Coordinates: 42°27′44″N 73°15′09″W / 42.462319°N 73.252582°W / 42.462319; -73.252582 Wahconah Park is a city-owned baseball park located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and nestled in a working class neighborhood. One of the last remaining ballparks in the United States with a wooden grandstand, it was constructed in 1919 and seats 4,500. The stadium has been home to the Pittsfield Dukes of the New England Collegiate Baseball League since 2005. Through the park's history, 201 different Pittsfield players went on to the Major Leagues, and 100 different Pittsfield players already had some Major League experience. At the end of the 2003 season, the Berkshire Black Bears did not renew their lease. Jim Bouton proposed to renovate the park without any public dollars and bring professional baseball back. On July 3, 2004, a record crowd of 5,000 attended a vintage baseball game that he organized at Wahconah Park between Pittsfield and Hartford, a game telecast live for over four hours on ESPN Classic as America's Pastime: Vintage Baseball, Live. Commentators included Bouton, Bill Lee, actor Tim Robbins, and baseball historians John Thorn and David Pietrusza. Pittsfield politics intervened and Bouton was forced out, a saga which was described in Bouton's new book, "Foul Ball plus Part II," published in paperback by Lyons Press in 2005. In 2005, Pittsfield city officials reached an agreement with Dan Duquette for the Pittsfield Dukes, a New England Collegiate Baseball League summer team, to play at Wahconah Park. During the 2007 season, the Dukes attracted a season attendance of 28,955 through 21 home games, averaging 1,378 fans per game. The agreement between the Dukes and the city of Pittsfield was jeopardized prior to the 2008 season when it was reported that the Dukes owed thousands of dollars in back maintenance fees, however Duquette and city officials reached a consensus that permitted the Dukes to continue play. Field dimensions are 334' to left field, 374' to center field, and 333' to right field. Because the field was constructed before the advent of field lighting, no harm was seen in orienting the diamond due west. One of only two professionally used parks in the U.S. today facing west (the other being Sam Lynn Ballpark in Bakersfield, California built in 1941), games are sometimes temporarily suspended while the sun sets. Lights were not installed until 1946. In 1989 a mesh screen was placed in center field to help shield batters’ eyes. In 1927, a dike was installed on the Housatonic River in an attempt to prevent recurrent flooding. In the summer, concerts are held in Wahconah Park. Most recently, Bob Dylan performed there. It is also home to Varsity Football games for Pittsfield area high schools. In the fall of 2008 Dan Duqette partnered with the Nokona glove company and the U.S. Army USA team to create the Pittsfield American Defenders. Also, Wahconah Park was renamed to Nokona Stadium at Wahconah Park. Nokona is the only glove maker to produce in the United States. With the newly received money Wahconah Stadium is getting a much needed makeover. A brand new infield was constructed this fall. The stadium is getting all new bathrooms, stadium offices and press box. On May 3, 2009, Williams College and Amherst College alumni played a game of vintage baseball at Wahconah Park according to 1859-rules to commemorate the 150th-anniversary of the first college baseball game played on July 2, 1859 between the two schools. Amherst-almnus Dan Duquette was instrumental in organizing the event. [1] [edit] Professional Teams at Wahconah Park [edit] Future Major League Pittsfield players - Lew Wendell, Electrics (1913)
- Pat Parker, Electrics (1914)
- Otto Rettig, Electrics (1914)
- Cliff Brady, Hillies (1919-20)
- Paddy Smith, Hillies (1920)
- Charlie Hargreaves, Hillies (1921-1922)
- Bob Barrett, Hillies (1923)
- Joe Batchelder, Hillies (1923, 1926)
- Si Rosenthal, Hillies (1923)
- Ed Taylor, Hillies (1923)
- Clay Van Alstyne, Hillies (1923-1924)
- Earl Webb, Hillies (1923-1924)
- Chick Autry, Hillies (1924)
- Hal Goldsmith, Hillies (1924)
- Mule Haas, Hillies (1924)
- Ike Kamp, Hillies (1924)
- Hunter Lane, Hillies (1924)
- Art Mills, Hillies (1924-1926)
- Joe Benes, Hillies (1925)
- Bill Cronin, Hillies (1926)
- Paul Richards, Hillies (1926)
- Charlie Bates, Hillies (1927)
- Joe Cascarella, Hillies (1927-1928)
- Augie Walsh, Hillies (1927)
- Jack Burns, Hillies (1928)
- Ed Connolly, Hillies (1928-1929)
- George Loepp, Hillies (1928)
- John Shea, Hillies (1928-1929)
- Joe Cicero, Hillies (1929)
- Ed Durham, Hillies (1929)
- Frank Mulroney, Hillies (1929)
- Owen Kahn, Hillies (1930)
- Jorge Comellas, Electrics (1941)
- Walt Linden, Electrics (1941)
- John O'Neil, Electrics (1942)
- Al Rosen, Electrics (1946)
- Hal Naragon, Electrics (1947)
- Jim Lemon, Electrics (1948)
- Don Minnick, Indians (1949)
- Brooks Lawrence, Indians (1950)
- Stan Pawloski, Indians (1950)
- Dick Tomanek, Indians (1950)
- Chris Coletta, Red Sox (1965-1969)
- Pete Magrini, Red Sox (1965)
- Al Montreuil, Red Sox (1965-1968)
- Jerry Moses, Red Sox (1965-1967)
- George Scott, Red Sox (1965)
- Reggie Smith, Red Sox (1965)
- Gary Waslewski, Red Sox (1965)
- Fred Wenz, Red Sox (1965)
- Billy Conigliaro, Red Sox (1966, 1968)
- Carmen Fanzone, Red Sox (1966-1968)
- Jerry Janeski, Red Sox (1966, 1968)
- Sparky Lyle, Red Sox (1966)
- Bobby Mitchell, Red Sox (1966-1967)
- Bob Montgomery, Red Sox (1966)
- Ken Wright, Red Sox (1966-1968)
- Ken Brett, Red Sox (1967)
- Russ Gibson, Red Sox (1967)
- Ron Klimkowski, Red Sox (1967)
- Ed Phillips, Red Sox (1967)
- Ken Poulsen, Red Sox (1967)
- Luis Alvarado, Red Sox (1968)
- Dick Baney, Red Sox (1968)
- Mark Schaeffer, Red Sox (1968)
- Carlton Fisk, Red Sox (1969)
- Buddy Hunter, Red Sox (1969)
- Bill Lee, Red Sox (1969)
- Rick Miller, Red Sox (1969)
- Dick Mills, Red Sox (1969)
- Larry Biittner, Senators (1970)
- Don Castle, Senators (1970)
- Dave Moates, Senators (1970-1972)
- Rick Stelmaszek, Senators (1970)
- John Wockenfuss, Senators & Rangers (1970-1972)
- Steve Foucault, Senators (1970)
- Bill Gogolewski, Senators (1970)
- Rick Henninger, Senators & Rangers (1970-1971)
- Jeff Terpko, Senators & Rangers (1970-1971, 1974)
- Mike Thompson, Senators (1970)
- Bill Fahey, Rangers (1971)
- Jim Kremmel, Rangers (1971-1972)
- Joe Lovitto, Rangers (1971)
- Bill Madlock, Rangers (1971-1972)
- Rick Waits, Rangers (1971-1972)
- Jim Kremmel, Rangers (1971-1972)
- Lew Beasley, Rangers (1972-1975)
- Roy Howell, Rangers (1972-1973)
- Pete Mackanin, Rangers (1972)
- Greg Pryor, Rangers (1972, 1974)
- Tom Robson, Rangers (1972-1973)
- Dave Criscione, Rangers (1973)
- Mike Cubbage, Rangers (1973)
- Ken Pape, Rangers (1973-1974)
- Jim Sundberg, Rangers (1973)
- Stan Thomas , Rangers(1973)
- Doug Ault, Rangers (1974-1975)
- Brian Doyle, Rangers (1974)
- Ron Pruitt, Rangers (1974)
- Jim Umbarger, Rangers (1974)
- Len Barker, Rangers (1975)
- Tommy Boggs, Rangers (1975)
- Dan Duran, Rangers (1975)
- Greg Mahlberg, Rangers (1975)
- John Poloni, Rangers (1975)
- Keith Smith, Rangers (1975)
- John Sutton, Rangers (1975)
- Bump Wills, Rangers (1975)
- Dick Davis, Brewers (1976)
- Greg Erardi, Brewers (1976)
- Gary Holle, Brewers (1976)
- Dan Thomas, Brewers (1976)
- Gary Beare, Brewers (1976)
- Barry Cort, Brewers (1976)
- Sam Hinds, Brewers (1976)
- Johnny Abrego, Cubs (1985)
- Mike Brumley, Cubs (1985)
- Mike Capel, Cubs (1985-1986)
- Steve Engel, Cubs (1985)
- Darrin Jackson, Cubs (1985-1986)
- Jamie Moyer, Cubs (1985)
- Gary Varsho, Cubs (1985-1986)
- Rich Amaral, Cubs (1986-1988)
- Damon Berryhill, Cubs (1986)
- Drew Hall, Cubs (1986)
- Les Lancaster, Cubs (1986)
- Greg Maddux, Cubs (1986)
- Mike Martin, Cubs (1986)
- Paul Noce, Cubs (1986)
- Rafael Palmeiro, Cubs (1986)
- Rolando Roomes, Cubs (1986-1987)
- Phil Stephenson, Cubs (1986)
- Doug Dascenzo, Cubs (1987)
- Mark Grace, Cubs (1987)
- Dave Pavlas, Cubs (1987)
- Jeff Pico, Cubs (1987)
- Laddie Renfroe, Cubs (1987-1988)
- Rich Scheid, Cubs (1987-1988)
- Dwight Smith, Cubs (1987)
- Hector Villanueva, Cubs (1987-1988)
- Rick Wrona, Cubs (1987-1988)
- Jim Bullinger, Cubs (1988)
- Joe Girardi, Cubs (1988)
- Mike Harkey, Cubs (1988)
- Joe Kraemer, Cubs (1988)
- Ced Landrum, Cubs (1988)
- Kelly Mann, Cubs (1988)
- Jeff Schwarz, Cubs (1988)
- Jerome Walton, Cubs (1988)
- Dean Wilkins, Cubs (1988)
- Alberto Castillo, Mets (1989-1990)
- Denny Harriger, Mets (1989)
- Pat Howell, Mets (1989)
- John Johnstone, Mets (1989)
- Tito Navarro, Mets (1989)
- Curtis Pride, Mets (1989)
- Dave Telgheder, Mets (1989)
- Joe Vitko, Mets (1989)
- Alan Zinter, Mets (1989)
- Jeromy Burnitz, Mets (1990)
- Mike Thomas, Mets (1990)
- Pete Walker, Mets (1990)
- Juan Castillo, Mets (1990)
- Micah Franklin, Mets (1991)
- Guillermo Garcia, Mets (1991-1992)
- Ricky Otero, Mets (1991)
- Quilvio Veras, Mets (1991)
- Hector Carrasco, Mets (1991)
- Edgardo Alfonzo, Mets (1992)
- Brian Daubach, Mets (1992)
- Bill Pulsipher, Mets (1992)
- Benny Agbayani, Mets (1993)
- Preston Wilson, Mets (1993)
- Jason Isringhausen, Mets (1993)
- Eric Ludwick, Mets (1993)
- Allen McDill, Mets (1993)
- Jeff Tam, Mets (1993)
- Mike Welch, Mets (1993)
- Jarrod Patterson, Mets (1994)
- Jay Payton, Mets (1994)
- Scott Sauerbeck, Mets (1994)
- Vance Wilson, Mets (1994)
- Terrence Long, Mets (1995)
- Dan Murray, Mets (1995)
- Ramon Tatis, Mets (1995)
- Brandon Villafuerte, Mets (1996)
- A.J. Burnett, Mets (1997)
- Eric Cammack, Mets (1997)
- Leo Estrella, Mets (1997)
- Jason Phillips, Mets (1997)
- Jason Roach, Mets (1997, 2000)
- Earl Snyder, Mets (1998)
- Ty Wigginton, Mets (1998)
- Chris Basak, Mets (2000)
- Jaime Cerda, Mets (2000)
- Jeff Duncan, Mets (2000)
- Philip Barzilla, Astros (2001)
- Brooks Conrad, Astros (2001)
- Charlton Jimerson, Astros (2001)
- Todd Self, Astros (2001)
[edit] Pittsfield players with previous Major League experience - Art Nichols, Electrics (1913)
- Jock Somerlott, Electrics (1913-1914)
- Polly Wolfe, Electrics (1913-1914)
- Bun Troy, Electrics (1914)
- Frank Nicholson, Electrics (1914)
- Joe Birmingham, Hillies (1919-1920)
- Mickey Devine, Hillies (1919)
- Gary Fortune, Hillies (1919)
- Jack Hammond, Hillies (1919-1921)
- Bobby Messenger, Hillies (1919-1920)
- Ty Pickup, Hillies (1919-1920)
- Johnny Tillman, Hillies (1919-1923)
- Lew Wendell, Hillies (1919)
- Frank Kelliher, Hillies (1920)
- Colonel Snover, Hillies (1920-1925)
- Bill McCorry, Hillies (1921-1923)
- Al Pierotti, Hillies (1921-1922)
- Ernie Neitzke, Hillies (1922)
- Danny Silva, Hillies (1922)
- Eddie Zimmerman, Hillies (1922)
- Neal Ball, Hillies (1923)
- Chick Gagnon, Hillies (1923)
- Hal Leathers, Hillies (1923)
- Bunny Roser, Hillies (1923)
- Art Wilson, Hillies (1923)
- Mike Wilson, Hillies (1923)
- Jimmy Esmond, Hillies (1924)
- Waddy Macphee, Hillies (1924-1925)
- Horace Milan, Hillies (1924, 1926)
- Mose Solomon, Hillies (1924)
- Red Torphy, Hillies (1924-1925)
- Shano Collins, Hillies (1925, 1928)
- Lefty Jamerson, Hillies (1925-1926)
- Tom Sullivan, Hillies (1925)
- Augie Swentor, Hillies (1925)
- Rowdy Elliott, Hillies (1926)
- Ken Jones, Hillies (1926)
- Sam Mayer, Hillies (1926, 1929)
- John Perrin, Hillies (1926)
- Red Sheridan, Hillies (1926-1928)
- Ed Sperber, Hillies (1926)
- Dan Woodman, Hillies (1926)
- Ed Baecht, Hillies (1927)
- Harry Baldwin, Hillies (1927-1928)
- Ed Miller, Hillies (1927)
- Frank Parkinson, Hillies (1927-1928)
- Joe Smith, Hillies (1927)
- Red Smith, Hillies (1927)
- Denny Sothern, Hillies (1927)
- Lefty Taber, Hillies (1927)
- Mule Watson, Hillies (1927)
- Frank Bennett, Hillies (1928)
- Herb Bradley, Hillies (1928-1929)
- Ralph Head, Hillies (1928)
- Red Shea, Hillies (1928)
- Charlie Small, Hillies (1928-1930)
- Harry Wilke, Hillies (1928-1930)
- Casper Asbjornson, Hillies (1929)
- Frank Bushey, Hillies (1928-1929)
- Freddie Moncewicz, Hillies (1929)
- Jose Rodriguez, Hillies (1929-1930)
- Pat Simmons, Hillies (1929-1930)
- Carl Sumner, Hillies (1929)
- Hod Lisenbee, Hillies (1929)
- Maurice Archdeacon, Hillies (1930)
- Jim Bishop, Hillies (1930)
- Ray Dobens, Hillies (1930)
- Bob Emmerich, Hillies (1930)
- Bill Holland, Electrics (1941)
- Glenn Spencer, Electrics (1941)
- Tony Rensa, Electrics (1946-1947)
- Gene Hasson, Electrics & Indians (1948-1949)
- Lloyd Brown, Indians (1950)
- Dave Gray, Red Sox (1965)
- Billy Macleod, Red Sox (1965)
- Pete Smith, Red Sox (1965)
- Ed Connolly, Red Sox (1966)
- Bobby Guindon, Red Sox (1966-1968)
- Pete Charton, Red Sox (1967)
- Galen Cisco, Red Sox (1967)
- Billy Gardner, Red Sox (1967, 1969)
- Bill Schlesinger, Red Sox (1967-1968)
- Jose Tartabull, Red Sox (1967)
- Dave Gray, Red Sox (1968-1969)
- Russ Nixon, Red Sox (1968)
- Fred Wenz, Red Sox (1969)
- Tom Parsons, Red Sox (1969)
- Toby Harrah, Senators (1970)
- Gene Martin, Senators (1970)
- Charley Walters, Senators & Rangers (1971-1972)
- Dick Such, Rangers (1973)
- Tommy Cruz, Rangers (1974)
- Marty Martinez, Rangers (1975)
- Lafayette Currence, Brewers (1976)
- Lary Sorensen, Brewers (1976)
- Jeff Cornell, Cubs (1985)
- Steve Hammond, Cubs (1985)
- Jeff Jones, Cubs (1985)
- Dickie Noles, Cubs (1987)
- Al Chambers, Cubs (1988)
[edit] References [edit] External links |
