Eldredge Park facts for kids
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| Address | 78 Eldredge Park Way |
|---|---|
| Location | Orleans, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates | 41°46′58″N 69°59′25″W / 41.782775°N 69.990298°W |
| Capacity | 6,000 |
| Field size | Left Field: 300 ft Center Field: 434 ft Right Field: 314 ft |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1913 |
| Renovated | 1966, 2011 |
| Tenants | |
| Orleans Firebirds | |
Eldredge Park is a famous baseball field in Orleans, Massachusetts. It's the home stadium for the Orleans Firebirds, a team in the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL). This ballpark is right next to Nauset Regional Middle School.
Eldredge Park is known for having the deepest centerfield in the Cape League, stretching 434 feet. You can also find a bandstand behind the right-centerfield fence. There's even a playground beyond the left-centerfield fence! Fans often bring blankets and chairs to watch games from the grassy hillside.
Contents
Discovering Eldredge Park's History
How Eldredge Park Began
Eldredge Park is the oldest park in the Cape League, opening its gates in 1913. This was just one year after Fenway Park opened! The land for the park was a gift from Louis Winslow "Win" Eldredge. He loved baseball and wanted to create a fun place for the young people of Orleans.
The park quickly became a popular spot for the community. An interesting fact: thanks to a nearby transatlantic telegraph cable station, fans at Eldredge Park were among the first Americans to hear that Charles Lindbergh had landed safely in Paris.
Changing the Field Layout
Originally, home plate at Eldredge Park was in what is now the left-field corner. For many years, batters had trouble seeing the ball because of the setting sun. So, in the mid-1960s, the park's layout was changed.
The newly arranged park opened for the 1967 CCBL all-star game. Massachusetts Governor John Volpe attended the game. He praised Eldredge Park as the best community field in all of New England.
Modern Upgrades and Features
Making the Park Even Better
Over the years, Eldredge Park has received many improvements. Lights were added in 1979, allowing games to be played at night. The hillside, where many fans sit, was shaped into terraces in 1985 and 1986. This area is now a favorite spot for home fans.
The press box, nicknamed the "Bird's Nest," was first built in 1981 and then rebuilt in 2003. Between 2010 and 2011, a grant from the Yawkey Foundation helped fund major upgrades. These included a new brick backstop, updated dugouts and bullpens, and safety netting for fans. The infield also received new grass.
The Catch Sculpture
In 2019, a beautiful sculpture called The Catch was placed on the hill behind home plate. Created by artist Gwen Marcus, it shows a young baseball player reaching out to catch a ball.
Eldredge Park's Fame and Recognition
Eldredge Park has been described in wonderful ways. Some say it looks like "a Norman Rockwell painting come to life." Others call it "a sylvan setting so transcendently beautiful one's breath is swept away." This means it's a truly stunning and natural place.
The park has even been featured in Sports Illustrated magazine. Baseball America ranked it as the top summer collegiate ballpark in the country. A famous photographer, Joel Meyerowitz, included a two-page photo of Eldredge Park in his book Baseball in America. The picture shows a hazy evening game with the sun setting over the bandstand.
Hosting Big Games and Future Stars
Eldredge Park has been the site of many exciting events. It hosted the CCBL's annual all-star game and home run derby in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 2004, and 2019. The Orleans Firebirds have also won CCBL championships here in 1986, 1993, 2003, and 2005.
Many players who later became major league stars played at Eldredge Park. Some famous names include Carlton Fisk, Frank Thomas, Mark Teixeira, Nomar Garciaparra, and Marcus Stroman.
See also
- Cape Cod Baseball League
- Cape Cod Baseball League ballparks
- Orleans Firebirds
