- McCurdy Field
-
McCurdy Memorial Park Location South Jefferson Street and Scholl's Lane
Frederick, Maryland, 21703Opened May 13, 1924 Renovated 1974 Owner City of Frederick Surface grass Construction cost $15,000 (1924)
$200,000 (1974)Capacity 2,500 (1924) Field dimensions Left Field: 348
Center Field: 600
Right Field: 506 (1924)Tenants Frederick Hustlers
Frederick Warriors (BRL) (1929-1930)
Syracuse Chiefs (IL) (spring training) (1943)
Philadelphia Athletics (MLB) (spring training) (1944-1945)
Frederick Keys (Carolina League) (1989)McCurdy Field, located in Frederick, Maryland, is the former home of the Frederick Hustlers, Warriors, and Frederick Keys, a class A minor league affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The current stadium structure is largely an aluminum superstructure with dual brick buildings on the sides. The field first opened in 1924.[1]
On Monday, September 6, 1937, the Washington Redskins played their first Washington-area game following their move from Boston. Washington beat an American Legion All-Star team by a score of 50-0 in front of 1,000 at McCurdy.[2]
During WWII, professional baseball teams conducted spring training in the north. The International League Syracuse Chiefs held spring training at McCurdy in 1943[3] and the Philadelphia Athletics also held spring training in Frederick in 1944 and 1945 and played their exhibition games at McCurdy Field.[4]
Lights were installed in 1947. In 1968 the old wooden grandstand was condemned and torn down in 1971, leaving just the field. Bob Marendt led an effort to renovate the park, raising $50,000 in donations, and federal and state government paid for the balance. A renovated concrete and steel park opened in 1974 with metal bleachers that sat 1,500 and clubhouse facilities to host the Babe Ruth League 13-year-old national tournament.[5]
References
- ^ Stan Goldberg (2007-08-19). "McCurdy's hosted everyone from Redskins to locals". Gettsyburg Times. http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/archives/display_detail.htm?StoryID=71915. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
- ^ "1937 Washington Redskins (NFL)". The Pro Football Archives. http://www.profootballarchives.com/1937nflwas.html. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
- ^ "Army In Great Britain Plans Seven Baseball Leagues, World Series". Baltimore Sun: p. 17. 1943-03-26. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1871297652.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Mar+26%2C+1943&author=&pub=The+Sun+(1837-1985)&desc=Army+In+Great+Britain+Plans+Seven+Baseball+Leagues%2C+World+Series&pqatl=google. Retrieved 2010-12-22.
- ^ Bob Warrington. "Spring Training 1944". Philadelphia Athletics Historical Society. http://www.philadelphiaathletics.org/history/springtraining1944.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
- ^ "McCurdy Field, Frederick, Md.". Charlie O’Reilly. http://mysite.verizon.net/charliesballparks/stadiums/mccurdy.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
External links
Categories:- Minor league baseball venues
- Baseball venues in Maryland
- Spring training ballparks
- Philadelphia Athletics spring training venues
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