Twins Stadiums

 Metropolitan Stadium – the Twins home from 1961 through 1981

courtesy of the Minnesota Twins

Courtesy of the Minnesota Twins

Met Stadium main entrance

Courtesy of the Minnesota Twins

Cesar Tovar with the Met Stadium scoreboard behind him on September 22, 1968, the day he played all 9 positions. Courtesy of the Minnesota Twins

Met stadium sits empty on April 4, 1982 as the Twins are over at the HHH Metrodome

Met stadium Vikings football configuration

Slide show of an abandoned Met Stadium – source Robin Hanson 

If you were ever at a Minnesota Twins game at Metropolitan Stadium, these pictures may be hard for you to take. Place your cursor over the picture to get additional info.

• Previous
• Next

Met stadium field layout

Metropolitan Stadium was built on a farm in 1956 for the AAA American Association Minneapolis Millers who at that time were playing at old Nicollet Park. It originally consisted of a curved triple-deck grandstand that ran from first base to third base, but there were only temporary bleachers down the third-base line and only fences in the outfield. Metropolitan Stadium was unique in having been the only triple-deck stadium in the minor leagues, and it was only the second such major league stadium — the first being Yankee Stadium. The owner of the New York Giants (the parent team of the Millers) was quote as saying that the Met “is the finest minor league park in the country, and there are not two in the majors that are better.” Met Stadium was the first ballpark using cantilever construction for the decks, thus eliminating posts that would obstruct views. In 1961, when the Washington Senators moved in and became the Twins, permanent bleachers were added along the left field line, a temporary bleacher was installed in left field and the first and second decks were extended down the right field line. The Vikings replaced the temporary left field bleachers with a double-decked left field pavilion in 1965. At the time, its cantilever design was considered revolutionary, with no poles, or pillars to obstruct any views. The NFL Minnesota Vikings shared the stadium with the Twins until both teams moved into the Metrodome for the 1982 seasons.

Met Stadium facts and figures

Location – Bloomington, a suburb about 15 miles south of downtown Minneapolis near the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport.

Architect – Osborn Engineering, officially Osborn Architects & Engineers, is an architectural and engineering firm noted mostly for designing sports stadiums. More than 100 stadiums have been designed by Osborn, including such famous parks as Fenway Park in Boston, Yankee Stadium in New York, Tiger Stadium in Detroit and numerous minor league, collegiate, and major league sports facilities in all sports.

Cost – $8.5 million

Capacity – 18,200 in 1956, 30,637 in 1961, 40,000 in 1964, 45,919 in 1975

Construction started – Ground was broken on June 20, 1955, but not before a farmer named Paul Gerhardt, who had grown onions, melons and sweet corn on the 50-acre parcel he was selling to the committee lined up his farm machinery as a barricade along what would become the first-base line. He hadn’t been paid. And he didn’t start up and motor off until he received his check for $122,000.

Opened – The first game at the Met was played on April 24, 1956 when the AAA Minneapolis Millers (who called the Met home) took on the Wichita Braves in front of over 18,000 fans in 45 degree temperatures in order to see the new ball park.

Surface – Grass

Twins dugout was on the first base side

First Twins game – April 21, 1961

Last Twins game – September 30, 1981

Demolished – 1985 to make way for the Mall of America

Metropolitan Stadium “Firsts”

Ceremonial first pitch - Minnesota Governor Elmer L. Andersen

First regular season game - April 21, 1961 – Washington Senators beat Twins 5-3

Attendance - 24,606

Game time temp – 63 degrees and overcast

Pitcher - Camilo Pascual, Minnesota

Batter - Marty Keough, Washington (single)

First Twins batter - Zoilo Versalles

Hit –  Marty Keough, Wahington, 1st inning

First Twins hit - Reno Bertoia (single, third inning)

Run - Marty Keough, Washington in 1st inning

First Twins run - Don Mincher

Single - Marty Keough, Washington

Double - Lenny Green

Triple - Roy Sievers, White Sox, May 1, 1961

Home run - Dale Long, Washington in 1st inning

First Twins home run - Don Mincher in 4th inning

Inside the park home run - Harmon Killebrew, July 4, 1961

Grand slam home run - Mickey Mantle, Yankees, May 2, 1961

Walk – Danny O’Connell, Washington in 3rd inning

Strikeout - Joe McClain, Washington looking in 3rd inning

Stolen base – Jim Landis, White Sox, April 30, 1961

Sac fly - Zoilo Versalles, April 22, 1961

Sacrifice - Joe McClain, Washington

Cycle – Freddie Patek, Kansas City, July 9, 1971

Winning pitcher - Joe McClain, Washington

Twins win - Saturday, April 22, 1961 in 10 innings – Twins 5 – Senators 4

Shutout – Jack Kralick, April 23, 1961

Save – Dave Sisler, Washington

Hit by pitch - Joe McClain (Washington) hit Lenny Green

Wild pitch - Camilo Pascual, May 2, 1961

Balk – Rudy Hernandez, Washington, April 22, 1961

No-hitter – Jack Kralick, August 26, 1962

Metropolitan Stadium “Lasts”

Final regular season game - September 30, 1981-Kansas City Royals  beat Twins 5-2

Attendance – 15,900

Game time conditions - 56 degrees, cloudy, drizzle

Pitcher - Larry Gura, Kansas City

Batter - Roy Smalley, pop out to ss

Hit - Gary Ward, single

Run - U.L. Washington, Kansas City

Last Twins run – Pete MacKanin

Single –  Gary Ward

Double – U.L. Washington, Kansas City

Triple –  George Brett, Kansas City – September 29, 1981

Home run –  Clint Hurdle, Kansas City

Last Twins home run - Pete MacKanin

Inside the park home run - Mike Cubbage, August 20, 1980

Grand slam home run - Lenny Randle, Seattle Mariners, April 27, 1981

Walk –  Darryl Motley, Kansas City

Strikeout –  Gary Ward

Stolen Base – Ron Washington

Sacrifice - Cesar Geronimo, Kansas City, September 28, 1981

Sacrifice fly - Glenn Adams, September 26, 1981

Cycle – Mike Cubbage, July 27, 1978

Winning pitcher - Larry Gura, Kansas City

Twins winning pitcher - Pete Redfern beat Texas Rangers 5-2 on September 27, 1981

Twins win - September 27, 1981 over Texas Rangers 5-2

Save – Dan Quisenberry, Kansas City, September 29, 1981

Hit by pitch - Pete Redfern hit Tom Poquette, Texas Rangers on September 27, 1981

Balk – Al Williams on September 25, 1981

No-hitter – Jack Kralick on August 26, 1962

Final Playoff Game - October 3, 1970 Twins lost game 2 of ALCS to Baltimore Orioles 10-6

There are some wonderful pictures and stories about Met Stadium on some of the links provided below, I hope you take the time to enjoy them. If you have other pictures of the stadiums or other links, please let me know so we can add them to the list. This is some fun reading, enjoy!

Minnesota Hitorical Society Met Stadium photo’s group 1 – http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/Results.cfm?Page=1&Digital=Yes&Keywords=metropolitan%20stadium&CFID=10961755&CFTOKEN=39325424

Minnesota Hitorical Society Met Stadium photo’s group  2 – http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/Results.cfm?Page=1&Digital=Yes&Keywords=met%20stadium&CFID=10961755&CFTOKEN=39325424

Metropolitan Stadium: Patchwork Glory – http://www.oldmetstadium.com/

SABR – http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=2576&pid=19617

A decade at the Met – http://blog.lib.umn.edu/snackeru/greet/decadeatthemet.pdf

Clem’s Baseball -  http://www.andrewclem.com/Baseball/MetropolitanStadium.html

Ballparks of Baseball http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/past/MetropolitanStadium.htm

MPR: The Beatles play the Met –  http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2007/12/19_Beatles_1965/index.shtml

Ballparks.com – http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/metrop.htm

Twinsbaseball.com – http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/ballpark/min_ballpark_metropolitan_stadium.jsp

mnhs.com – http://collections.mnhs.org/visualresources/results.cfm?Page=1&Keywords=Metropolitan%20Stadium%20Bloomington&SearchType=Basic&CFID=6977187&CFTOKEN=84924688

Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Stadium

Baseball-reference.com – http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Metropolitan_Stadium

Baseball-almanac.com – http://www.baseball-almanac.com/stadium/metropolitan_stadium.shtml

My first ever trip to see a baseball game at Met Stadium was the 1965 All-Star game and it was incredible. We had just graduated from high school and I had already signed up to join the US Navy in August and a couple of us decided we wanted to see the All-Star game, not even thinking about ticket availability. It turned out we were able to get standing room tickets under the left field bleachers. The AL lost 6-5 but we got to see five home runs including one by Harmon Killebrew. Hall of Famers abounded in that game but that is a whole different story. I ended up attending a number of games at the Met and I can remember some really cold and wet days with small crowds as well as those warm and sunny days when you thought that the stands were coming down as the kids pounded the bats they had gotten on bat day against the steel stands, the noise was deafening.

Metropolitan stadium was demolished in 1985 and the Mall of America now stands where Harmon, Tony, Rod, Kitty, Zoilo, Camilo and many other Twins greats once played.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome – the Twins home from 1982 through 2009 

Main gate and plaza area to the right as we get ready to attend a Twins game in August 2009.

Metrodome aerial view from what was considered the back (East side) of the Dome.

Metrodome night shot with Minneapolis skyline in the background.

 

The Metrodome rising from a big hole.

What the future HHH Metrodome looked like in April of 1981 about a year before the Twins played their first game there.

 

Inside the Metrodome. You can see the "baggie" running from right field to right center and the blue roll-out football seats run all the way from the right field corner to left center field. You can see the visitors bullpen mound down the right field line (Twins bullpen was down the left field line but not visible in this picture). The Twins dugout at the Metrodome was on the third base side.

 

Metrodome ceiling with what some have called a "swastika" in the center.You can also see a camera that points straight down on the field and several hanging speakers.

 

Here we have the retractable "curtain" in right field and right center field that was installed prior to the 1996 season to cover some of the unsold seats and to make the large ballpark more cozy. The Twins then added pictures of the players that have had their numbers retired to the curtain. In the lower right you can see the "football" pressbox that was used to seat larger groups attending Twins games. In the extreme lower right corner you can see a portion of the infamous "baggie" that streches to the right field corner. Behind and around the "baggie" are the retractable seats used for the football configuration.

The right field corner next to the foul pole. We had season tickets about 12 or so rows up next to the edge for a number of years before we moved to the first row next to the visitors bullpen.

This is where Kirby Puckett's famous walk-off homerun landed in left-center field in the 11th inning of game 6 of the 1991 World Series.

A fun time-lapse video from 2007 as the Metrodome goes from baseball to football and back to baseball

View the Metrodome in Google Earth 

 

Metrodome Facts & Figures

Architect – Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Located on a 20 acre site in downtown Minneapolis.

Construction began on December 20, 1979

Construction cost: $68 million

Named after Hubert Horatio Humphrey. Humphrey was a former Minneapolis Mayor, U.S. Senator and Vice President of the United States from 1965-69. The stadium was renamed Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome by the NFL Minnesota Vikings in October of 2009 after the Minnesota Twins vacated the premises.

Surface – SporTurf (1982 to 1986), Astroturf (1987 to 2003), FieldTurf (2004 through 2009)

Twins dugout was on the third base side

Bullpens were down the left (Twins) and right (Visitors) field lines

Seating capacity – The arena has 64,000 seats and 98 suites.

Covered by 10 acres of Teflon coated fiberglass panels (106 of them that are 1/16″ thick) that requires 250,000 cubic feet of air pressure per minute to keep the roof inflated. The liner is made of 1/32″ thick woven fiberglass. The roof is supported by 20 electric fans running at 90 horsepower each. It was the only air-supported dome used in baseball.

Height is 195 feet (about 16 stories)

Air conditioning – Although the duct work was in place, the stadium opened without air conditioning and the Metrodome climate was oppressive during the first summer. Air conditioning was installed and was first used in June of 1983.

The right-field wall is 23 feet tall and covered with plastic. Called “the Baggy” and “Hefty Bag” by players, the plastic-coated fence hides 7,600 retractable seats that are used when the stadium is in its football configuration.

The first Twins game was an exhibition game against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 3, 1982.

The first Twins regular season game at the Metrodome was April 6, 1982 versus the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners beat the Twins 11-7.

Ceremonial first pitch – Muriel Humphrey Brown (widow of HHH)

National Anthem singer – Pearl Bailey

Final Twins game – The final Twins game played at the Metrodome was on October 11, 2009, when they lost to the New York Yankees, 4-1, resulting in a 3 games to 0 sweep in the 2009 American League Division Series. The Twins’ appearance in this series gave the Metrodome the distinction of being the first American League stadium to end its major league baseball history with post-season play.

Field dimensions are 343′ down the leftfield line, 385′ to the leftfield power alley, 408′ to dead centerfield, 367′ to the rightfield power alley and 327′ down the line in right. The fence in leftfield and centerfield is 7′ high and the one in rightfield is 23′ high, including 16′ of plastic tarp installed in 1983. Leftfield had a 6′ plexiglas extension from 1983-93, but it was removed prior to the ’94 season.

The pitcher’s mound, weighing 23,000 pounds, was powered by an electric motor and could be raised and lowered at the push of a button.

Twins record at the Dome – 1,214 wins and 1,028 losses

Metrodome “First’s”

First regular season game: April 6, 1982 vs. Seattle (Seattle 11, Minnesota 7)

Attendance: 52,279

Game time temperature: 70 inside and 28 outside

Pitcher: Pete Redfern, Minnesota

Batter: Julio Cruz, Seattle (struck out)

First Twins batter: Jim Eisenreich (grounded out)

Hit: Solo home run by Dave Engle, Minnesota, 1st inning

Run: Engle in 1st inning

Single: Jim Maler, Seattle, 3rd inning

Double: Manny Castillo, Seattle, 3rd inning

Triple: Gary Gaetti, Minnesota, 2nd inning

Home run: Dave Engle in 1st inning

Inside the park home run:  Tom Brunansky, May 28, 1982

Grand slam: Gary Ward, May 10, 1982, off Boston’s Mike Torrez

Walk: Manny Castillo in 5th inning

Strikeout: Julio Cruz in 1st inning

Stolen base: Julio Cruz in 5th inning

Sac fly:  Bruce Bochte

Sacrifice:  Rick Burleson, April 10, 1982

Hit for the cycle: Kirby Puckett, August 1, 1986

Winning pitcher: Floyd Bannister, Seattle

First Twins win: Wednesday, April 7, 1982 (Minnesota 7, Seattle 5)

Shutout: Larry Sorensen, May 25, 1982

Save: Mike Stanton

Hit by pitch: Roger Erickson hit Julio Cruz, May 7, 1982

Wild pitch: Pete Redfern

Balk:  Doug Corbett, April 14, 1982

No hitter: Scott Erickson, April 27, 1994

Metrodome “Last’s”

Final regular season game: October 6, 2009 vs. Detroit Tigers (6-5 win vs. Detroit – 12 innings in game #163)

Last regular season game attendance: 54,088

Game time temperature: 68 inside and 43 outside

Pitcher: Fernando Rodney, Detroit

Batter: Alexi Casilla (walk-off single)

Twins batter: Alexi Casilla (walk-off single)

Hit: Single by Alexi Casilla, 12th inning

Run: Carlos Gomez, 12th inning

Single: Alexi Casilla, 12th inning

Double: Brandon Inge, Detroit, 10th inning

Triple: Alberto Callaso, Kansas City, October 4

Home run: Magglio Ordonez, Detroit, 8th inning

Inside the park home run: Joe Mauer, July 21, 2007

Grand slam: Delmon Young, October 2 off Lenny DiNardo

Walk: Delmon Young, 12th inning

Strikeout: Gerald Laird, Detroit, 12th inning

Stolen base: Carlos Gomez, October 4

Sacrifice: Denard Span

Sac fly: Matt Tolbert, October 2, 2009

Hit for cycle: Michael Cuddyer, May 22, 2009

Winning pitcher: Bobby Keppel

Twins win: October 6 in game 163 (Minnesota 6, Detroit 5)

Save – Joe Nathan, October 3, 2009

Hit by pitch: Jesse Crain hit Aubrey Huff

Balk: Jesse Crain, May 13, 2009

No hitter: Eric Milton, September 11, 2009

Final regular season scheduled game: October 4, 2009 vs. Kansas City Royals – a 13-4 win

Final playoff game: October 11, 2009 vs. New York Yankees (4-1 loss and ALDS series loss to Yankees 3 games to zip)

There are some wonderful pictures and stories about the HHH Metrodome on some of the links provided below, I hope you take the time to enjoy them. If you have other pictures of the stadiums or other links, please let me know so we can add them to the list. This is some fun reading, enjoy!

The Metrodome – by Scott Miller of cbssports.com – http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/12148420  (You want to read this article for sure)

The Metrodome and its legal issues – http://hennepin.timberlakepublishing.com/article.asp?article=1130&paper=1&cat=147

SABR – http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=2575&pid=19618

Minnesota Spots Facilities Comm. – http://www.msfc.com/about.cfm

Twinsbaseball.com –  http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/ballpark/min_ballpark_history.jsp

Clem’s baseball – http://www.andrewclem.com/Baseball/Metrodome.html

Ballpark’s of Baseball – http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/past/Metrodome.htm

Ballparks.com – http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/american/metrod.htm

Wikipedia.com – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubert_H._Humphrey_Metrodome

Coffeyville Whirlwind.com http://coffeyvillewhirlwind.wordpress.com/2005/11/19/hhh-metrodome-a-ballpark-review/

ESPN.com – http://espn.go.com/page2/s/ballparks/metrodome.html

Baseballroadtrip.net – http://www.baseballroadtrip.net/Major/American/Minnesota/Minnesota.html

SI.com – http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/09/11/fvi.twins/index.html

Columbia.edu – http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gsapp/BT/DOMES/METRODM/m-fabric.html

Usatoday.com – http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/baseball/2008-03-27-Metrodome_N.htm

Cooloftheevening.com – http://www.cooloftheevening.com/metrodome.htm

Stadium Hotel Network – http://humphrymetrodome.stadiumhotelnetwork.com/information.html

Findballparks.com – http://www.findballparks.com/ballparks/minnesota_twins/

MN Legislative Resources Library – http://www.leg.state.mn.us/lrl/issues/issues.aspx?issue=Baseball

Baseball-reference.com – http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Metrodome

SI Vault – http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125435/1/index.htm

 After the Twins left the Metrodome after the 2009 baseball season, the Mall of America Field as it is now known, fell on some tough times. Here are some pictures of what transpired.

Metrodome roof collapses for the fourth time on December 12, 2010 after 17″ snowfall.

Metrodome before and after the big collapse

Metrodome collapsed interior

 Video of Metrodome roof collapse

 …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

 Target Field – the Twins current home since 2010

1 Twins Way

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403

Twins ticket offices – 290 7th Street North

Twins Executive offices – 353 5th Street North

 

 Click on the MBA logo above to see video’s about the building of Target Field

June 28, 2007 – the property where Target Field would be built

Time lapse video of Target Field being built

Target Field August 30, 2009

A cold and snow covered Target Field (December 26, 2009) awaits spring and baseball

Target Field at night on March 23, 2010 and baseball is just around the corner

©2010 Bergerson Photography – Flyover on opening day April 12, 2010

 

©2010 Bergerson Photography – First pitch on opening day April 12, 2010

 

©2010 Bergerson Photography - A different angle on opening day April 12, 2010

 

©2010 Bergerson Photography - Night baseball April 20, 2010

Target Field Bullpens in left center field

The infamous fourteen Target Field Black Spruce trees in center field. These trees were removed in February of 2011 due to complaints from the Twins hitters who called them "distractions". The hitters also complained about the "batters eye" and it was repainted with an anti-glare paint. Some Twins fans are saying that the Twins terrible 2011 season was because of the "curse of the removed trees".

Target Field panoramic view with Minneapolis skyline in the background.

Click here to watch Minnie and Paul celebrate a Twins home run

Target Field facts and figures 

Architect – Populous (previosly known as HOK Sports). The firm is responsible for for other stadiums like Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, NC Park in Pittsburgh, and AT&T Park in San Francisco.

Construction Manager – Mortenson Construction

Construction time – 28 months (August 2007 – December 2009)

Official Owner – Minnesota Ballpark Authority

Cost – Current estimate is about $390 million but infrastructure and financing costs bring the total to about $522 million. Under the 2006 legislation, the public contribution is $350 million, $90 million for infrastructure, and $260 million for ballpark construction. The Minnesota Twins contribution is $130 million for ballpark construction costs plus any ballpark cost overruns. Since the legislation was adopted, the team has also committed to contributing an additional $15 million for non-land infrastructure expenses and $22.4 million for construction costs. The Twins report the cost as $440 million. To see the MBA project budget you can go here.

Naming rights – According to Bloomberg Business Week, Minnesota based Target Corporation purchased the naming rights for 25 years at a reported $125 million (link) and will expire in 2033.

Some of the materials used – 55,000 cubic yards of concrete, 4,600 tons of structural steel, 5,000 tons of rebar, 51 miles of piles, and 100,000 square feet, or 100 semi-truck loads, of limestone

Ballpark size – just over 1,000,000 square feet (10.5 acres) built on an 8-acre site

Surface – Natural grass provided by Graff’s Turf Farm near Fort Morgan, Colorado. The specially-grown sod is a blend of Kentucky Bluegrass seed, chosen for its dark green color, ability to withstand wear, and tolerance to Minnesota’s harsh winters and warm summers.

Scoreboard – is high definition 5,757 square foot – third-largest in all of baseball.

Technology – The field has the current MLB Umpire Evaluation tool called ZE. The ZE system, which uses multiple camera angles to generate dozens of images per second, has been in place since the start of the 2009 regular season. ZE is a monitoring and training tool for strike zones that is in place in all 30 Major League ballparks. There are cameras on both lines and another camera that is centered adjacent to the field. After each umpire has a plate assignment, ZE generates a disk that provides an evaluation of accuracy and illustrates any inconsistencies with the strike zone. The system operated successfully in 99.8% of MLB’s 2,430 games in 2009. (ZE replaced QuesTec, which was used from 2001-2008 and was in 11 of the 30 parks – 11 being the highest number it ever reached – in its final season in 2008.)

Green Certification – The U.S. Green Building Council awarded Target Field LEED Silver Certification on April 8, 2010, only the second MLB ballpark to attain such a lofty standard. Nationals Park in Washington D.C. was certifed in 2009.

Capacity – 39,504

Suites – 95

Twins dugout is on the first base side

Bullpens – located in left center field.

Field Dimensions – are 339′ to Left; 377′ to LF Power Alley; 404′ to Center; 367′ to RF Power Alley; and 328′ to Right. The outfield walls are 8′ from the left field foul pole to right center field and 23′ from right center field to right field foul pole.

Target Plaza, the main entrance, features statues of Kirby Puckett, Rod Carew and Harmon Killebrew, plus a 1,500-pound “Golden Glove,” which will include a plaque honoring every Twins Gold Glove winner. During the national anthem when they sing “and the rockets red glare”, they really do at Target Field, look for them. After each Twins home run, the team’s original “Shaking Hands” logo, with characters Minnie and Paul, will light up in center field. Other features include “The Knotholes” on Fifth Street, which will allow fans to watch the game without purchasing a ticket. The stadium also affords views of the downtown skyline.

Bronze Statues – The current bronze statues are of Harmon Killebrew, Kirby Puckett, Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, former owner Calvin Griffith and late owner Carl Pohlad and his wife Eloise Pohlad. A statue of Kent Hrbek is planned for 2012.

Special Notes – Target Field was named “The Sports Facility of the Year” by Street & Smith’s Sports Business Journal and Sports Business Daily at the 2011 Sports Business Awards Ceremony in New York City.

Target Field “First’s”

First Regular season Game - April 12, 2010

Ceremonial first pitch – Mike Opat (County Commissioner), Jerry Bell - Twins Execuutive (led Twins efforts to get a new stadium), Dave Mansell – Construction Superintendent     

Batter – Marco Scutaro, BOS

Pitch – Ball to Marco Scutaro, BOS from Carl Pavano, MIN

Hit – Marco Scutaro, BOS off Carl Pavano (1st inn.)

First Twins hit – single by Orlando Hudson (1st inn.)

Run – Denard Span, MIN (1st inn.)

Single – Marco Scutaro, BOS – Carl Pavano (1st inn.) – then thrown out trying to steal 2B

Double – Dustin Pedroia, BOS – off Carl Pavano (1st inn.)

First Twins Double – Joe Mauer

Triple – David DeJesus, KCR April 16

First Twins triple – Justin Morneau, April 17

Home Run – Jason Kubel, – off Scott Atchison (7th inn.)

Inside-the-park home run - Curtis Granderson, NY Yankees on Augist 21, 2011

First two homer game – Jason Kubel, hit 2 home runs on May 27 against the Yankees

Grand Slam – Matt Joyce, Tampa Bay – July 3

First Twins Grand Slam home run - Rene Tosoni on September 27, 2011

RBI – Michael Cuddyer, MIN – (1st inn.)

Walk – Denard Span, MIN off Jon Lester (1st inn.)

Strikeout - Batter: David Ortiz, BOS; pitcher: Carl Pavano, MIN – (2nd inn.)

First Twin to strikeout – Orlando Hudson by Jon Lester (2nd Inn.)

Stolen Base – Nick Punto, MIN – vs. Boston (2nd inn.) off Jon Lester and Victor Martinez (Punto broke his belt on the play)

Error – Victor Martinez, Bos – April 15

First Twins error – Jason Kubel, May 3 – throwing error

First Reviewed HR – April 12 vs. BOS – 5th inning, Mike Cameron foul ball stood as called

Winning Pitcher – Carl Pavano, MIN – April 12 vs. BOS (6.0-4-1-1-1-4)

Losing Pitcher – Jon Lester, BOS – April 12 vs. MIN (5.0-9-4-4-3-5)

Save – Jon Rauch, MIN – April 12 vs. BOS (1.0-0-0-0-0)

First wild pitch – Kevin Slowey – April 14

First Balk – Mitch Talbot, CLeveland Indians – April 22

Minnesota Twins Win – April 12 vs. Boston by a score of 5-2 in first regular season game at Target Field

Target Field dimensions. Although it is 404 to dead center field, it is 411 just to the left of dead center.

Target Field seating profile

 

  Click here for Target Field Seating and Pricing

 

Stadiumpage.com – http://www.stadiumpage.com/ - great pictures of Target Field plus much more, check it out

Bergerson Aerial Photography of Target Field - http://www.bergphoto.com/tfopening/index.html - A must see!

How to get to Target Field – http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/min/ballpark/transportation/index.jsp

Ballparksofbaseball.com – http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/al/TargetField.htm

SI.com Target Field construction photo’s – http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0908/mlb.target.field.construction/content.1.html

Ballparkdigest.com -

 http://www.ballparkdigest.com/201001202439/major-league-baseball/visits/ballpark-preview-target-field-the-new-home-of-the-minnesota-twins

Wikipedia – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Target_Field

Various Target Field pictures – http://en.bestpicturesof.com/target%20field

 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

 Hammond Stadium – The Twins Spring training home since 1991

14100 Six Miles Cypress Parkway

Ft. Myers, Florida 33912

The entrance to Hammond Stadium

A panoramic shot of Hammond Stadium

 For a GREAT panoramic view of Hammond Stadium please click here. It may take a minute or two to load due to its size.

Hammond Stadium, the center piece of the 80 acre Lee County Sport Complex may be best known as the spring home of the Minnesota Twins but it’s a facility that’s designed for the entire organization, with five full fields and two half fields, as well as a stadium that also serves as the home of the Ft. Myers Miracle (Class A; Florida State League) and the Gulf Coast League Twins. It’s an interesting stadium in that it features an outside facade that’s supposed to invoke the feeling of Churchill Downs. There are only two levels of seats for spring training: box and reserved bleachers. Jimmy Buffett and Bill Murray are part owners of the Ft. Myers Miracle, which was known as the Miami Miracle prior to relocating to Fort Myers in 1992.The complex has evolved over the years and has had new lights, a weight room, a grass berm, and some dugout seats added. This was all done between 2006 and 2009.

The Twins’ lease for Hammond Stadium runs through 2020, and in recent years the county has sought to make some improvements to the ballpark, including the expansion of a berm area in right field. The lease also calls for the facility to be maintained at the same level as the five newest Florida spring-training facilities.

Architect – Lescher and Mahoney

Cost – $14 million

Year Opened – 1991

Surface – Natural Grass, Tifway 419 Bermuda

Capacity – About 8,100

Named in honor of Bill Hammond, the county commissioner who was instrumental in getting the Lee County Sports Complex built.

Twins dugout is on the third base side

Lease – The MInnesota Twins have a lease to train there through 2020.

Spring Training History – The 2010 Twins are in their 50th spring season and their 20th spring at the Lee County Sports Complex in Ft. Myers, FL Prior to training at the Lee County Sports Complex, the Twins trained in Orlando, FL, from 1936 (with the exception of the war years of 1943, ‘44 and ‘45, when they conditioned in College Park, MD) to 1990, and their minor league clubs moved to Terry Park in Ft. Myers in 1990, after headquartering in Melbourne, FL from 1964-89.

RECENT NEWS ABOUT HAMMOND STADIUM - http://www.floridagrapefruitleague.com/vendorimages/flsportsgfl/Lee%20County%20to%20Improve%20Hammond%20Stadium.pdf