Dodd Stadium, Norwich Navigators: The Navigators are gone, replaced by the Class A Connecticut Tigers, but Dodd Stadium endures. It's a very nice ballpark in a very odd location. It's way in the back of an industrial park, so there's nothing really near the ballpark other than office buildings. I do have a great story about Dodd Stadium, though. The Navigators were a Yankees farm team, and I ran a group outing to the ballpark for the New England area Starfleet chapters in 1997. I had to go down to Norwich to pick up the tickets before the day of the game, so A. and I decided to make a day of it. We stopped at the ballpark to meet the group sales manager, went to the casino for a few hours and then went to the ballgame that evening. When we got to the ballpark, we chatted with the group sales manager and she found out that I was a Red Sox fan. So she tells me that the Yankees 1996 World Series trophy was going to be at the game that night and that it was the only way I would have a chance to see one! It took seven years, but she was eventually proved wrong.
Yale Field, New Haven Ravens: Historic Yale Field was a great take. It's a classic old ballpark and was a fun place to watch a ballgame. It's also the site of this famous picture of Babe Ruth with future president George H. W. Bush.
New Britain Stadium, New Britain Rock Cats: New Britain Stadium is typical of most of the newer minor league ballparks built in the last 20 years or so. It seats around 7,500, has lots of exposed brick, and good sightlines. The Rock Cats are the AA affiliate of the Twins, and with Minnesota's productive farm system there's a pretty good chance you will see a future star at the ballpark. Recent alumni include Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Torii Hunter and David Ortiz.
More minor league ballparks to come!
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