Post by nutsberryfarm 🏜 on Apr 6, 2019 4:43:26 GMT
ballparkdigest.com/2019/04/05/final-season-for-original-loeb-stadium-underway/
With the launch of high-school play this week, locals are counting down the final days of Loeb Stadium, the former home to Minor League Baseball and Cleveland Indians spring training in Lafayette, IN.
Loeb Stadium opened in 1940 and was host to the Indiana high-school baseball championships, as well as the Lafayette Red Sox (Low A; Mississippi–Ohio Valley League/Midwest League) in 1955-1957; that team eventually ended up as the Lansing Lugnuts after a stop in Waterloo, IA. The ballpark also hosted Cleveland Indians spring training in 1943-1945, when wartime travel restrictions forced teams to train locally instead of warmer-weather climes.) Most recently Loeb Stadium has also served as home to the Lafayette Aviators (summer collegiate; Prospect League), independent-baseball teams and the Colt World Series, a great draw over the years.
But the decision was made to basically build a new ballpark at the Loeb Stadium site, flipping the diamond and constructing a new grandstand in what’s now past center field. The new facility will be smaller than the current Loeb Stadium, seating only about 2,000, with a synthetic turf to allow more use in a longer season.
With the launch of high-school play this week, locals are counting down the final days of Loeb Stadium, the former home to Minor League Baseball and Cleveland Indians spring training in Lafayette, IN.
Loeb Stadium opened in 1940 and was host to the Indiana high-school baseball championships, as well as the Lafayette Red Sox (Low A; Mississippi–Ohio Valley League/Midwest League) in 1955-1957; that team eventually ended up as the Lansing Lugnuts after a stop in Waterloo, IA. The ballpark also hosted Cleveland Indians spring training in 1943-1945, when wartime travel restrictions forced teams to train locally instead of warmer-weather climes.) Most recently Loeb Stadium has also served as home to the Lafayette Aviators (summer collegiate; Prospect League), independent-baseball teams and the Colt World Series, a great draw over the years.
But the decision was made to basically build a new ballpark at the Loeb Stadium site, flipping the diamond and constructing a new grandstand in what’s now past center field. The new facility will be smaller than the current Loeb Stadium, seating only about 2,000, with a synthetic turf to allow more use in a longer season.