Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Review 253 fields?

I have been a significant Minnesota townball fan for decades.  Townball has been played in Minnesota since the 1920s.  Townball enjoyed its peak popularity in the 1940s and 1950s, with as many as 799 teams participating in the 1950 season.  

Minnesota's first town baseball team is believed to have been Nininger's in 1857. The city of Nininger was located just west of Hastings, MN, but it no longer exists. John Nininger, brother-in-law of Governor Alexander Ramsey, founded and incorporated Nininger.

Throughout Minnesota, townball teams have played continuously since the 1880s.  In 1924, a State Tournament, masterminded by the Saint Paul Pioneer Press and Saint Paul Dispatch writers Roy Dunlap and Lou McKenna, was created.  This was followed by a townball governing body for Minnesota.  As of 2024, the Minnesota Baseball Association.  In 1986, the system was revamped to create a three-tier system (A, B, and C).  In 1986, there were 230 teams in the three classes.  Townball reached its peak at the end of World War II.  Thousands of players who played for the love of the game participated.

I retired early in 2024. Therefore, I decided to attend and review as many ballfields as I could while I had the opportunity. After reviewing the Minnesota Amateur Baseball site for several hours, I found that there are currently 274 teams playing (excluding over 35 and over 50 teams) on 253 ballfields. With 253 fields, this may take more than a decade, and I hope I will live long enough to attend a game at all of them.

A blog post would typically include background information from the field or internet search, a discussion on parking and spectator options, concessions, and a summary.

The teams and fields as of the July 2024 research are:

Team

Field

Reviewed

St. Patrick Irish

Bonin Field

Reviewed

Dundas Dukes

Dundas Memorial Park

 Reviewed

Faribault Lakers

Bell Field

Reviewed

Hampton Cardinals

Harold Doffing Memorial Park

Reviewed

Prior Lake Jays
Prior Lake Mudcats

Veterans Field at Memorial Park

Reviewed

Northfield Knights

Sechler Park

Reviewed

Webster Sox

Webster Community Park

7 Reviewed

St. Benedict Saints

The Ben

8 Reviewed

Hastings Hawks

Veterans Park

9 Reviewed

La Center Braves

Ray Plut Field

10 Reviewed

Fort Ripley Rebels

Fort Ripley Park

11 Reviewed

Shakopee Coyotes
Shakopee Indians

Joe Schleper Stadium

12 Reviewed

Delano Athletics

Delano Municipal Ballpark

13 Reviewed

Cannon Falls Bears

John Burch Field

14 Reviewed

Ada Athletics

Tony Sipe Field (Dekko Park)


Air Freight Unlimited

Barns Field (Concordia)


Aitkin Steam

Woock Field


Albertville Anglers

Lions Field


Alexandria Black Sox

Knute Nelson Memorial Field


Andover Aces

Historic Andover High Field


Anoka Bucs

Castle Field


Appleton A's

Appleton Municipal Baseball Field


Arlington A's

Arlington Baseball Park


Ashby A's

Ashby High


Atwater Chuckers

Kingery Field


Austin Blue Jays

Riverland Community College


Austin Greyhounds

Lafayette Park


Avon Lakers

Blattner Field


Baseball 365

Round Lake Stadium


Becker Bandits

High School Varsity Field


Belle Plaine Tigers

Tiger Park


Bemidji Blue Ox

Security Insurance Field at BSU


Bemidji Bucks

Bemidji State Field


Benson Plowboys

Chief’s Fields


Bird Island Bullfrogs

Lions Memorial Park


Blue Earth Pirates

Veterans Memorial Field


Bluffton Braves

Blufton City Field


Braham Snappers

Braham High School


Breckenridge Bucks

Cowboy Field (High School)


Brownton Bruins

Barney Tadsen Field


Buckman Billygoats

Beer Cap Stadium


Buffalo Bulldogs

Bentfield Mills Park


Burnsville Bobcats

Alimagnet Park


Carlos Cougars

Fireman’s Field


Carver Black Sox

Carver Community Park


Centennial Cougars

Baldwin Park


Champlin Park LoGators

Jerry Ruppelius Complex


Chanhassen Red Birds

Storm/Redbirds Stadium


Chaska Cubs

Athletic Park


Chisago Lakes Bulldogs

Chisago Lakes High School


Chokio Coyotes

Neal Hofland Field


Clarissa Flyers

Clarissa


Clear Lake Lakers

Goenner Park


Clearwater River Cats

Sportsman’s Park


Cleveland Spiders

Cleveland Baseball Park


Clinton Cards

Clinton Park


Cokato Kernels

Veterans Field at Brooks Lake Park


Cold Spring Rockies 
Cold Spring Springers

Cold Spring Baseball Park


Cologne Hollanders

Robert G Fritz Memorial Field


Coon Rapids Redbirds

Wintercrest Park


Cottonwood Cardinals

Lakeview Baseball Field


Courtland Cubs

Courtland Recreation Ball Park


Crystal Cowboys
Lyon's Pub Warriors
Metro Merchants
Minneapolis Angels
Minneapolis Blue Sox
Minneapolis Cobras
Minneapolis Mudcats
Minneapolis River Rats

Parade Stadium


Dassel-Cokato Saints

Saints Field


Dawson Drakes

Nelson Field


Dent Diamond Hawks

Jake Wolford Field


Detroit Lakes Ligers

Washington Ballpark


Dilworth Raildogs

Bob Marshall Field


Dodge County Diamondbacks

The Snake Pit (High School)


Dumont Saints

Wheaton Baseball Field


Eagan Bandits

Goat Hill Park


Eagle Lake Expos

Eagle Lake People’s Municipal Ballpark


East Bethel Bandits
St. Francis Silverbacks

St Francis High School Varsity Field


Eden Valley Hawks 

Eden Valley Baseball Park


Elk River Lumberjacks

P&T Complex


Elko Express

Fredrickson Field


Elrosa Saints

Saints Field


Essig Bluejays

Essig Ballpark


Fairfax Cardinals

Memorial Park


Fairmont Martins

Herb Wolf Field


Farming Flames

Schleper Brothers Field


Fergus Falls Hurricanes

American Legion Field


Flensburg Falcons

Legion Ball Park - Hellie Field


Foley Lumberjacks

Foley High School


Forest Lake Brewers

Schumacher Field


Foston Trash Panda’s

Thompson Field


Fox Lake Foxes

Truman High School


Frazee-Vergas Loons

Vergas City Park


Freeport Black Sox

Black Sox Park


Gaylord Islanders

Walsh Field


Gibbon Reds

McGowen Field


Glencoe Brewers

Vollmer Field


Granite Falls Kilowatts

Richter Field


Green Isle Irish

Irish Yard


Greenwald Cubs

Cubby Field (Greenwald Baseball Field)


Hadley Buttermakers

Laurie Mahon Memorial Field


Ham Lake Hornets

Soderville Park


Hamburg Hawks

Hawk Field


Hamel Hawks

Paul Fortin Memorial Field


Hancock Orphans

Hancock Field


Hanska Lakers

Hanlin Field


Hawley Hawks

Hawley Rodeo Grounds


Henning North Stars

Tony Kawlewski Field


Heron Lake Lakers

Laker Field


Hibbing Miners

Al Nyberg Field


Highland Park Beavers
North End Biscuits
Rosetown A's
St. Paul Capitals
St. Paul Hops
St. Paul Mudhens
Twin City Saints

Tori Stone / Dunning Field


Hinkley Knights

Brennan Field


Hopkins Berries

Big Willow


Howard Lake Orphans

Memorial Park


Hutchinson Huskies

Dave Moonet Merial Complex - Tartan Park


Isanti Redbirds

Redbird Field


Jackson Bulls

Wacker Field


Jordan Brewers

The Mini Met


Kensington Norsemen

Hegg Memorial Field


Kimball Express

Kimball Veteran’s Memorial Field


Lake Crystal Lakers

Collis Field


Lake Henry Lakers

Laker Park


Lakefield Horned Frogs

Stan King Field


Lamberton Long Sox

Lamberton Baseball Field


Lavenworth Orioles

Lavenworth Ballpark


Le Sueur Braves

Bruce Frank Field


Litchfield Blues

Optimist Park


Lonsdale Aces

Trenda Memorial Park


Loretto Larks

Arnold Klaers Baseball Field


Luverne Redbirds

Redbird Field


Luxemburg Brewers

Luxemburg Legion Baseball Park


Macstrength Grizzlies

Derrick Keller Field


Madison Mallards

Madison Memorial Field


Maple Lake Lakers

Irish Stadium


Maple Plain Diamond Devils

Don Timpe Field


Marshall A's

Legion Field


Mayer Blazers

Ozzie Hoese Field Mayor Lutheran High School


Meire Grove Grovers

Meire Grove Field


Metro Knights

Polar Lakes Park


Midway Snurdbirds

Matt Leritz Field


Miesville Mudhens

Jack Ruhr Field


Milroy Irish

The Irish Yard


Milroy Yankees

Milroy Yankee Field


Minneapolis North Stars

Red Haddox Field


Minneota Mudhens

K. P. Kompelien Field


Minnesota Lake Royals

Bud Kroenke Field


Minnetonka Monarchs

Veterans Field


Montgomery Mallards

Memorial Field


Monticello Polecats

Monticello Baseball Park


Montrose-Waverly Stingers

Hornets Nest


Moorhead Brewers

Matson Field


Moorhead Mudcats

Bucky Burgau Field Concordia College


Mora Blue Devils

Mora High School Field


Morris Eagles

Chizek Field


Morristown Morries

Babe Nordmeier Field


New Germany Dutchman

Dutchman Field


New London-Spicer Twins

Green Lake Diamond


New Market Muskies

Hillside Park


New Munich Silverstreaks

Silverstreak Field


New Prague Orioles

New Prague Memorial Baseball Park


New Ulm Brewers

Johnson Park


New York Mills Millers

Russ Jacobson Field


Nimrod Gnats

Stigman Field


Nisswa Lightning

Nisswa City Park


North Branch Nighthawks

North Branch High School


North Mankato Gators

City of North Mankato


North West Orioles

Memorial Field


Norway Lake-Sunburg Lakers

Willie Reigstad Park


Norwood Indians

Zellmann Field


Nowthen Knights

Nowthen Memorial Park


Ogilvie Orioles

Ogilvie High School Field


Opole Bears

Opole Bears Park


Ortonville Rox

Ortonville Athletic Field


Owatonna Aces

Dratt’s Park


Paynesville Pirates

Paynesville Baseball Stadium


Pearl Lake Lakers 

Martin Schmidt Memorial Park


Perham Pirates

Al Krueger Field


Pierz Brewers
Pierz Bulldogs
Pierz Lakers

Legion Ball Park - Hellie Field


Pine Island Pioneers

Pine Island Varsity Field


Pipestone A's

A’s Field


Plainview-Elgin-Millville Bucks

Eckstein Field


Plato Blue Jays

Bluejay Stadium


Plymouth Hitdawg

Lighted Field


Princeton Panthers

Solheim Veterans Field


Quamba Cubs

Peterson Field


Rainy Lake North Stars

Scheela Field


Ramsey Renegades

Enloe Park


Randall Cubs

Dr. Knight Field


Raymond Rockets

Lilleberg Field


Red Wing Aces

Red Wing Athletic Field


Regal Eagles

Beier Fields


Richmond Royals

Royal Park


Rochester Barons 
Rochester Roadrunners

Hudson Field


Rochester Royals

Mayo Field


Rockford Crows

Rockford High School


Roscoe Rangers

Roscoe Baseball Field


Roseau Royals

Gilbertson Field


Rosen Express

Rosen Field


Royalton Riverdogs

Royalton High School


Rum River Bandits

Larson Field


Ruthton Royals

Ruthton Baseball Field


Sabin Mets

Sabin Field


Sacred Heart Saints

Sacred Heart Ballpark


Sartell Muskies 
Sartell Stone Poneys

St Cloud Orthopedics Field


Sauk Centre Titans

Sauk Center High School


Sauk Rapids Cyclones

Bob Cross Park


Searles Grizzlies

Searles Ballpark


Sebeka Stingers

Sebeka Field


Shoreview Stump Grinders

Reynolds Field (UNW)


Sleepy Eye Indians

Sleepy Eye Ballpark


Sobieski Skis

Sobieski Ballpark


Spring Hill Chargers

Charger Field


Springfield Tigers

Riverside park


St. Anthony Hogs

Palm Field


St. Augusta Gussies

Centennial Parl


St. Boni Saints

Missle Park


St. Clair Wood Ducks

Duck Slough


St. James Athletics

Veterans Field


St. Joseph Joes

Schneider Field at Memorial Park


St. Louis Park Pirates

Keller Field at Dakota Park


St. Martin Martins

Roy Weber Field


St. Mathias Devils

Devils Park


St. Michael Saints

St Michaels Rec Center #1


St. Nicholas Nicks

Fr. Nicholas Donney Park


St. Peter Saints

Veterans Memorial Field


St. Stephan Steves

Joseph A. Trobec Memorial Park


St. Wendel Saints

St. Wendel Ballpark


Staples Lumberbats

Pine Grove Park


Starbuck Stars

Marthaler Stadium


Stark Longhorns

Stark Ballpark


Stewartville-Racine Sharks

Shark Park


Stillwater Loggers

SAHS Varsity


Stockmen's Irish

McGuire Field


Swanville Swans

Swanville School


Twin Ports Timbers

Wade Stadium


Union Hill Bulldogs

Don Giesen Field at Union Hill Parkl


Upsala Blue Jays

Varsity Field


Urbank-Parkers Prairie Bombers

Wendelin Koep Sr. Stadium


Veseli Warriors

Veseli Ball Park


Victoria Vics

Poppitz Field


Wabasso Jaxx

City Field


Waconia Lakers

Waconia Lions Field


Wadena-Deer Creek Shockers

Elmer Becker Field


Wanamingo Jacks

Veterans Memorial Field


Warroad Muskies

Tony Stukel Field


Waseca Braves

Tink Larson Community Field


Watertown Red Devils

Highland Park


Waterville Indians

William J Grose Park


Watkins Clippers 

Clipper Field


Wells Wildcats

Pat Frank Field at Thompson Park


Westonka Waves

Fritz-Soule Field


White Bear Township Baseball Club

Polar Lakes Park


Willmar Rails

Baker Diamond at Bill Taunton Stadium


Windom Pirates

Island Park


Winona Chiefs

Gabrych Park


Winsted Wildcats

Denis M Campbell Field


Wolf Lake Wolf Pack

Wolf Lake Park


Worthington Cubs

Trojan Baseball Field


Young America Cardinals

Wilkommen Park


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