Corbett Field (Minot)

Corbett Field (formerly Minot Municipal Ballpark) is a baseball park in the north central United States in Minot, North Dakota. Located east of downtown and south of the Roosevelt Park Zoo, it was designed by Minot architect Ira Rush and built between 1935 and 1937 through the Federal Emergency Relief Administration. The Minot Park Board began improvements on the ballpark in 1947, including a roof on the grandstand and field lights. It was named after local dentist Victor Corbett, the president of the park board during that time.[2]

Corbett Field
View from center field in May 2012
Minot is located in the United States
Minot
Minot
Location in the United States
Minot is located in North Dakota
Minot
Minot
Location in North Dakota
Former namesMinot Municipal Ballpark
Address13th Street SE and
E. Burdick Expressway
LocationMinot, North Dakota, U.S.
Coordinates48°13′54″N 101°16′31″W
Public transitBus transport Minot City Transit
OwnerMinot Park District
Capacity1,266
Field sizeLeft field: 310 ft (94 m)
Center field': 400 ft (120 m)
Right field: 310 ft (94 m)[1]
SurfaceFieldTurf (2018– )
Natural grass (1937–2017)
Construction
Broke ground1935
Built1935–1937
Opened1937 (1937)
Renovated1947 (roof, field lights)
ArchitectIra Rush
Tenants
Minot State Beavers (NCAA)
Minot High School Magicians (NDHSAA)
Bishop Ryan High School Lions (NDHSAA)
Souris Valley Sabre Dogs (EL) 2018–2022
Minot Hot Tots (NWL) 2023-Present
Minot Metros and Minot Vistas (American Legion)
Minot Mallards (MDL) 1950–1957
Minot Mallards (NL) 1958–1960, 1962
Minot Mallards (PL) 1995–1997

The field is aligned southwest (home plate to center field) at an elevation of 1,550 feet (470 m) above sea level. Natural grass for over eight decades, FieldTurf was installed in the fall of 2017.[3] The teams' dugouts are behind home plate in the base of the grandstand, rather than along the foul lines. The orange seats that were later added to the grandstand were purchased from the old Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Georgia.[4] The parking lot is located on the northeast corner of the property, along the Burdick Expressway.

The Minot Mallards, a team playing in the integrated Manitoba-Dakota League or Mandak League, began playing at Corbett Field in May 1950. The name "Mallards" was an entry submitted by Minot native Bonnie Rae Miller in a fan-naming contest, beating out "Kernels" and "Plainsmen".[5] In the summer of 1950, Satchel Paige pitched three games for the Mallards. After the league folded, the Mallards continued to play at the ballpark in the 1960s for the Northern League. In 1995, a newly-revived Minot Mallards began playing at the park in the Prairie League, but the league soon folded in 1997.

Today, the Minot State Beavers, Bishop Ryan Lions, and Minot High Magicians play their games at the field in the spring. In the summer, it is the home of the Minot Metros, a youth team, and the American Legion Class A Minot Vistas.

The Minot Hot Tots of the Northwoods League will begin playing collegiate summer baseball at Corbett Field in 2023.[6][7][8]

References

  1. "Corbett Field-Specifications". MSU Athletics. Minot State University Athletics. Retrieved February 15, 2023. Dimensions: 310ft (Left), 350ft (Left-Center), 400ft (Center), 350ft (Right-Center), 310ft (Right).
  2. "Ballpark". Minot Mallards Baseball. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved July 1, 2012.
  3. Spinggate, Jack (November 8, 2017). "New turf being installed at Minot's Corbett Field". KFYR-TV. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  4. "Corbett Field". Minot Park District. Archived from the original on July 1, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  5. "Minot Semi-Pro Club Decides on New Name". Mouse River Farmers Press. (Towner, North Dakota). March 23, 1950. p. 1. Retrieved October 23, 2022 via Google News Archive.
  6. Williams, Sean (October 22, 2022). "Coming in hot! Hot Tots set to be name of new Minot team". Minot Daily News. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  7. Reichard, Kevin (October 22, 2022). "New for 2023: Minot Hot Tots". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  8. "Corbett Field". Minot Hot Tots. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
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