Jack Russell Memorial Stadium

Home plate entrance to Jack Russell Memorial Stadium, Aug-2003.

Looking in from the left-field line.

Like many fields, this one points northeast.

• Location: Greenwood and Seminole avenues, Clearwater, Fla.
• Opened: 1955
• Closed: 2003 (for pro baseball)
• Demolished: 2007 (main grandstand only)
• Home team: Clearwater Phillies, Florida State League (1985-2003); spring training, Philadelphia Phillies (1955-2003)
• Capacity: 6,917

Chronological Tour: Stop 254

Rating: 3 baseballs

The park was named after a 15-year major league pitcher who came to settle in Clearwater and spearheaded the stadium construction drive. It consists of a lower section with stadium seats, as well as an upper section of aluminum seating that reminded me of The Diamond in Richmond, Va., and aluminum bleachers down the lines. A section along the third-base line had been converted into a picnic pavilion. The field faces a rather conventional northeast.

I saw the penultimate game at the park. The next night, Robin Roberts, among others, was to make a special appearance to close the park; however, I had other plans.

A note of irony accompanies the closing of the park. Wilbur Snapp was the organist at Jack Russell Stadium for two decades; in 1985 he was ejected by the umpires when he played “Three Blind Mice” after a particularly contentious call. He died 6-Sep-2003, exactly two weeks after his beloved ballpark shut down.

The main grandstand was torn down in July 2007, but the field continues to host amateur games, including the occasional college game. The aluminum bleachers down the lines are intact.