, formerly named “The Mini-Met”, is home to some great ball. It’s also the site of Joe Mauer’s only career high school strike out at the High School All-Star Game handed to him by Jordan native Jacob Wolf…and it was Looking! It actually is a true baseball town where the whole town goes to the DRS games, High school games, and Legion games.
Oh…and they serve Pig’s Eye beer in Jordan as well!
Joker — been to jordan for the state baseball tournament. good times.
Luckily the last couple years Mosquito-wise have been pretty mild, but usually it can get bad there at night being that it’s surrounded by water with a creek on 3 sides and a pond on the 4th.
Quad Cities where Mauer-ze played his A ball - the stadium is on the river and is really a neat place to see a game.
I agree with Appleton. Never seen a game there, but a friend is from there and the bar scene afterwards isn’t too bad.
I always wanted to go to Beloit as well.
Joe Faber Field and the St. Cloud River Bats is good fun as well. Sit in the party deck down the third base line - food and bevies with the ticket.
Trust me…having lived in Appleton for four years whle going to college there, and having been to Beloit…If you want to see the snappers play, see them on the road. Beloit is not a pretty city.
And yes, the bar scene in Appleton is ample and lively, especially down College avenue a few miles from the ball park.
Thanks for sharing
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