MacARTHUR STADIUM

MacArthur Stadium exterior

TEAM ::: SYRACUSE CHIEFS
LOCATION ::: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK
MY FIRST GAME ::: AUGUST 31, 1996
< THE FINAL WEEKEND FOR THIS STADIUM >
OPPONENT ::: PAWTUCKET RED SOX
LEVEL ::: INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE AAA

The old Syracuse Chiefs Logo

MacArthur Stadium Box Office

RATINGS

BALLFIELD ::: B
SCOREBOARD ::: C
FOOD ::: C
FACILITIES ::: C

MY TAKE ON THE PARK

Progress(??) looming over Big Mac

IF THERE IS ANY PLACE BETTER THAN UPSTATE NEW YORK FOR BASEBALL I HAVEN'T SEEN IT. EVERY TIME I HAVE TRAVELED NORTH OF EXIT 15 ON THE NYS THRUWAY FOR BASEBALL I HAVE GOTTEN A REAL BASEBALL EXPERIENCE. MacARTHUR STADIUM WAS NO DIFFERENT.

I ONLY MADE IT TO ONE GAME IN THIS CLASSIC PARK, AND THAT GAME WAS DURING THE FINAL CRACK AT BIG MAC. THE FINAL WEEKEND OF GAMES HERE AND THE PLACE KIND OF LOOKED LIKE IT JUST WANTED IT ALLTO END. EVERYTHING HERE WAS OLD AND IT LOOKED IT. THEY KNEW THEY WERE GETTING A NEW PLACE SO WHY SPEND ANY TIME KEEPING THE PLACE LOOKING GOOD?? A COAT OF PAINT COULD HAVE LIVEND THE PLACE UP A BIT BUT AGAIN, WHY MAKE THE OLD PLACE LOOK GOOD WHEN YOU HAVE A BRAND NEW ONE GOING UP ACROSS THE STREET.

A view of behind Home Plate @ MacArthur Stadium

WHAT MADE MacARTHUR STADIUM GREAT WERE THE FANS. A VERY KNOWLEDGABLE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO LOVED THEIR CHIEFS. LISTENING TO THEM, THEY KNEW THE UMPIRES AND PLAYER'S HISTORIES. I COULD TELL ALL OF THIS BY THE WAY THEY HECKLED. TO BE A GOOD HECKLER, YOU HAVE TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT YOUR HECKLING AND NOT JUST BE VULGAR.

AN ASPECT OF THE OLD PLACE WHICH WILL BE MISSED IS THE 434 CENTER FIELD DISTANCE. THAT CENTER FIELD DISTANCE ALLOWED FOR A LOT OF EXCITING EXTRA BASE HITS HERE.

ALSO TO BE MISSED WERE THOSE LIGHT TOWERS. THERE ARE PICTURES OF BABE RUTH IN SYRACUSE AND THE LIGHT TOWERS ARE IN THE BACKGROUND.

The lights going out on MacArthur Stadium

THE NEW PLACE IS VERY STERILE, CEMENT, ALUMINUM, AND ARTIFICIAL TURF. HOW CAN THE PEOPLE OF SYRACUSE ACCEPT TURF AFTER GOING TO MacARTHUR FOR ALL THESE YEARS??

LINE UPS

RED SOX MANAGER ::

26 BUDDY BAILEY

CHIEFS MANAGER ::

18 RICHIE HEBNER

PAWTUCKET RED SOX

19 Dwayne Hosey cf

31 Tony Rodriguez ss

33 Bo Dodson 1b

35 Jose Malave rf

29 Bill Selby if

7 Lou Merloni 2b

12 Scott Hatteberg dh

27 Arquimedez Pozo 3b

28 Dana Levangie c