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Duncan Park

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Coordinates: 34°56′11″N 81°54′46″W / 34.936493°N 81.912818°W / 34.936493; -81.912818
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Duncan Park Stadium
Duncan Park baseball stadium in 2016
Map
Address0 West Park Drive
Spartanburg, SC 29302
Coordinates34°56′11″N 81°54′46″W / 34.936493°N 81.912818°W / 34.936493; -81.912818
OwnerCity of Spartanburg
Capacity3,000
Record attendance21,000[3]
Field sizeLeft Field: 318 ft (97 m)
Left Center: 362 ft (110 m)
Center Field: 372 ft (113 m)
Right Center: 368 ft (112 m)
Right Field: 318 ft (97 m)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
OpenedJuly 8, 1926
Renovated1950, 1967, 1973, 1979, 1983, 1985, 1992, 2008, 2014, 2019
Construction cost$30,946[1]
ArchitectJ. Frank Collins
Tenants
Spartanburg Post 28 (ALB) 1926-present
Spartanburg Spartans (SAL) 1926-1946
Spartanburg Sluggers (Negro league baseball) 1928-1952[2]
Spartanburg Peaches (TSL) 1947-1955
Spartanburg Phillies (SAL) 1963-1994
Wofford Terriers (SoCon) 1996-2004
Spartanburg Crickets (SCBL) 2001-2005
Spartanburg Stingers (CPL) 2003-2006
Spartanburg High School Vikings 2008-present
Spartanburgers (CPL) 2021
Duncan Park Stadium
NRHP reference No.15001009
Added to NRHPJanuary 26, 2016

Duncan Park is a stadium in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It is primarily used for baseball and is currently the home of the Spartanburg High School baseball team and the Spartanburg Post 28 American Legion Baseball (ALB) team. The ballpark has a capacity of 3,000 people and opened in 1926. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.

History

Several of the Shibe Park seats at Duncan Park Stadium

Duncan Park Stadium hosted its first game on July 8, 1926. 2,500 people watched as the Spartanburg Spartans defeated the Macon Peaches 5-1. Nearly 21,000 fans attended the deciding Game 5 of the 1936 "World Series" of American Legion baseball at Duncan Park when Spartanburg defeated Los Angeles. That figure remains the largest crowd to watch a sporting event in Spartanburg.[4] Duncan Park also hosted the 1938 “World Series” of American Legion baseball.

In 1937, the New York Yankees, featuring Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig, played an exhibition game in Duncan Park on their way to New York from spring training. Other major league standouts played in Duncan Park on their way to the show, including Larry Bowa, Ryne Sandberg, Dale Murphy, and Tom Glavine. In addition, several Negro league baseball stars also visited Duncan Park on barnstorming tours, including Hank Aaron, Satchel Paige, Larry Doby, and Jackie Robinson.[5] When Shibe Park in Philadelphia was demolished, Duncan Park received many seats from the old stadium.[6]

From 1996 to 2003, the park was home to the Wofford College Terriers college baseball team. In 2004, the Terriers moved to the newly built Russell C. King Field on campus.[7] In 2008, Spartanburg city council decided to grant funding to replace the outfield wall and finalized an agreement with Spartanburg School District 7 to have the Spartanburg High School baseball team become a permanent tenant.[8]

From 2013 to 2014, Spartanburg School District 7 spent $500,000 on significant renovations to Duncan Park Stadium. These renovations were the first major improvements since the stadium was built and involved substantial structural work. In addition, drainage was improved, rotten wood was replaced, new box seats were installed, the stadium was repainted and a new scoreboard was erected. District 7 intends to do further renovations when funds become available, including seating under the roof, concession areas and permanent restroom facilities.[9] A further $1.6 million in renovations were done in 2018-2019, including additional locker rooms, showers, and restrooms.[10]

In September 2020, Spartanburg City Council approved a lease agreement that brought the Spartanburgers of the Coastal Plain League to Duncan Park for the 2021 season.[11][12][13] In March 2022, the Spartanburgers suspended operations.[14]

References

  1. ^ Jones, Lewis (June 29, 1988). "Officially, permanently Duncan Park". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  2. ^ Blackwell, Jed (May 13, 2020). "Vikings' special jerseys honor Sluggers". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  3. ^ Armonaitis, Dan (September 15, 2014). "Glory days at Duncan Park Stadium". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
  4. ^ Henderson, Gary (September 2, 1997). "Glory days still fresh for reunited players American Legion Champs: The boy of 1936". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. p. A-1.
  5. ^ Lavender, Chris (February 19, 2020). "Film explores Negro League baseball players experiences". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  6. ^ Lowry, Philip (2006). Green Cathedrals. Walker & Company. p. 176. ISBN 978-0-8027-1608-8.
  7. ^ "Russell C. King". Wofford College Athletics. Wofford College. August 16, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  8. ^ Shackleford, Lynne (May 13, 2008). "Deal to share historic Duncan Park sealed". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  9. ^ Gross, Daniel (March 11, 2014). "Duncan Park stadium improvements delight baseball fans". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
  10. ^ Orr, Adam (February 8, 2019). "Latest Duncan Park Stadium upgrades nearing completion". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  11. ^ Wyatt, Dustin (September 14, 2020). "Collegiate baseball league to establish team in Spartanburg at Duncan Park". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  12. ^ Wyatt, Dustin (February 18, 2021). "New Spartanburg Coastal Plain League baseball team gets a food-themed name". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  13. ^ Lavender, Chris (May 28, 2021). "Fans fired up for Spartanburgers baseball team on opening night at Duncan Park". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  14. ^ Whisnant, Gabe (March 4, 2022). "Despite postponed season, Spartanburgers coach, city believe in future of CPL baseball". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
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