Dimensions: left field – 335; center field – 400; right
field – 330.
Considered one of the three
oldest minor league stadium, Municipal Stadium has been the host of several
Hagerstown teams over the years at various levels. The stadium has a nostalgic
and intimate feel. It continues to have a hand-operated scoreboard over the
left field fence, which is good because the video board frequently has problems.
Among the teams that played at Municipal Stadium were the Hagerstown Owls
(1941-49) and the Hagerstown Braves (1950-53), both of the Class B Interstate
League.
According to historical signs
inside, Municipal Stadium hosted a number of Negro League teams, including the
Indianapolis Clowns, Homestead Grays and the Pittsburgh Crawfords.
In 1990, the sitting President
of the United States, George H.W. Bush, attended a Hagerstown Suns game at
Municipal Stadium.
In September 2010 the new owners
of the Suns announced that they would try to make the team successful and
upgrade the stadium to maintain the Nationals affiliation. It was the first
time that there was local ownership since 1993. In an effort to upgrade the
stadium, a new field was to be installed and in doing so, “work will be done to
get rid of the legendary hump in left field by removing a huge rock deposit to
make the surface level.”
Prior to the construction of
Municipal Stadium, Hagerstown was the home of the Hagerstown Hubs, a member of
the Class D Blue Ridge League. The Hubs played games at Willow Lane Park, where
Bester Elementary School is currently located.
Retired numbers: 42 (Jackie Robinson), 24 (Willie Mays),
50 (John Henry Moss, South Atlantic League President), Adenhart (a major league rookie from
Hagerstown who was killed in an automobile accident early in his rookie year in
2009).
Mascot: Woolie
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