Centennial Field facts for kids
Stadium grandstands
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| Full name | Delta Dental Diamond at Centennial Field |
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| Location | University Road Burlington, VT 05401 |
| Coordinates | 44°28′54″N 73°11′16″W / 44.48167°N 73.18778°W |
| Owner | City of Burlington, Vermont |
| Operator | University of Vermont |
| Capacity | 4,415 |
| Field size | Left Field: 330 feet Center Field: 405 feet Right Field: 323 feet |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1906 |
| Opened | April 17, 1906 |
| Renovated | 1922 |
| Expanded | 1995 |
| Architect | Levering & Garigues, Co. |
| Tenants | |
| Baseball Vermont Lake Monsters (NYPL/FCBL) (1994–present) Vermont Catamounts (1906–1917, 1919–1942, 1946–1971, 1978–2009) Burlington Cardinals (NoL) (1935–1941 and 1946–1952) Burlington Athletics (1955) Vermont Reds (EL) (1984–1987) Vermont Mariners (EL) (1988) AEC baseball tournament (2003, 2005, 2006) |
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Delta Dental Diamond at Centennial Field is a famous baseball stadium in Burlington, Vermont. It's located at the University of Vermont and is the home field for the Vermont Lake Monsters baseball team. This historic field has seen many exciting games and hosted various sports teams over the years.
Contents
A Look Back: Centennial Field's History
Centennial Field got its name because the land was set aside for sports in 1904. This happened during the 100th anniversary celebration of the University of Vermont's first graduating class. The very first baseball game was played here on April 17, 1906. The University of Vermont team won 10-4 against the University of Maine.
Many talented players have played at Centennial Field. Larry Gardner was the first batter for UVM. Future Boston Red Sox pitcher Ray Collins threw the first pitch. Both Gardner and Collins later played in Major League Baseball. Another player, Matt Duffy, played for UVM from 2008–2009 and later for the Houston Astros.
More Than Just Baseball
Besides baseball, other sports teams used the fields at Centennial. The university's college football team played here until 1974. Men's and women's lacrosse teams also used the field until 2006. The men's soccer team played from 1975 to 2011, and the women's team from 1995 to 2011. Both soccer teams later moved to Virtue Field on campus.
The soccer stands could hold 5,000 people. They saw huge crowds during the 1989 postseason when UVM's men's soccer team did very well. The football field also hosted several Vermont high school state championship games. In 1966, a UVM football game against UMass drew a record crowd of 10,000 fans!
Building and Renovating the Field
The original wooden baseball stands at Centennial Field burned down in 1913. The main grandstand you see today, made of concrete and steel, was built in 1922. It can now seat 4,415 people for baseball games.
Centennial Field has also been recognized nationally. In 2005, ESPN visited it for their "50 States in 50 Days" tour. In 2007, ESPN.com called it one of the top 10 ballpark destinations in the U.S. It's even featured in a book called 101 Baseball Places To See Before You Strike Out.
In May 2025, the Lake Monsters and Delta Dental made a 10-year deal. This agreement means the ballpark is now officially called Delta Dental Diamond at Centennial Field.
Keeping the Field Great
By 2010, Centennial Field needed some updates to meet modern baseball standards. Ray Pecor, the owner of the Vermont Lake Monsters, invested over $2 million in improvements. These upgrades happened before the 2012 and 2013 seasons. They included new lights, a modern video scoreboard, and better field surfaces. Pecor made these changes after agreeing to a 20-year lease with the University of Vermont.
Baseball Games at Centennial Field
Centennial Field has been a busy place for baseball. It hosted the America East Conference baseball tournament in 2003, 2005, and 2006. It also hosted American Legion Baseball tournaments.
In 2009, the University of Vermont stopped its varsity baseball program. This meant the field lost its longest-running tenant. However, the university decided to lease the field to the Lake Monsters for 20 years. This ensured baseball would continue to be played there. Since 2012, the Vermont Principals' Association's state championship games have also returned to Centennial Field.
Professional Baseball Teams
Centennial Field has been home to several professional and collegiate summer baseball teams.
Burlington Athletics
In 1955, the Burlington Athletics became Vermont's first minor league team. They were part of the Provincial League. The team played well, finishing third in their league. They even made it to the championship series that year. Two players from the 1955 Athletics, Bob Davis and Bill Kern, later played in the major leagues. The Provincial League eventually ended before the 1956 season.
Vermont Reds
Professional minor league baseball returned in 1984 with the Vermont Reds. This team was affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds. The Vermont Reds were very successful, winning the Eastern League championship three years in a row (1984, 1985, and 1986). Many players from these teams went on to become stars for the 1990 World Champion Cincinnati Reds.
One of the most famous players was Barry Larkin. He played for Cincinnati from 1986 to 2004. Larkin was a 12-time All-Star and won three Gold Glove Awards. He was named the National League Most Valuable Player in 1995 and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012. Other notable players included Jeff Montgomery, Rob Dibble, Kal Daniels, Chris Sabo, and Norm Charlton.
Vermont Mariners
After the 1987 season, the team became the Vermont Mariners, affiliated with the Seattle Mariners. They finished second in the Eastern League in 1988. Manager Rich Morales was named Eastern League Manager of the Year.
Two future major league stars played for the Mariners: Ken Griffey Jr. and Omar Vizquel. Griffey played 17 games at Centennial Field late in the 1988 season. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016. Vizquel, known for his amazing fielding, also played for the Mariners in 1988.
After the 1988 season, the team moved to Canton, Ohio. The owner felt a larger city would bring more fans.
Vermont Expos & Lake Monsters
Minor league baseball came back to Centennial Field in 1994. A local businessman, Ray Pecor, bought the team rights. The team was first called the Vermont Expos. They won their only New York Penn League championship in 1996.
In 2006, the team changed its name to the Lake Monsters. This happened after their parent team, the Montreal Expos, moved and became the Washington Nationals. The Lake Monsters changed their major league affiliation to the Oakland Athletics in 2011.
Many former Expos/Lake Monsters players have reached the major leagues. These include Addison Russell, Orlando Cabrera, Jason Bay, and Ian Desmond. After the 2020 season, the Lake Monsters joined the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. This is a league for college players during the summer.
Collegiate Summer Baseball
Centennial Field has also hosted collegiate summer baseball teams. The Burlington Cardinals played here from 1935 to 1941 and again from 1946 to 1952. These teams featured many future major leaguers. Johnny Podres made his professional debut here in 1950.
The collegiate Northern League was brought back in the late 1970s and 1980s. Teams like the Burlington Expos, Burlington A's, and Queen City Royals played at Centennial Field. Future major league pitchers Kirk McCaskill and Mike Rochford played for the Expos during these summers. Today, the Lake Monsters continue this tradition in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League.
Historic Marker
In 1997, the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation placed a special marker at the ballpark. It tells visitors about the field's long history. The marker explains that Centennial Field has been home to UVM athletics since 1906. It mentions that the current grandstand, built in 1922, is one of the oldest still in use. The marker also lists some of the great players who have played there, like Larry Gardner, Ray Collins, Barry Larkin, and Ken Griffey Jr.
Images for kids
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Pre-renovation scoreboard
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