Al Lopez Field
Encyclopedia
Al Lopez Field was a spring training
and Minor League baseball
park
in Tampa, Florida
, United States. It was named for Tampa native and Baseball Hall of Famer Al Lopez
.
It was located east of Dale Mabry Highway
(Highway US-92
) and north of Tampa Bay Boulevard. It was dedicated to Lopez in 1954 and opened for spring training
in March 1955. Its first tenants were the Chicago White Sox
, who were managed by Lopez at the time. The White Sox moved to a different site in 1960 and were replaced by the Cincinnati Reds
, who would use the park for three decades.
The grandstand featured a high, curved roof with no obstructing columns, a design similar to but a little less dramatic than that of Miami Stadium
. In 1967, Tampa Stadium was built just beyond the left field wall.
After the spring session of 1987
, the Reds abandoned the park for newer facilities in Plant City, Florida
. While the Tampa Tarpons reached an affiliation agreement with the Chicago White Sox
for the 1988 season, revenue from leasing the ballpark to the Tarpons did not cover expenses and the Tampa Sports Authority would not agree to a lease longer than one-year. This would also allow the TSA to move forward on redevelopment plans for the location. Demolition on the ballpark began in March 1989 and was completed that May.
The land was used for Tampa Stadium parking until 1998, when Raymond James Stadium
was constructed on the site of the old ballpark. The northeast quadrant of the stadium occupies the site of Al Lopez Field's first base grandstand, and the rest of the old ballpark site is covered by the approach apron of the big stadium.
Al Lopez died at 97 on October 29, 2005, just three days after his Chicago White Sox
had won the World Series
. Some obituaries repeated a story he had often told on himself. Early in one Sox spring training
session in Tampa, Lopez got into an argument with umpire John Stevens and was ejected from the game. He said, "The umpire threw me out of my own ballpark!"
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
and Minor League baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
park
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, United States. It was named for Tampa native and Baseball Hall of Famer Al Lopez
Al Lopez
Alfonso Ramon "Al" Lopez was an American catcher and manager in Major League Baseball, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977....
.
It was located east of Dale Mabry Highway
Dale Mabry Highway
Dale Mabry Highway is a north–south road in Tampa, Florida. The majority of its length consists of three lanes each direction plus a central turn-lane and often includes a right-turn lane. It begins at the MacDill Air Force Base entrance in South Tampa and ends by merging with US 41 just...
(Highway US-92
U.S. Route 92
U.S. Route 92 is a 177 mile intrastate U.S. Route in the U.S. state of Florida. The western terminus is at Alt US 19, SR 595, and SR 687 in downtown St. Petersburg. The eastern terminus is at SR A1A in Daytona Beach. Most of US 92 is designated unsigned State Road 600.-Route description:US 92...
) and north of Tampa Bay Boulevard. It was dedicated to Lopez in 1954 and opened for spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in March 1955. Its first tenants were the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, who were managed by Lopez at the time. The White Sox moved to a different site in 1960 and were replaced by the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, who would use the park for three decades.
The grandstand featured a high, curved roof with no obstructing columns, a design similar to but a little less dramatic than that of Miami Stadium
Miami Stadium
Miami Stadium was a baseball stadium in Miami, Florida. It was primarily used for baseball, and was the home field of the Miami Marlins minor league baseball team, as well as other minor league teams. It opened in 1949 and held 13,500 people...
. In 1967, Tampa Stadium was built just beyond the left field wall.
After the spring session of 1987
1987 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds' 1987 season consisted of the Cincinnati Reds attempting to win the National League West. The Reds finished in 2nd place with a record of 84-78.-Offseason:*November 11, 1986: Chris Welsh was released by the Cincinnati Reds....
, the Reds abandoned the park for newer facilities in Plant City, Florida
Plant City, Florida
Plant City is a city in Hillsborough County, Florida, in the United States, approximately midway between Brandon and Lakeland along Interstate 4. The population was 34,721 at the 2010 census....
. While the Tampa Tarpons reached an affiliation agreement with the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
for the 1988 season, revenue from leasing the ballpark to the Tarpons did not cover expenses and the Tampa Sports Authority would not agree to a lease longer than one-year. This would also allow the TSA to move forward on redevelopment plans for the location. Demolition on the ballpark began in March 1989 and was completed that May.
The land was used for Tampa Stadium parking until 1998, when Raymond James Stadium
Raymond James Stadium
Raymond James Stadium, also known as the "Ray Jay", is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Tampa, Florida. It is home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the NCAA's South Florida Bulls football team. The stadium seats 65,857 , and it is expandable to 75,000 for special events...
was constructed on the site of the old ballpark. The northeast quadrant of the stadium occupies the site of Al Lopez Field's first base grandstand, and the rest of the old ballpark site is covered by the approach apron of the big stadium.
Al Lopez died at 97 on October 29, 2005, just three days after his Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
had won the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
. Some obituaries repeated a story he had often told on himself. Early in one Sox spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
session in Tampa, Lopez got into an argument with umpire John Stevens and was ejected from the game. He said, "The umpire threw me out of my own ballpark!"
External links
- 1987 topographic map showing the park site from USGS via Microsoft Research Maps