Warren H. Doane Diamond
Encyclopedia
Warren H. Doane Diamond at Memorial Field is a stadium
located in Concord, New Hampshire
. The field is named after longtime Concord High School
and amateur baseball coach, Warren Doane. It has a capacity of about 2,000 fans.
were searching for a new home for their Short Season-A New York-Penn League affiliate, the Watertown Indians
. The Indians organization considered the state of New Hampshire
as a potential site. The Indians hoped to duplicate the success that the Montreal Expos
had when they moved their New York-Penn League franchise to Burlington, Vermont
in . Although New Hampshire was home to two former minor league stadiums in Manchester
and Nashua
, the Indians felt that a renovated or brand new park in Concord would be the best fit. The Indians and the City of Concord made an agreement for the field to host three Watertown Indians games during the season. Because of heavy rains, 2 makeup games were added to the schedule as well. Between and Warren Doane led renovation efforts of the park, in the hopes that the Indians or another team might consider moving a minor league franchise there. Although the games had a very good turnout, the Indians decided to move to Niles, Ohio
instead into newly constructed Eastwood Field
, which held about 6,000 people.
Doane continued his quest to bring a team to Concord. Although a New York-Penn League team would at one time have fit very nicely in the park, the league was now starting to move toward $8–12 million dollar facilities holding about 5,000 fans. Doane shifted his focus to bringing a New England Collegiate Baseball League
team to Concord. The stadium's updates were finally finished in 2001 and Doane was granted a NECBL team for the 2001
. Unfortunately, Doane, the legendary coach and now General Manager
of the newly formed Concord Quarry Dogs
died of cancer
just days before opening day of the team. The ballpark was named after him and his number was retired at the field.
The Quarry Dogs led the league in attendance in their inaugural year, and were near the top of the NECBL in attendance until 2004
. In the 2004 season
, however, attendance numbers dropped dramatically with the arrival of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats
, the Double A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays
, in nearby Manchester, New Hampshire
. By the 2007 season
the Diamond averaged only about 500 fans per game, which was less than half of what it averaged in the Quarry Dogs' first seasons. The team was purchased and moved to Holyoke, Massachusetts
to become the Holyoke Blue Sox
.
team use the field. In 2008, renovations began on Doane Diamond to convert the field into a softball
venue. Construction was completed in 2009, and the field became the host of the Babe Ruth
Softball World Series. In 2009, the venue hosted the New Hampshire 13U Babe Ruth state tournament won by Portsmouth Babe Ruth.
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...
located in Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
. The field is named after longtime Concord High School
Concord High School (New Hampshire)
Concord High School is a high school in Concord, New Hampshire in the United States.- History :Concord's first public high school was established in 1846. The original building was the building on the corner of State and School Streets. A new school house was built in 1862, which stood until April...
and amateur baseball coach, Warren Doane. It has a capacity of about 2,000 fans.
History
The field was built in , and was mainly used as a high school and amateur baseball field. It remained that way until , when the Cleveland IndiansCleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
were searching for a new home for their Short Season-A New York-Penn League affiliate, the Watertown Indians
Watertown Indians
The Watertown Indians were a minor league baseball team located in Watertown, New York. The team played in the Short-Season A classification New York - Penn League and was affiliated with the Cleveland Indians. Its home stadium was Duffy Fairgrounds. The team relocated to Staten Island for the...
. The Indians organization considered the state of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
as a potential site. The Indians hoped to duplicate the success that the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
had when they moved their New York-Penn League franchise to Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
in . Although New Hampshire was home to two former minor league stadiums in Manchester
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
and Nashua
Nashua, New Hampshire
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 86,494 people, 35,044 households, and 21,876 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,719.9 people per square mile . There were 37,168 housing units at an average density of 1,202.8 per square mile...
, the Indians felt that a renovated or brand new park in Concord would be the best fit. The Indians and the City of Concord made an agreement for the field to host three Watertown Indians games during the season. Because of heavy rains, 2 makeup games were added to the schedule as well. Between and Warren Doane led renovation efforts of the park, in the hopes that the Indians or another team might consider moving a minor league franchise there. Although the games had a very good turnout, the Indians decided to move to Niles, Ohio
Niles, Ohio
Niles is a city in Trumbull County, Ohio, United States. The city's population was 20,932 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area....
instead into newly constructed Eastwood Field
Eastwood Field
Eastwood Field is a minor league baseball stadium located in Niles, Ohio, United States. It is currently the home of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, the Cleveland Indians affilliate in the New York - Penn League....
, which held about 6,000 people.
Doane continued his quest to bring a team to Concord. Although a New York-Penn League team would at one time have fit very nicely in the park, the league was now starting to move toward $8–12 million dollar facilities holding about 5,000 fans. Doane shifted his focus to bringing a New England Collegiate Baseball League
New England Collegiate Baseball League
The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a 12-team collegiate summer baseball league founded in 1993 and sanctioned by the NCAA and Major League Baseball. Each NECBL team plays an eight-week, 42-game schedule during June and July, with a playoff in early August...
team to Concord. The stadium's updates were finally finished in 2001 and Doane was granted a NECBL team for the 2001
2001 NECBL season
The 2001 NECBL season was the eighth season of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. The league expanded to ten franchises with the addition of a second New Hampshire franchise, the Concord Quarry Dogs of Concord, New Hampshire. Also, the league's West Warwick, Rhode Island franchise...
. Unfortunately, Doane, the legendary coach and now General Manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
of the newly formed Concord Quarry Dogs
Holyoke Blue Sox
The Holyoke Blue Sox are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The team, a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, plays its home games at Mackenzie Stadium...
died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
just days before opening day of the team. The ballpark was named after him and his number was retired at the field.
The Quarry Dogs led the league in attendance in their inaugural year, and were near the top of the NECBL in attendance until 2004
2004 NECBL season
The 2004 NECBL season was the 11th season in the history of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. The league's Middletown, Connecticut franchise, the Middletown Giants, moved to Holyoke, Massachusetts and became the Holyoke Giants...
. In the 2004 season
2004 NECBL season
The 2004 NECBL season was the 11th season in the history of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. The league's Middletown, Connecticut franchise, the Middletown Giants, moved to Holyoke, Massachusetts and became the Holyoke Giants...
, however, attendance numbers dropped dramatically with the arrival of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats
New Hampshire Fisher Cats
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are a minor league baseball team based in Manchester, New Hampshire. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays major-league club....
, the Double A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
, in nearby Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
. By the 2007 season
2007 NECBL season
The 2007 NECBL season was the fourteenth season of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, a wood bat collegiate summer baseball league operating in the northeastern United States region of New England....
the Diamond averaged only about 500 fans per game, which was less than half of what it averaged in the Quarry Dogs' first seasons. The team was purchased and moved to Holyoke, Massachusetts
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Holyoke is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, between the western bank of the Connecticut River and the Mount Tom Range of mountains. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 39,880...
to become the Holyoke Blue Sox
Holyoke Blue Sox
The Holyoke Blue Sox are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The team, a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, plays its home games at Mackenzie Stadium...
.
Present day
Today, Concord High School and the Concord American Legion baseballAmerican Legion Baseball
American Legion Baseball is a variety of amateur baseball played by teenage boys in 50 states in the USA. More than five thousand teams participate each year. The American Legion Department of South Dakota established the program in 1925 at Milbank, South Dakota...
team use the field. In 2008, renovations began on Doane Diamond to convert the field into a softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
venue. Construction was completed in 2009, and the field became the host of the Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
Softball World Series. In 2009, the venue hosted the New Hampshire 13U Babe Ruth state tournament won by Portsmouth Babe Ruth.