Today we get another conference where all the members play baseball. I have to admit, I find it oddly satisfying when I see that. They also currently have ten members, which really does feel like the sweet spot for college conferences, though it seems I'm one of the last people to feel that way. Including the Big South, apparently, because Campbell will be bolting for the CAA after this season. Still, we're looking at how the conference is configured today, so let's go ahead and do that. Campbell Fighting CamelsStadium: Perry Stadium Capacity: 630 Opened: 1940-ish Dimensions: 337 LF, 395 CF, 328 RF Surface: ProGrass Turf Big South Championships: 5 (2013, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022) Big South Tournament Championships: 6 (1988, 1990, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2022) National Titles: 0 Charleston Southern BuccaneersStadium: CSU Ballpark Capacity: 1000 Opened: Unsure, but renovated in 2013 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: Grass Big South Championships: 1 (1996) Big South Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Gardner-Webb Runnin' BulldogsStadium: Moss Stadium Capacity: 550 Opened: 2010 Dimensions: 330 LF, 380 CF, 330 RF (measured in Google Maps) Surface: Synthetic Turf Big South Championships: 0 Big South Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 High Point PanthersStadium: Erath Field Capacity: 550 Opened: 2001 Dimensions: 320 LF, 388 CF, 320 RF (measured in Google Maps) Surface: FieldTurf Big South Championships: 0 Big South Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Longwood LancersStadium: Bolding Stadium Capacity: 500 Opened: 1994 Dimensions: 335 LF, 400 CF, 335 RF Surface: Grass Big South Championships: 0 Big South Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Presbyterian Blue HoseStadium: PC Baseball Complex Capacity: Unsure Opened: "Late 1980's" Dimensions: 325 LF, 400 CF, 325 RF Surface: Grass Big South Championships: 0 Big South Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Radford HighlandersStadium: Carter Stadium Capacity: 800 Opened: 1986 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: Bluegrass Big South Championships: 1 (2015) Big South Tournament Championships: 2 (2015, 2017) National Titles: 0 UNC-Asheville BulldogsStadium: Greenwood Baseball Field Capacity: 300 Opened: 1988 Dimensions: 320 LF, 392 CF, 330 RF (measured in Google Maps) Surface: Grass Big South Championships: 0 Big South Tournament Championships: 1 (2006) National Titles: 0 USC-UpstateStadium: Harley Park Capacity: 500 Opened: 2004 Dimensions: 325 LF, 402 CF, 325 RF Surface: Bermuda Grass Big South Championships: 0 Big South Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Winthrop EaglesStadium: Winthrop Ballpark
Capacity: 1989 Opened: 2000 Dimensions: 325 LF, 390 CF, 325 RF Surface: Grass Big South Championships: 5 (1995, 2001, 2003, 2014, 2017) Big South Tournament Championships: 4 (1985, 1987, 1999, 2005) National Titles: 0 Today we've made our way to the A-Sun. This is one of the rare conferences where all the schools play baseball. That said, there are some changes coming to the conference. Jacksonville St., Kennesaw St., and Liberty are leaving for Conference USA soon, though I believe Liberty is going to continue playing football as an independent. But, you know, the less said about Liberty and schools of its ilk, the better. At least as far I'm concerned. How about we just get to the stadiums before I say something that will get me in trouble? Austin Peay GovernorsStadium: Hand Park Capacity: 777 Opened: 1970 Dimensions: 319 LF, 392 CF, 327 RF Surface: Grass ASUN Championships: 0 ASUN Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Bellarmine KnightsStadium: Knights Field Capacity: 300 Opened: 1954 Dimensions: 355 LF, 380 CF, 335 RF Surface: Grass ASUN Championships: 0 ASUN Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Central Arkansas BearsStadium: Bear Stadium Capacity: 1000 Opened: 2009 Dimensions: 338 LF, 404 CF, 330 RF (measured on Google Maps) Surface: GeoGreen Turf ASUN Championships: 0 ASUN Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Eastern Kentucky ColonelsStadium: Combs Stadium Capacity: 900 Opened: 1966 Dimensions: 330 LF, 415 CF, 340 RF Surface: Synthetic infield, Grass Outfield ASUN Championships: 1 (2022) ASUN Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Florida Gulf Coast EaglesStadium: Swanson Stadium Capacity: 993 Opened: 2004 Dimensions: 330 LF, 397 CF, 330 RF Surface: Grass ASUN Championships: 5 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2019) ASUN Tournament Championships: 1 (2017) National Titles: 0 Jacksonville DolphinsStadium: Sessions Stadium Capacity: 1500 Opened: Unsure, but renovated in 2008 Dimensions: 340 LF, 405 CF, 340 RF Surface: Grass ASUN Championships: 2 (2006, 2017) ASUN Tournament Championships: 5 (1999, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2021) National Titles: 0 Jacksonville St. GamecocksStadium: Abbott Field Capacity: 1000 Opened: 1995 Dimensions: 325 LF, 400 CF, 320 RF Surface: AstroTurf ASUN Championships: 0 ASUN Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Kennesaw St. OwlsStadium: Stillwell Stadium Capacity: 1200 Opened: 1984 Dimensions: 331 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: Grass ASUN Championships: 1 (2016) ASUN Tournament Championships: 2 (2014, 2022) National Titles: 0 Liberty FlamesStadium: Liberty Baseball Stadium Capacity: 2500 Opened: 2013 Dimensions: 329 LF, 398 CF, 323 RF (measured in Google Maps) Surface: AstroTurf ASUN Championships: 1 (2021) ASUN Tournament Championships: 1 (2019) National Titles: 0 Lipscomb BisonsStadium: Dugan Field Capacity: 1500 Opened: 1991 Dimensions: 330 LF, 405 CF, 330 RF Surface: Grass (with some artificial turf around home) ASUN Championships: 1 (2022) ASUN Tournament Championships: 2 (2008, 2015) National Titles: 0 North Alabama LionsStadium: Lane Field Capacity: 750 Opened: 1984 Dimensions: 330 LF, 385 CF, 320 RF Surface: Grass ASUN Championships: 0 ASUN Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 North Florida OspreysStadium: Harmon Stadium Capacity: 1250 Opened: 1988 Dimensions: 325 LF, 400 CF, 325 RF Surface: Grass ASUN Championships: 1 (2015) ASUN Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Queens RoyalsStadium: Tuskaseegee Dreams Field Capacity: Unsure Opened: 2019 (I think) Dimensions: 330 LF, 390 CF, 330 RF (measured in Google Maps) Surface: Grass ASUN Championships: 0 ASUN Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Stetson HattersStadium: Melching Field
Capacity: 2500 Opened: 1999 Dimensions: 335 LF, 403 CF, 335 RF Surface: Grass ASUN Championships: 6 (1989, 1991, 1996, 2007, 2011, 2018) ASUN Tournament Championships: 8 (1988, 1989, 1990, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2016, 2018) National Titles: 0 Today, we're going to look at the The American. This conference is in a real state of flux, but we're going to look at the stadiums as they are today. In the very near future, Cincinnati, UCF, and Houston are leaving for the Big XII, and in their place, UAB, FAU, Charlotte, North Texas, Rice, and UTSA are coming in. So, you know, it doesn't seem like the AAC is going anywhere any time soon. As it exists today, eight of the eleven schools play varsity baseball. Temple dropped baseball in 2014, so that is pretty recent. SMU and Tulsa both dropped baseball in 1980, which is longer ago than I care to admit. And here are the teams that have stuck around. One note off the bat. Cincinnati's field used to be named for Marge Schott. Then Cincinnati wanted to also put Kevin Youkilis' name on the stadium, too. Youkilis is Jewish, though, and if you know about the history of Marge Schott, you might see the problem here. So they just decided to drop the names altogether, which was probably for the best. Also, there is one national title here, and Houston did finish in second place in 1967, so that's worth noting. Cincinnati BearcatsStadium: UC Baseball Stadium Capacity: 3085 Opened: 2004 Dimensions: 325 LF, 400 CF, 325 RF Surface: TriplePlay Turf AAC Championships: 0 AAC Tournament Championships: 1 (2019) National Titles: 0 ECU PiratesStadium: Clark-LeClaire Stadium Capacity: 3000 Opened: 2005 Dimensions: 320 LF, 390 CF, 320 RF Surface: Bermuda Grass AAC Championships: 3 (2019, 2021, 2022) AAC Tournament Championships: 3 (2015, 2018, 2022) National Titles: 0 Houston CougarsStadium: Schroeder Park Capacity: 2500 Opened: 1995 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: FieldTurf AAC Championships: 3 (2015, 2017, 2018) AAC Tournament Championships: 2 (2014, 2017) National Titles: 0 Memphis TigersStadium: FedEx Park Capacity: 2000 Opened: 1972 Dimensions: 318 LF, 380 CF, 317 RF Surface: Grass AAC Championships: 0 AAC Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Tulane Green WaveStadium: Turchin Stadium Capacity: 5000 Opened: 1991 Dimensions: 325 LF, 300 CF, 325 RF Surface: FieldTurf AAC Championships: 1 (2016) AAC Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 UCF KnightsStadium: Euliano Park Capacity: 2600 Opened: 2001 Dimensions: 320 LF, 390 CF, 320 RF Surface: Bermuda Grass AAC Championships: 1 (2017) AAC Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 USF BullsStadium: USF Baseball Stadium Capacity: 1500 Opened: 2011 Dimensions: 325 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: Grass AAC Championships: 0 AAC Tournament Championships: 1 (2021) National Titles: 0 Wichita St. ShockersStadium: Eck Stadium
Capacity: 7851 Opened: 1985 Dimensions: 335 LF, 390 CF, 335 RF Surface: Major Play Turf AAC Championships: 0 AAC Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 1 (1989) Today we're going to look at the America East conference. It's only got nine members to begin with, and only seven of them have varsity baseball teams. That's got to make things awkward for scheduling. New Hampshire and Vermont are the teams without "real" baseball. They dropped the sport in 1997 and 2009 respectively. I should also point out the NJIT doesn't have their own stadium. Instead, they use Kean's field. Which is somewhat by necessity, I'm sure. If you look at NJIT's campus, I have no clue where you would fit a baseball stadium anywhere close. And Newark, NJ, is not exactly known for it's wide open spaces, you know? So you make due. Or maybe you drop baseball. That's been a popular move in the last couple decades. Anyway, here are the stadiums of America East. Albany Great DanesStadium: Varsity Field Capacity: Unknown Opened: Unknown, but renovated in 2004 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: Grass America East Championships: 1 (2007) America East Tournament Championships: 1 (2007) National Titles: 0 Binghamton BearcatsStadium: Bearcats Baseball Complex Capacity: 1000 Opened: Unsure, but renovated in 2012 Dimensions: 315 LF, 390 CF, 315 RF Surface: Synthetic Turf America East Championships: 6 (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2017) America East Tournament Championships: 5 (2009, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2022) National Titles: 0 Bryant BulldogsStadium: Contay Park Capacity: 500 Opened: 2000 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 300 RF Surface: Grass America East Championships: 0 America East Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Maine Black BearsStadium: Mahaney Diamond Capacity: 4400 Opened: 1980 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: FieldTurf America East Championships: 6 (1990, 1991, 1993, 2002, 2013, 2022) America East Tournament Championships: 5 (1993, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2011) National Titles: 0 NJIT HighlandersStadium: Hynes Stadium Capacity: 700 Opened: 2000 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 300 RF Surface: FieldTurf America East Championships: 1 (2021) America East Tournament Championships: 1 (2021) National Titles: 0 UMass-Lowell River HawksStadium: LaLacheur Park Capacity: 4797 Opened: 1998 Dimensions: 337 LF, 400 CF, 301 RF Surface: Grass America East Championships: 0 America East Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 UMBC RetrieversStadium: The Baseball Factory Field
Capacity: 1000 Opened: 2004 Dimensions: 342 LF, 369 CF, 335 RF (Measured in Google Maps) Surface: Grass America East Championships: 0 America East Tournament Championships: 1 (2017) National Titles: 0 Okay, I've finally broken down and decided to start doing these conferences alphabetically. That means we're going to the A-10, which like most conferences, is a misnomer now. They've got 15 schools, about half of which you really can't tie to the Atlantic at all. It's hard to get too worked up about it, though. Like I just said, every conference is misnamed now. There are three schools that do not sponsor varsity baseball in the A-10. Two of them are pretty recent. La Salle just canceled baseball in 2021, so that one is still stinging, I'm sure. Duquesne dropped baseball in 2010, which isn't so long ago, but long enough that it probably doesn't get talked about a lot. Loyola-Chicago hasn't played baseball since 1925, so I'm guessing they're not sweating it nowadays. As far as teams that do play baseball, most of them are opening their seasons today. Purdue has gone down to Texas to play Holy Cross at Constellation Field, home of the PCL Sugar Land Space Cowboys. If you're reading this blog, you probably know the PCL is AAA baseball, so you can rest assured it is a very nice stadium. Purdue is playing Holy Cross all weekend. One game today, a double-header tomorrow, then another game on Sunday. It isn't just College Opening Day for D1, though. Wabash also opens its season today in Tennessee, at Rhodes College. Though they are at Rhodes, they are actually going to play Augustana at 11:30 Eastern time, which means I'll probably be trying to figure out if I can watch that game as soon as I get this posted. After that, Wabash gets to play UW-Eau Claire, and then they'll finally play the host school on Sunday. I'd say it's funny that I'm far more excited for college baseball than MLB these days, but I actually find it pretty sad. Anyway, before we go too deeply into that rabbit hole, let's get back to what we came here for today. Here are the baseball diamonds of the A-10. Davidson WildcatsStadium: Wilson Field Capacity: 700 Surface: Grass Dimensions: 320 LF, 385 CF, 325 RF Opened: 1967 A-10 Championships: 1 (2022) A-10 Tournament Championships: 1 (2017) National Titles: 0 Dayton FlyersStadium: Woerner Field Capacity: 500 Opened: 2004 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: Synthetic Turf A-10 Championships: 2 (2009, 2012) A-10 Tournament Championships: 1 (2012) National Titles: 0 Fordham RamsStadium: Houlihan Park Capacity: 1000 Opened: 1930 Dimensions: 338 LF, 400 CF, 338 RF Surface: FieldTurf A-10 Championships: 0 A-10 Tournament Championships: 2 (1998, 2019) National Titles: 0 George Mason PatriotsStadium: Spuhler Field Capacity: 900 Opened: 1986 Dimensions: 320 LF, 400 CF, 320 RF Surface: Bermuda Grass A-10 Championships: 0 A-10 Tournament Championships: 1 (2014) National Titles: 0 George Washington ColonialsStadium: Barcroft Park Capacity: 500 Opened: Unsure, but major renovations in 2011 Dimensions: 330 LF, 370 CF, 330 RF Surface: FieldTurf A-10 Championships: 4 (1979, 1989, 1992, 2002) A-10 Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Rhode Island RamsStadium: Beck Field Capacity: 1000 Opened: 1966 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: FieldTurf A-10 Championships: 3 (2006, 2013, 2016) A-10 Tournament Championships: 2 (2005, 2016) National Titles: 0 Richmond SpidersStadium: Pitt Field Capacity: 600 Opened: 1975 Dimensions: 328 LF, 380 CF, 328 RF Surface: Synthetic Turf A-10 Championships: 3 (1997, 1998, 2003) A-10 Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 St. Bonaventure BonniesStadium: Handler Park Capacity: N/A (No permanent seating) Opened: 2006 Dimensions: 330 LF, 403 CF, 330 RF Surface: Sport Turf A-10 Championships: 0 A-10 Tournament Championships: 1 (2004) National Titles: 0 St. Joseph's HawksStadium: Smithson Field Capacity: 400 Opened: 2012 Dimensions: 327 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: AstroTurf A-10 Championships: 0 A-10 Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Saint Louis BillikinsStadium: Billiken Sports Center Capacity: 500 Opened: 1990 Dimensions: 330 LF, 403 CF, 330 RF Surface: Sports Turf infield, Grass outfield A-10 Championships: 5 (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018) A-10 Tournament Championships: 4 (2006, 2010, 2013, 2018) National Titles: 0 UMass MinutemenStadium: Lorden Field Capacity: 1000 Opened: 1971 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: Grass A-10 Championships: 4 (1980, 1994, 1995, 1996) A-10 Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 VCU RamsStadium: The Diamond
Capacity: 12,134 Opened: 1985 Dimensions: 330 LF, 402 CF, 330 RF Surface: Grass A-10 Championships: 3 (2017, 2019, 2021) A-10 Tournament Championships: 3 (2015, 2021, 2022) National Titles: 0 After seeing the MVC going through several changes due to the national upheaval of college conferences recently, let's look at a mid-major conference that has been remarkably stable. The last member to join the MAC was Buffalo in 1998, and they don't even play baseball. That's actually a recent development, too. They didn't stop playing until 2017. Akron also had stopped playing baseball in 2015, but they decided to reinstate the team for 2020. Probably the only notable thing to happen that year. Maybe it's just geography talking, but I really think the MAC is the Platonic ideal of a mid-major conference. Not big enough to go chasing dollars and ending up with a situation like USC and UCLA joining the Big Ten, but good enough to cause trouble (so to speak), so staying put is a more attractive solution than to leave for a bigger conference to act as cannon fodder for bigger schools. Honestly, the MAC probably deserves more respect than it gets. Try to remember that the next time you take in some Tuesday night MAC-tion. But, this is baseball, so, you know, it might be a little harder to catch these stadiums on TV. Which is the whole point of this project, luckily enough! Akron ZipsStadium: Skeeles Field Capacity: 1500 Opened: 1967 Dimensions: 320 LF, 390 CF, 305 RF Surface: Sprinturf Ultrablade MAC Championships: 0 MAC Tournament Championships: 1 (1996) National Titles: 0 Ball St. CardinalsStadium: Ball Diamond Capacity: 1500 Opened: 1971 Dimensions: 325 LF, 400 CF, 325 RF Surface: FieldTurf MAC Championships: 1 (2022) MAC Tournament Championships: 1 (2006) National Titles: 0 Bowling Green FalconsStadium: Stellar Field Capacity: 2500 Opened: 1964 Dimensions: 340 LF, 400 CF, 340 RF Surface: Grass MAC Championships: 5 (1972, 1995, 2002, 2008, 2009) MAC Tournament Championships: 3 (1998, 1999, 2013) National Titles: 0 Central Michigan ChippewasStadium: Theunissen Stadium Capacity: 2046 Opened: 2002 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: Grass MAC Championships: 15 (1977, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 2004, 2010, 2015, 2019, 2021) MAC Tournament Championships: 4 (1994, 1995, 2019, 2022) Eastern Michigan EaglesStadium: Oestrike Stadium Capacity: 2500 Opened: 1971 Dimensions: 340 LF, 390 CF, 325 RF Surface: AstroTurf infield, Grass outfield MAC Championships: 5 (1975, 1976, 1978, 1982, 2008) Mac Tournament Championships: 4 (1981, 1982, 2003, 2008) National Titles: 0 Kent St. Golden FlashesStadium: Schoonover Stadium Capacity: 500 Opened: 1966 Dimensions: 327 LF, 410 CF, 320 RF (Measured in Google Maps) Surface: Shaw Sports Turf MAC Championships: 15 (1964, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018) MAC Tournament Championships: 12 (1992, 1993, 1994, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2018) National Titles: 0 Miami RedHawksStadium: Hayden Park Capacity: 600 Opened: 2002 Dimensions: 333 LF, 400 CF, 347 RF (Measured in Google Maps) Surface: Artificial Turf MAC Championships: 5 (1973, 1974, 1979, 1983, 2005) MAC Tournament Championships: 3 (1983, 2000, 2005) National Titles: 0 Northern Illinois Huskies Stadium: McKinzie Field Capacity: 1500 Opened: 1965 Dimensions: 312 LF, 395 CF, 322 RF Surface: Grass MAC Championships: 0 MAC Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Ohio BobcatsStadium: Wren Stadium Capacity: 2000 Opened: 1998 Dimensions: 340 LF, 405 CF, 340 RF Surface: Artificial Turf infield, Grass outfield MAC Championships: 15 (1947, 1948, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1959, 1960, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1991, 1997) MAC Tournament Championships: 3 (1997, 2015, 2017) National Titles: 0 Toledo RocketsStadium: Scott Park Capacity: 1000 Opened: 1921 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: Grass MAC Championships: 0 Mac Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Western Michigan Broncos Stadium: Hyames Field
Capacity: 1500 Opened: 1939 (Hosted first two College World Series) Dimensions: 310 LF, 395 CF, 335 RF Surface: Grass MAC Championships: 14 (1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1989) MAC Tournament Championships: 1 (2016) Before I get into anything else today, I should point out something that I had completely forgotten about the other day. The Big XII already has an expansion plan in place, which I think will take effect in the fall. Cincinnati, Houston, BYU, and UCF are coming in, so I guess that secures their future for now. It doesn't seem right that a twelve team league is now small, but it's certainly enough to be viable. Speaking of leagues that have been really shaken up, the MVC of today bears very little resemblance to the league as it existed ten or twenty years ago. No more Creighton, no more Wichita St. No more Loyola-Chicago, either, though they weren't exactly a long-term member. In their place, we have Valpo, Belmont, and UIC. And Murray St., too. I can't decide if this is pulling colleges upward in competition, or if it's making this schools more mid than major. I suppose only time will tell. Anyway, as far as baseball is concerned, Drake and Northern Iowa do not sponsor varsity baseball here. Drake has not played in quite some time, giving up baseball in 1974. Northern Iowa only lost baseball in 2009. As will typically be the case now that we're into smaller conferences, there aren't any national titles here, but SIU was the runner-up in both 1968 and 1971, which seems worth noting. They also lost to USC both times, which is nothing to be ashamed of. Belmont BruinsStadium: Rose Park Capacity: 750 Opened: Unsure, but heavily renovated in 2011 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: Synthetic Turf MVC Championships: 0 MVC Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Bradley BravesStadium: Dozer Park Capacity: 8500 Opened: 2002 Dimensions: 310 LF, 400 CF, 310 RF Surface: Grass MVC Championships: 13 (1926, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1937, 1942, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1968) MVC Tournament Championships: 5 (1950, 1956, 1959, 1962, 1968) National Titles: 0 Evansville Purple AcesStadium: Braun Stadium Capacity: 1200 Opened: 1999 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: Astroturf MVC Championships: 2 (2006, 2014) MVC Tournament Championships: 1 (2006) National Titles: 0 Illinois St. RedbirdsStadium: Bass Field Capacity: 1000 Opened: 1988 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 300 RF Surface: AstroTurf infield, Grass outfield MVC Championships: 0 MVC Tournament Championships: 2 (1994, 2010) National Titles: 0 Indiana St. SycamoresStadium: Warn Field Capacity: 2500 Opened: 1978 Dimensions: 340 LF, 402 CF, 340 RF Surface: Artificial Turf infield, Grass outfield MVC Championships: 4 (1982, 1983, 1985, 2012) MVC Tournament Championships: 7 (1979, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1995, 2019) National Titles: 0 Missouri St. BearsStadium: Hammons Field Capacity: 7986 Opened: 2004 Dimensions: 315 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: Grass MVC Championships: 6 (2001, 2003, 2009, 2015, 2017, 2018) MVC Tournament Championships: 5 (1996, 1997, 2015, 2018, 2022) National Titles: 0 Murray St. RacersStadium: Reagan Field Capacity: 800 Opened: 1989 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: Grass MVC Championships: 0 MVC Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Southern Illinois SalukisStadium: Itchy Jones Stadium Capacity: 2000 Opened: 2014 Dimensions: 330 LF, 390 CF, 330 RF Surface: AstroTurf MVC Championships: 9 (1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1990, 2022) MVC Tournament Championships: 4 (1977, 1978, 1981, 1990) National Titles: 0 UIC FlamesStadium: Granderson Stadium Capacity: 1000 Opened: 1996 Dimensions: 330 LF, 401 CF, 330 RF Surface: Synthetic Turf MVC Championships: 0 MVC Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Valparaiso BeaconsStadium: Bauer Field
Capacity: 500 Opened: 1970 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 300 RF (Measured in Google Maps) Surface: Synthetic Turf infield, Grass outfield MVC Championships: 0 MVC Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Today I've decided to look at the Ivy League. This is all on a whim at this point, so there's no use in asking me why I decided on one conference over another now. So, today's whim says we're going to look at the supposedly brightest schools in the country today. The Ivy League de-emphasized athletics some time ago, so don't expect these fields to be quite up the level of the power conference schools that we've been looking at. It's interesting all the same to me, though. No Ivy has ever won a baseball national championship, though Yale was the runner-up in 1947 and 1948, which happen to be the first two national championships tournaments and the only ones not to be held in Omaha. Those two were held in Kalamazoo, MI. All the Ivies have varsity baseball, which makes it a bit of an outlier. Still seems appropriate for schools that are so intertwined with the history of America, though, don't you think? Brown BearsStadium: Murray Stadium Capacity: 1000 Opened: 1959 Dimensions: 343 LF, 391 CF, 341 RF Surface: Synthetic Turf (could not find anything more specific than that) Ivy League Championships: 2 (1952, 2007) Ivy League Series Championships: 1 (2007) National Titles: 0 Columbia LionsStadium: Satow Stadium Capacity: 1500 Opened: 1923 Dimensions: 331 LF, 352 CF, 331 RF (Measured with Google Maps) Surface: FieldTurf Ivy League Championships: 2 (1933, 2022) Ivy League Series Championships: 6 (2008, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2022) National Titles: 0 Cornell Big RedStadium: Hoy Field Capacity: 500 Opened: 1922 Dimensions: 315 LF, 405 CF, 325 RF Surface: FieldTurf Ivy League Championships: 6 (1940, 1952, 1972, 1977, 1980, 2012) Ivy League Series Championships: 1 (2012) National Titles: 0 Dartmouth Big GreenStadium: Biondi Park Capacity: 650 Opened: Unsure, but had major renovations in 2009 Dimensions: 324 LF, 403 CF, 342 RF Surface: FieldTurf Ivy League Championships: 12 (1930, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1948, 1963, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1987, 2009, 2010) Ivy League Series Championships: 2 (2009, 2010) National Titles: 0 Harvard CrimsonStadium: O'Donnell Field Capacity: 1600 Opened: 1898 Dimensions: 335 LF, 415 CF, 335 RF Surface: Grass Ivy League Championships: 21 (1936, 1939, 1955, 1958, 1964, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2019) Ivy League Series Championships: 6 (1997, 1998, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2019) National Titles: 0 Penn QuakersStadium: Meiklejohn Stadium Capacity: 856 Opened: 2000 Dimensions: 330 LF, 380 CF, 330 RF Surface: Grass Ivy League Championships: 7 (1931, 1943, 1875, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995) Ivy League Series Championships: 1 (1995) National Titles: 0 Princeton TigersStadium: Clarke Field Capacity: 850 Opened: 1961 Dimensions: 325 LF, 400 CF, 315 RF Surface: Grass Ivy League Championships: 17 (1941, 1942, 1945, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1985, 1991, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2011, 2016) Ivy Series Championships: 8 (1996, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2011, 2016) National Titles: 0 Yale BulldogsStadium: Bush Field
Capacity: 6200 Opened: 1928 Dimensions: 330 LF, 405 CF, 330 RF Surface: FieldTurf Ivy League Championships: 13 (1932, 1937, 1946, 1947, 1956, 1957, 1980, 1981, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2017, 2018) Ivy League Series Championships: 3 (1993, 1994, 2017) With Texas and Oklahoma bolting for the SEC soon, I had to make this post before the conference ceases to exist. If I had to guess, I would say the remaining members of the Pac-12 and the Big XII will merge to make another mega-conference, and "major" college sports will hinge around a big three instead of a big five. And just as the Big XII has been a bit of the odd one out in recent history, the ACC will probably be that going forward. Or maybe the NCAA will take over conferences and force a realignment in much the same way MLB took over minor league baseball and forced their own alignment there. We'll see. For today's post, Iowa St. is the only school in the conference not to have varsity baseball. That team existed until relatively recently, not getting cut until 2001. They won four conference championships while they existed, for whatever that's worth now. Probably not a lot. I am also going to include championships won as part of the old Southwest Conference here, too. I don't know if that's consistent or not, but I'm doing it. Baylor BearsStadium: Baylor Ballpark Capacity: 5000 Opened: 1999 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF. 330 RF Surface: Bermuda Grass Big 12 Championships: 5 (1923, 1966, 2000, 2005, 2012) Big 12 Tournament Championships: 4 (1977, 1978, 1993, 2018) National Titles: 0 Kansas JayhawksStadium: Hoglund Ballpark Capacity: 2500 Opened: 1958 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: AstroTurf Big 12 Championships: 3 (1922, 1923, 1949) Big 12 Tournament Championships: 1 (2006) National Titles: 0 Kansas St. WildcatsStadium: Tointon Stadium Capacity: 2331 Opened: 1961 Dimensions: 340 LF, 400 CF, 325 RF Surface: AstroTurf Big 12 Championships: 6 (1907, 1908, 1928, 1930, 1933, 2013) Big 12 Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Oklahoma SoonersStadium: L. Dale Mitchell Park Capacity: 3180 Opened: 1982 Dimensions: 335 LF, 411 CF, 335 RF Surface: Grass (FieldTurf in foul territory) Big 12 Championships: 21 (1931, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1939, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1951, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1986, 1992, 1995) Big 12 Tournament Championships: 4 (1977, 1997, 2013, 2022) National Titles: 2 (1951, 1994) Oklahoma St. CowboysStadium: O'Brate Stadium Capacity: 3500 Opened: 2021 Dimensions: 331 LF, 402 CF, 325 RF Surface: Grass Big 12 Championships: 21 (1959, 1960, 1961, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2014) Big 12 Tournament Championships: 20 (1978, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2004, 2017, 2019) National Titles: 1 (1959) TCU Horned FrogsStadium: Lupton Stadium Capacity: 4500 Opened: 2003 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: Bermuda Grass Big 12 Championships: 11 (1933, 1956, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1977, 1994, 2015, 2017, 2021, 2022) Big 12 Tournament Championships: 3 (2014, 2016, 2021) National Titles: 0 Texas LonghornsStadium: Disch-Falk Field Capacity: 7373 Opened: 1975 Dimensions: 340 LF, 400 CF, 325 RF Surface: FieldTurf Big 12 Championships: 57 ( 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1930, 1932, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021) Big 12 Tournament Championships: 16 (1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2015) National Titles: 6 (1949, 1950, 1975, 1983, 2002, 2005) Texas Tech Red RaidersStadium: Dan Law Field Capacity: 4432 Opened: 1988 Dimensions: 330 LF, 404 CF, 330 RF Surface: FieldTurf Big 12 Championships: 5 (1995, 1997, 2016, 2017, 2019) Big 12 Tournament Championships: 2 (1995, 1998) National Titles: 0 West Virginia MountaineersStadium: Monogalia County Ballpark
Capacity: 3500 Opened: 2015 Dimensions: 325 LF, 400 CF, 325 RF Surface: AstroTurf Big 12 Championships: 0 Big 12 Tournament Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 Let's keep looking at these stadiums. This series is going to go a while, I'm afraid. Hopefully somebody out there finds this interesting, because it fascinates me, and I clearly write this blog for me. Today we're going to look at the Pac-12. I know this conference at least used to the hold the distinction of having the most national titles of any D1 conference, though I don't know how that holds for baseball. I write these pieces in exactly the order you read them. I write the intro, then get the pictures and the team data as I go along. So I found out all the historical information at the same time you did (relative to reading this piece). So let's dig in! Of the twelve schools, eleven play baseball. Colorado does not have varsity baseball. They discontinued their team after 1980, which was clearly well-before they joined the Pac-12. Also of not, the Pac-12 did not have a conference tournament until the 2022 season. So, as of the time of this writing, Stanford holds the only Pac-12 Tournament Championship. Arizona WildcatsStadium: Hi Corbett Field Capacity: 9500 Opened: 1937 Dimensions: 366 LF, 392 CF, 349 RF Surface: Grass Pac-12 Championships: 7 (1963, 1966, 1974, 1989, 1992, 2012, 2021) National Titles: 4 (1976, 1980, 1986, 2012) Arizona St. Sun DevilsStadium: Phoenix Municipal Stadium Capacity: 8775 Opened: 1964 Dimensions: 345 LF, 410 CF, 345 RF Surface: Grass Pac-12 Championships: 21 (1964, 1965, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1993, 2000, 2007*, 2008, 2009, 2010) National Titles: 5 (1965, 1967, 1969, 1977, 1981) *Vacated by NCAA California Golden BearsStadium: Evans Diamond Capacity: 2500 Opened: 1933 Dimensions: 320 LF, 395 CF, 320 RF Surface: Grass Pac-12 Championships: 12 (1929, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938, 1941, 1945, 1947, 1957, 1960, 1965, 1980) National Titles: 2 (1947, 1957) Oregon DucksStadium: PK Park Capacity: 4000 Opened: 2009 Dimensions: 335 LF, 400 CF, 325 RF Surface: FieldTurf Pac-12 Championships: 14 (1918, 1928, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1946, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957) National Titles: 0 Oregon St. BeaversStadium: Gross Stadium Capacity: 3587 Opened: 1907 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 330 RF Surface: FieldTurf Pac-12 Championships: 26 (1908, 1910, 1913, 1915, 1916, 1925, 1927, 1938, 1940, 1943, 1951, 1952, 1958, 1962, 1963, 1975, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1994, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2014, 2017) National Titles: 3 (2006, 2007, 2018) Stanford CardinalStadium: Klein Field Capacity: 4000 Opened: 1931 Dimensions: 335 LF, 400 CF, 335 RF Surface: Grass Pac-12 Championships: 22 (1924, 1925, 1927, 1931, 1950, 1953, 1966, 1967, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2018, 2022) National Titles: 2 (1987, 1988) UCLA BruinsStadium: Jackie Robinson Stadium Capacity: 1820 Opened: 1981 Dimensions: 330 LF, 390 CF, 330 RF Surface: Grass Pac-12 Championships: 10 (1944, 1969, 1976, 1979, 1986, 2000, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2019) National Titles: 1 (2013) USC TrojansStadium: Dedeaux Field Capacity: 2500 Opened: 1974 Dimensions: 335 LF, 395 CF, 335 RF Surface: Grass Pac-12 Titles: 38 (1930, 1932, 1935, 1936, 1939, 1942, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2002) National Titles: 12 (1948, 1958, 1961, 1963, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1978, 1998) Utah UtesStadium: Smith's Ballpark Capacity: 14,511 Opened: 1994 Dimensions: 345 LF, 420 CF, 315 RF Surface: Grass Pac-12 Championships: 1 (2016) National Titles: 0 Washington HuskiesStadium: Husky Ballpark Capacity: 2500 Opened: 1998 Dimensions: 327 LF, 395 CF, 317 RF Surface: FieldTurf Pac-12 Championships: 2 (1919, 1922) National Titles: 0 Washington St. CougarsStadium: Bailey-Brayton Field
Capacity: 3500 Opened: 1980 Dimensions: 330 LF, 400 CF, 335 RF Surface: AstroTurf Pac-12 Championships: 0 National Titles: 0 |
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