Duncan Park
Coordinates: 34°56′11″N 81°54′46″W / 34.936493°N 81.912818°W
|
Duncan Park baseball stadium in 2014 | |
| Location |
0 West Park Drive Spartanburg, SC 29302 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°56′11″N 81°54′46″W / 34.936493°N 81.912818°W |
| Owner | City of Spartanburg |
| Capacity | 3,000 |
| Record attendance | 21,000[1] |
| Field size |
Left Field: 318 ft (97 m) Left Center: 362 ft (110 m) Center Field: 372 ft (113 m) Right Center: 368 ft (112 m) Right Field: 318 ft (97 m) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | July 8, 1926 |
| Renovated | 1950, 1967, 1973, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1992, 2008, 2014 |
| Construction cost | $30,946[2] |
| Architect | J. Frank Collins |
| Tenants | |
|
Spartanburg Post 28 (American Legion Baseball) (1926-present) Spartanburg Spartans (1926-1946) Spartanburg Peaches (Tri-State League) (1947-1955) Spartanburg Phillies (SAL) (1963-1994) Wofford Terriers baseball (SoCon) (1996-2004) Spartanburg High School Vikings (2008-present) | |
|
Duncan Park Stadium | |
| NRHP Reference # | 15001009 |
| Added to NRHP | January 26, 2016 |
Duncan Park is a stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It is primarily used for baseball and is currently the home of the Spartanburg High School baseball team and the Spartanburg Post 28 American Legion Baseball team. The ballpark has a capacity of 3,000 people and opened in 1926. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.
History
Duncan Park Stadium hosted its first game on July 8, 1926. 2,500 people watched as the Spartanburg Spartans defeated the Macon Peaches 5-1. Nearly 21,000 fans attended the deciding Game 5 of the 1936 “World Series” of American Legion baseball at Duncan Park when Spartanburg defeated Los Angeles. That figure remains the largest crowd to watch a sporting event in Spartanburg.[3] Duncan Park also hosted the 1938 “World Series” of American Legion baseball. In 1937, the New York Yankees, featuring Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig, played an exhibition game in Duncan Park on their way to New York from spring training. Other major league standouts played in Duncan Park on their way to the show, including Larry Bowa, Ryne Sandberg, Dale Murphy, and Tom Glavine (Maultsby). When Shibe Park in Philadelphia was demolished, Duncan Park received many seats from the old stadium.[4]
From 1996-2003, the park was home to the Wofford College Terriers college baseball team. In 2004, the Terriers moved to the newly built Russell C. King Field on campus.[5] In 2008, Spartanburg city council decided to grant funding to replace the outfield wall and finalized an agreement with Spartanburg School District 7 to have the Spartanburg High School baseball team become a permanent tenant.[6]
From 2013-2014, Spartanburg School District 7 spent $500,000 on significant renovations to Duncan Park Stadium. These renovations were the first major improvements since the stadium was built and involved substantial structural work. In addition, drainage was improved, rotten wood was replaced, new box seats were installed, the stadium was repainted and a new scoreboard was erected. District 7 intends to do further renovations when funds become available, including seating under the roof, concession areas and permanent restroom facilities.[7]
References
- ↑ Armonaitis, Dan (2014-09-15). "Glory days at Duncan Park Stadium". Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, SC. Retrieved 2015-04-06.
- ↑ Jones, Lewis (1988-06-29). "Officially, permanently Duncan Park". Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, SC. Retrieved 2015-04-25.
- ↑ Spartanburg Herald-Journal September 2, 1997, A-1
- ↑ Lowry, Philip (2006). Green Cathedrals. Walker & Company. p. 176. ISBN 978-0-8027-1608-8.
- ↑ Joe Lee Griffin Stadium at samfordsports.cstv.com, URL accessed December 25, 2010. Archived 12-25-2010
- ↑ Shackleford, Lynne (2008-05-13). "Deal to share historic Duncan Park sealed". Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, SC. Retrieved 2014-08-14.
- ↑ Gross, Daniel (2014-03-11). "Duncan Park stadium improvements delight baseball fans". Herald-Journal. Spartanburg, SC. Retrieved 2014-08-14.