Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2017) |
 | |
 | |
 | |
| Location | 2501 Allen Ave. SE Canton, OH. 44707 |
|---|---|
| Owner | City of Canton |
| Operator | Ohio Men’s Senior Baseball League |
| Capacity | 5,700 |
| Field size | Left Field — 330 ft Center Field — 400 ft Right Field — 330 ft[1] |
| Opened | 1989 |
| Tenants | |
| Canton McKinley Bulldogs (OHSAA) 2016–present Malone Pioneers (NCAA) 2008–2015, 2021–present[2] Canton Coyotes (FL) 2002 Canton Crocodiles (FL) 1997–2001 Canton–Akron Indians (EL) 1989–1996 | |
| Website | |
| www | |
Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium is a stadium in Canton, Ohio, United States, primarily used for baseball. The facility is named after former Major League Baseball player Thurman Munson, who grew up in Canton. Munson was a catcher for the New York Yankees who was killed when his private plane was attempting to land at Akron–Canton Airport in Summit County on August 2, 1979. Munson's number 15 is displayed on the center field wall. Originally built as the home of the minor league Canton–Akron Indians, it has since hosted other minor league teams, as well has college, high school, and amateur baseball.
History
[edit]The ballpark has a capacity of 5,700 people and opened in 1989. It is constructed almost entirely of aluminum and was built as the home of the Canton–Akron Indians, the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, which played at the ballpark from 1989 to 1996. The team moved to a new downtown ballpark in Akron and was renamed the Akron Aeros prior to the start of the 1997 season.
Following the departure of the Indians, Thurman Munson Stadium became the home of the Canton Crocodiles, a team of the independent Frontier League, through 2001. Prior to the 2002 season, the Crocodiles moved to Washington, Pennsylvania, and became the Washington Wild Things. They were replaced by the Canton Coyotes, also of the Frontier League. After one season in Canton, the Coyotes moved to Columbia, Missouri, and became the Mid-Missouri Mavericks.
Tenants
[edit]The stadium currently serves as home for the Ohio Men's Senior Baseball League, an amateur adult baseball league whose offices are housed in the stadium. It also serves as the home field for the Canton McKinley High School baseball team, as well as the Malone Pioneers baseball team from Malone University. Malone played home games at the ballpark from 2008 through the 2015 season, and returned in 2021 after playing home games primarily at nearby Jackson High School from 2016 through the 2020 season. The ballpark, leased and managed by the Ohio Men's Senior Baseball League, hosts additional high school games and tournaments throughout the season.
Canton McKinley began using the stadium for all home baseball games in 2016 and made the change permanent in 2021. As part of a 25-year lease with the city of Canton signed in 2021, the Canton City Schools also funded several upgrades to the stadium.[3]
Notes
[edit]- ^ "Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium". Stark County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
- ^ "Jackson High School Baseball Field".
- ^ Weir, Kelli (January 5, 2021). "Thurman Munson Stadium undergo significant upgrades". Canton Repository. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- ballparkreviews.com Stadium profile at ballparkreviews.com
- minorleagueballparks.com Stadium profile at minorleagueballparks.com
40°46′18″N 81°22′58″W / 40.771653°N 81.382819°W
- Minor league baseball venues
- Sports in Canton, Ohio
- Baseball venues in Ohio
- Canton-Akron Indians
- Buildings and structures in Canton, Ohio
- 1989 establishments in Ohio
- Sports venues completed in 1989
- College baseball venues in the United States
- Midwestern United States baseball venue stubs
- Ohio sports venue stubs