Salem Memorial Ballpark facts for kids
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Ballpark exterior in 2017
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| Full name | Haley Toyota Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark |
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| Former names |
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| Location | 1004 Texas Street Salem, Virginia |
| Coordinates | 37°17′7″N 80°2′12″W / 37.28528°N 80.03667°W |
| Owner | City of Salem |
| Operator | Salem Civic Center |
| Capacity | 6,300 |
| Field size |
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| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | September 27, 1994 |
| Opened | August 7, 1995 |
| Construction cost | $10.1 million ($19.4 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Kinsey Shane & Associates |
| General contractor | J.M. Turner & Company |
| Tenants | |
Salem Memorial Ballpark is a cool baseball park located in Salem, Virginia. It's part of a bigger sports area called the James E. Taliferro Sports and Entertainment Complex. This complex also includes the Salem Civic Center and the Salem Football Stadium.
The ballpark first opened on August 7, 1995. It's the home field for the Salem Red Sox. They are a minor-league team linked to the famous Boston Red Sox. The stadium was built in 1995 and cost about $10.1 million. It replaced an older stadium called Municipal Stadium.
Salem Memorial Ballpark can hold up to 6,300 people. From the stands, you get an amazing view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Since 2017, its full name has been Haley Toyota Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark. This is because of a sponsorship deal.
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How the Ballpark Was Built
In 1993, the baseball team in Salem, then called the Salem Buccaneers, was looking for a new owner. Their old stadium, Municipal Stadium, wasn't good enough anymore. Leaders in Salem wanted to build a new stadium to keep the team from moving away.
In 1994, Salem leaders talked to nearby cities about building a stadium together. But in March 1994, the Salem City Council decided to let the people of Salem vote on it. On July 19, Salem residents voted strongly in favor of building a new ballpark. More than 2,200 people voted yes, and only 398 voted no. Because of this strong support, the City Council approved the stadium's construction on July 25.
Building the New Stadium
In August, the final plans for the stadium were shown. Kinsey Shane & Associates designed it, and J.M. Turner & Company was chosen to build it. The ballpark was planned to cost $5 million. It was going to be built on land the city already owned, right next to the Salem Civic Center and Salem Football Stadium.
The plan was to build the playing field first. Then, the stadium itself would be built using precast concrete. The stadium was supposed to be ready for the start of the 1995 baseball season. Because of the new stadium, the team signed a deal with the Colorado Rockies to be their Single A team starting in 1995.
Construction Delays and Costs
Even though it was first planned for $5 million, the cost of the stadium went up. In November, Salem approved an extra $1 million. By April, the cost had risen to $10.1 million. This was mainly because the first estimates for construction were too low.
The stadium was supposed to open for the 1995 season. But there were delays in building it. The opening date was pushed back several times. Finally, on August 7, 1995, the stadium opened. A huge crowd of 6,421 people filled the stands. The first game was exciting, with the Avalanche team winning 3–2 in 15 innings.
The ballpark also hosted the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Tournament in 2003 and 2004. These tournaments were won by Georgia Tech and Florida State.
In 2009, the stadium's seating capacity was changed. New owners of the Red Sox team wanted a more "intimate" fan experience. They covered some general admission seats with tarps, reducing the capacity from 6,300 to 4,968. But because more people started coming to games, two of the tarps were removed in 2010. This brought the capacity back up to 5,503.
Exciting Events at the Ballpark
All-Star Games
On March 3, 2005, officials announced that Salem Memorial Ballpark would host the 2006 Carolina-California League All-Star Game. A crowd of 5,133 watched the Carolina League All-Stars beat the California League All-Stars 6-3.
The winning pitcher was Chad Reineke from the Carolina League. Rodrigo Escobar earned a save. Two players, Nolan Reimold and Reid Brignac, were named "Top Stars." They earned a spot in the XM Satellite Radio All-Star Futures Game.
Salem also hosted the All-Star Game in 2017. This event included a skills competition at Salem's old ballpark. It was part of a celebration for Salem's 50th anniversary in the Carolina League. The Northern Division All-Stars won 2-0. Michael Chavis, a third baseman from Salem, was named MVP. He hit a two-run double that scored the only runs of the game.
No-Hit Games
Salem Memorial Ballpark has seen three no-hit games since it opened in 1995. A no-hitter is when a pitcher (or pitchers) completes a game without allowing the other team to get any hits.
- The first no-hitter happened on August 4, 1996. Luther Hackman pitched a 4–1 no-hit game.
- The second was on April 10, 1997. Scott Randall and Lariel González teamed up for a 1–0 no-hit game.
- The third took place on June 30, 2010. Nathan Moreau pitched a 7–0 no-hit game against the Red Sox.
Here's a quick look at these special games:
| No. | Date | Pitcher(s) | Teams | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor | Home | ||||
| 1 | August 4, 1996 | Luther Hackman | Kinston Indians | Salem Avalanche |
4–1 |
| 2 | April 10, 1997 | Scott Randall Lariel González |
Wilmington Blue Rocks | Salem Avalanche |
1–0 |
| 3 | June 30, 2010 | Nathan Moreau | Frederick Keys |
Salem Red Sox | 7–0 |
| () Pitched a no-hitter and won |
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College Baseball Games
Since 2002, Salem Memorial Ballpark has been a second home field for the Roanoke College baseball team. It has also hosted many college tournaments.
In 1994, city officials announced that the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship would be played at the new stadium for five years. This was planned for 1995 to 1999. However, due to construction delays, the 1995 championship was moved to a nearby field.
The NCAA later moved the D-III Baseball Championship to a different stadium starting in 2000. This was because not enough people were attending the games in Salem.
Here are the D-III Baseball Championships held at Salem Memorial Ballpark:
| D-III Baseball Championship at Salem Memorial Ballpark | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Winning head coach |
Teams | Score | |
| Champion | Runner-up | |||
| 1996 | Jeff Albies | William Paterson | Cal Lutheran | 6–5 |
| 1997 | Ed Flaherty | Southern Maine | Wooster | 15–1 |
| 1998 | Bill Holowaty | Eastern Connecticut State | Montclair State | 16–1 |
| 1999 | Charlie Long | North Carolina Wesleyan | St. Thomas | 1–0 |
| Reference | ||||
In 2001, the City of Salem won a bid to host the ACC Baseball Tournament in 2003 and 2004. They beat out other cities like Durham and Hickory.
- The 2003 tournament had 18,276 attendees. Georgia Tech beat NC State 6-5.
- The 2004 tournament had even more people, with 23,092 attending. Florida State defeated Georgia Tech 17-5.
Stadium Features
The ballpark has comfortable stadium seats. It also has ten special luxury boxes located above the main area behind home plate. As of 2011, there are 5,503 fixed seats. You can also watch games from two picnic areas, one along the third base line and one along the first base line.
The stadium has four concession stands where you can buy food and drinks. There are also other carts and eight large restrooms. Even when there are big crowds, lines usually move quickly.
There's plenty of free parking at the stadium. It's easy to get to from major roads like U.S. 11, U.S. 460, Virginia 419, and Interstate 81. The Salem minor league baseball teams have been very good at attracting fans. This is partly thanks to fun promotions.
How the Ballpark Got Its Name
In May 1995, the Salem City Council decided to name the ballpark Salem Memorial Ballpark. This was done to honor Salem's veterans. The idea came from the mayor at the time, Jim Taliaferro. The American Legion even donated $5,500 for a memorial inside the stadium.
In 2006, the naming rights for the stadium were sold. A local health system called LewisGale Regional Health System bought them. They kept the naming rights for eleven seasons. Then, in 2017, Haley Toyota of Roanoke took over the naming rights. That's why the stadium is now called Haley Toyota Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark.
