Muzzy Field
Muzzy Field is a stadium in Bristol, Connecticut adjacent to Rockwell Park. It has been in use since 1912 for both baseball and football. The brick-faced grandstand, with a capacity of 4,900 people, was built in 1939. It features a ring of tall pine trees that line the outside of the outfield wall and the grandstand.
| Location | Park Street and Muzzy Street, Bristol, Connecticut, USA |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41.673176°N 72.959459°W |
| Capacity | 4,900 |
| Field size | 339 ft. (LF) 359 ft. (Left center) 402 ft. (CF) 369 ft. (Deep right center) 330 ft. (Right center) 326 ft. (RF) |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1939 (grandstand) |
| Renovated | 2012–15 |
| Tenants | |
| Bristol Blues (NECBL) 2020–present (FCBL) 2015–2019 Bristol Collegiate Baseball Club (NECBL) 2010 Bristol Nighthawks (NECBL) 1994–1995 Bristol Red Sox (AA EL) 1972–1982 Bristol Owls (Colonial League) 1949–1950 Bristol Central High School Bristol Eastern High School Saint Paul Catholic High School baseball and football | |
Muzzy Field hosts high school sports, primarily baseball and football. Three high schools use the field: Bristol Central High School, Bristol Eastern High School, and Saint Paul Catholic High School. Muzzy Field is the site of the football "Battle for the Bell" between Bristol Eastern and Bristol Central, held every Thanksgiving morning, with the winner claiming the bell for the following year.
In summer, Muzzy Field hosts collegiate baseball teams: since 2015, the Bristol Blues[1] of the New England Collegiate Baseball League; and formerly, the Bristol Collegiate Baseball Club (2010) and the Bristol Nighthawks (1994–1995), both of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
Former uses
Muzzy Field was the home of the Double-A Bristol Red Sox of the Eastern League from 1972 to 1982. Former Boston Red Sox stars Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, and Butch Hobson honed their skills with the "BriSox." The ballpark also housed the old Bristol Owls of the Class-B Colonial League in 1949 and 1950, as well as various amateur baseball teams, notably the Bristol En-Dees and the local American Legion team.
The University of Hartford's baseball program used the venue for some home games prior to opening Fiondella Field in 2006.[2] Muzzy Field was the site of the Big East Conference baseball championship tournament from 1985–1995.
In 1991, Joe Archambeault put together a barnstorming exhibition New England Grey Sox team, including former Boston Red Sox players and other major-leaguers including Bill "Spaceman" Lee, Mark "The Bird" Fidrych, Bob Stanley, Dick McAuliffe, Dick Radatz, Ozzie Virgil, and Mike Stenhouse. They played against a team of local men, the Undefeated Bristol Fradette Agency, on June 1, 1991, in front of 5,000 fans.
In 2004 the stadium was also the site of an American Idol audition.[3]
Renovations
In 2012 and 2013, the City of Bristol approved a renovation of the ballpark to include a new front entrance and public concourse, new lighting, seating, ADA improvements and a new grandstand enclosure along the Muzzy Street side of the stadium connecting to the existing grandstand.
Further renovations in 2015, coinciding with the arrival of the Bristol Blues club, included a new rooftop press box, an extension of the roof, and an electronic sign at the corner of Park and Muzzy Streets to advertise events.[4]
Bibliography
- Malan, Douglas S. (September 28, 2009). Muzzy Field: Tales from a Forgotten Ballpark. iUniverse. ISBN 978-1935278849.
References
- "Bristol Blues Baseball: Home". www.bristolbluesbaseball.com.
- Anderson, Woody (April 9, 2005). "Turning for Home: UHart Baseball to Get Own Field". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
- Stacom, Don (August 27, 2004). "Muzzy Field of Idol Dreams". Hartford Courant. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
- Steve Collins (December 19, 2014). "Improvements ahead for Muzzy in new year". Valley News. Retrieved January 11, 2016.