Dunn Field (Elmira)
Encyclopedia
Dunn Field is a stadium
in Elmira, New York
primarily used for baseball
. Located on the banks of the Chemung River at the end of Luce St, it has been the home of various incarnations of the Elmira Pioneers
since its opening in 1939.
, of the first National Football League
, defeated the Kanaweola Athletic Club
, 39-0, on Friday November 21, 1902.http://www.newyorkhistoryreview.com/football.html The stadium also served as an alternate home for baseball's National League
Buffalo Bisons
in the late 19th century.
The Maple Avenue Driving Park was replaced by Recreation Park, which burned down in 1938. A new stadium built to replace it was named after a local businessman, Edward Joseph Dunn, who donated some land for the stadium to the city.
Besides being the home field of the Elmira Pioneers
baseball team, a variety of events have taken place in the stadium over the years such as wrestling & boxing matches, high school sports, and music concerts (The Beach Boys
played there in 1984).
Dunn Field served as the home field for both Elmira Free Academy and Southside High School football teams for many years until each team built their own stadiums. The Erie Bell game was often a special occasion at Dunn Field since both Elmira Free Academy and Southside High School played their home games at Dunn Field.
Many great baseball players played their home games on this field during part of their minor league
years, including Wade Boggs
, Curt Schilling
, and Jim Palmer
. Former player and MLB manager Don Zimmer
was even married on Dunn Field in 1951 (Pictured in Sports Illustrated
magazine, and his autobiography).
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 Elmira, New York
Elmira, New York
Elmira is a city in Chemung County, New York, USA. It is the principal city of the 'Elmira, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses Chemung County, New York. The population was 29,200 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Chemung County.The City of Elmira is located in...
primarily used for baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. Located on the banks of the Chemung River at the end of Luce St, it has been the home of various incarnations of the Elmira Pioneers
Elmira Pioneers
The Elmira Pioneers are an amateur baseball team based in Elmira, New York. They currently compete in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, a wood bat collegiate summer baseball league. Prior to the 2006 baseball season, the team was a professional ballclub with a rich history of league...
since its opening in 1939.
History
The first stadium at the site was known as the Maple Avenue Driving Park. On Nov. 21, 1902, the stadium was the site of the first ever professional football night game. The Philadelphia Athletics football teamPhiladelphia Athletics (NFL)
The Philadelphia Athletics were a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1902. The team was member of what was referred to as the National Football League. This league has no connection with the National Football League of today. The whole "league" was a curious...
, of the first National Football League
National Football League (1902)
The National Football League was the first attempt at forming a national professional football league in 1902. The league has no ties with the modern National Football League. In fact the league was only composed of teams from Pennsylvania, which was hardly "national". Two of the teams were based...
, defeated the Kanaweola Athletic Club
Kanaweola Athletic Club
The Kanaweola Athletic Club was a bicycling club, which later fielded a professional football team, based in Elmira, New York. The club operated an indoor bicycling track inside the Steele Memorial Library building...
, 39-0, on Friday November 21, 1902.http://www.newyorkhistoryreview.com/football.html The stadium also served as an alternate home for baseball's National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
in the late 19th century.
The Maple Avenue Driving Park was replaced by Recreation Park, which burned down in 1938. A new stadium built to replace it was named after a local businessman, Edward Joseph Dunn, who donated some land for the stadium to the city.
Besides being the home field of the Elmira Pioneers
Elmira Pioneers
The Elmira Pioneers are an amateur baseball team based in Elmira, New York. They currently compete in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, a wood bat collegiate summer baseball league. Prior to the 2006 baseball season, the team was a professional ballclub with a rich history of league...
baseball team, a variety of events have taken place in the stadium over the years such as wrestling & boxing matches, high school sports, and music concerts (The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
played there in 1984).
Dunn Field served as the home field for both Elmira Free Academy and Southside High School football teams for many years until each team built their own stadiums. The Erie Bell game was often a special occasion at Dunn Field since both Elmira Free Academy and Southside High School played their home games at Dunn Field.
Many great baseball players played their home games on this field during part of their minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
years, including Wade Boggs
Wade Boggs
Wade Anthony Boggs is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He spent his 18-year baseball career primarily with the Boston Red Sox, but also played for the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
, Curt Schilling
Curt Schilling
Curtis Montague "Curt" Schilling is a former American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in and won World Series championships in with the Arizona Diamondbacks and in and with the Boston Red Sox. Schilling retired with a...
, and Jim Palmer
Jim Palmer
James Alvin "Jim" Palmer , nicknamed "Cakes", is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 20-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in .As of 2008, Palmer and his wife Susan have homes in Palm Beach, Florida, and...
. Former player and MLB manager Don Zimmer
Don Zimmer
Donald William "Popeye" Zimmer is a former infielder, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball, currently serving as a senior advisor to the Tampa Bay Rays baseball organization...
was even married on Dunn Field in 1951 (Pictured in Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
magazine, and his autobiography).
The Numbers
Dunn Field has a capacity of 4,020 people, including 312 box seats. Its field dimensions are:- Left - 325'
- Left Center - 358'
- Center - 386'
- Right Center - 358'
- Right - 325'
- Fences are 12' high (20' in LF).