Terry Park Ballfield facts for kids
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| Former names | Park T. Pigott Memorial Stadium |
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| Location | 3410 Palm Beach Boulevard Fort Myers, Florida, United States |
| Coordinates | 26°39′26″N 81°50′31″W / 26.65709°N 81.84199°W |
| Operator | Lee County |
| Capacity | 600 (1925–1955) 3,000 (1955–2004) 900 (2004–present) |
| Field size | Center Field – 425 ft (130 m) |
| Surface | Grass Turf During the Royals Tenure |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1921 |
| Opened | 1925 |
| Renovated | 1955 (Rebuilt) |
| Demolished | 1943 by Fire 2004 by Hurricane |
| Construction cost | US$ 2,100,000 (2010 Renovation Cost) |
| Main contractors | Chris-Tel Construction (2010 Renovation) |
| Tenants | |
| Major League Baseball spring training: Kansas City Royals (AL) (1969-1987) Pittsburgh Pirates (NL) (1955–1968) Cleveland Indians (AL) (1940-1942) Philadelphia Athletics (AL) (1925-1936) Minor League Baseball spring training: Minnesota Twins (MiLB) (1990) Tampa Smokers (FSL) (1949) Louisville Colonels (AA) (1946) Louisville Colonels (AA) (1914) Minor League Baseball: Fort Myers Royals (FSL) (1978-87) Fort Myers Palms (FSL) (1926) Senior Professional Baseball Association: Fort Myers Sun Sox (SPBA) (1989-90) National Collegiate Athletic Association Florida Gulf Coast University (ASUN) (2003) |
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Terry Park Ballfield
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 Location in Florida
Location in the United States
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| MPS | Lee County Multiple Property Submission |
| NRHP reference No. | 95000730 |
The Terry Park Ballfield, also known as the Park T. Pigott Memorial Stadium, is a special historic place in Fort Myers, Florida, United States. It is named after the Terry family, who donated the land in the 1920s. For many years, this stadium was a popular spot for Major League Baseball teams to practice in the spring. It also hosted minor league baseball games. Famous baseball players like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Roberto Clemente, and George Brett all played here!
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The Story of Terry Park
In 1921, the Terry family in Fort Myers donated about 25 acres of land to Lee County. This land, which used to be a cow pasture, became the home of Terry Park. A small wooden grandstand, which could seat about 600 fans, was built on the site.
Early Baseball Teams at Terry Park
The stadium officially opened in 1925 as a spring training ballpark for Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics. The Athletics used Terry Park for their spring training from 1925 until 1936. Later, the Cleveland Indians also trained here from 1940 to 1942. The minor league team, the Fort Myers Palms, also played at Terry Park in 1926.
Rebuilding After a Fire
The original wooden stadium stayed the same until 1943, when a fire sadly destroyed it. But Terry Park was rebuilt in 1955. This time, it was made from stronger materials like steel and concrete, instead of wood.
Pittsburgh Pirates' Spring Home
The rebuilt Terry Park became the new spring training home for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Before this, the Pirates had moved around a lot, training in seven different places over 12 years. They were looking for a permanent spot. Terry Park became their home for the next 14 years, from 1955 to 1968. After that, they moved to McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Florida.
Kansas City Royals' Era
In 1968, the Kansas City Athletics baseball team moved to Oakland, California. This allowed Kansas City to get a new Major League team, which became the Kansas City Royals. Terry Park became the new spring training home for the Royals. Their very first exhibition game was played at Terry Park against the Montreal Expos. The Royals stayed in Fort Myers until 1987.
Artificial Turf and Stadium Changes
During the Kansas City Royals' time at Terry Park, the field had artificial turf. This was similar to their main stadium, Royals Stadium. However, a few years after the Royals left, the artificial turf was also removed.
Fort Myers Royals Minor League Team
In 1978, the Kansas City Royals brought a minor league team to Fort Myers. This team was called the Fort Myers Royals, and they were part of the Single A Florida State League. They played at Terry Park from 1978 until 1987. In 1985, the Fort Myers Royals won the Florida League Championship! Famous players like Kevin Seitzer and Bret Saberhagen started their professional careers at Terry Park with this team.
End of Professional Baseball
After the Royals left Fort Myers in 1987, no new Major League spring training team came to Terry Park. Two new stadiums were built in Fort Myers for other teams: Hammond Stadium for the Minnesota Twins and City of Palms Park for the Boston Red Sox.
Last Professional Teams
The last professional baseball team to call Terry Park home was the Fort Myers Sun Sox. They were part of a short-lived league called the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989 and 1990. This league featured former Major League Baseball stars and played games during the winter. The league ended in 1990. All of the league's playoff games were held at Terry Park.
In 1990, the Minnesota Twins minor league teams used Terry Park for their spring training. This was while their new stadium was being built. A few professional games were also played at Terry Park in 2001 and 2006.
A Historic Landmark
Terry Park still looked much like it did after its 1955 rebuild for many years. On May 11, 1995, the ballfield was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site by the United States Department of the Interior. The stadium was dedicated to Park T. Pigott, who helped the youth of the community through sports.
Famous Players at Terry Park
Many legendary baseball players, who later became Hall of Famers, played at Terry Park. Researchers have identified over 150 Hall of Fame players who have been at the ballfield. Some of these famous names include:
- Babe Ruth
- Ty Cobb
- Roberto Clemente
- Jimmie Foxx
- Bob Feller
- Tris Speaker
- George Brett
- Hank Aaron
- Jackie Robinson
- Mickey Mantle
- Willie Stargell
- Cal Ripken, Jr.
Hurricane Charley's Impact
In 2004, Hurricane Charley caused a lot of damage to the stadium. The grandstand was so badly damaged that it was labeled "unsafe." Later that year, the old grandstand was torn down. Instead of rebuilding the large, historic grandstand that could seat 5,000 people, a smaller structure with about 700 seats was built.
Changes to the Historic Site
Even though the park was a historic landmark, the new grandstand changed its look quite a bit. Only some of the old support beams were kept. The new grandstand, which opened in 2005, is much smaller and made of metal. Many people in the community wished the county had tried to save the classic grandstand. The new stadium now seats about 900 people.
Terry Park Today
Today, Terry Park is a busy place for amateur baseball. Over 160 college baseball teams from all over the country use Terry Park in March to start their season. The park is part of a larger facility with multiple baseball fields. It is used year-round for baseball leagues, tournaments, and special events.
Modern Facilities
The facility has four lighted fields with seating for spectators, including a covered grandstand on the main field. There are also batting cages near each field. Terry Park has been updated with new restrooms, a concession area, a press box, and improved seating. This work is being done in stages so the park can stay open as much as possible.
In 2020, the Kia Tigers, a professional baseball team from South Korea, held their spring training at Terry Park. They even stayed in Fort Myers longer than planned due to pandemic restrictions.
