IOWA VINTAGE BASEBALL DIAMONDS
IDENTIFIED IN 2003 SURVEY CONDUCTED BY STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF IOWA

Eligible for National Register of Historic Places

Compiled by Ralph Christian (May 2004)

• Rock Valley Baseball Park, Rock Valley, Sioux County: The field was established in 1937, and the grandstand constructed in 1939-49 under the auspices of the WPA. Used for semipro baseball from 1937-1949 and for Northwestern Iowa Amateur Baseball League games.
  
• Merchants Park (Carroll Baseball Stadium), Carroll, Carroll County: Constructed in 1948-49 for the Carroll Merchants the local entry in the semipro Iowa State League. Two members from this team, Johnny Blanchard and Sammy Esposito, went on to major league careers. Surveyors described it as retaining "good integrity" and as "a notable 'grand ballpark' from the Iowa State League."
• Pisgah Baseball Field, Pisgah, Harrison County: Constructed in the late 1930s or early 1940s, this one has been described as "One of the better preserved western Iowa amateur ball parks observed to date. Presents a strong sense of time and place of an old town team ballpark." Future major leaguers Loren Babe and Bob Wiltse played here.
• Bancroft Memorial Baseball Park, Bancroft, Kossuth County: Erected in 1948, the park was renovated in 1997 but "still retains a historic look and feel." The park was used by the semipro Iowa State League between 1949 and 1955. Major leaguers Denis Menke and Joe Hatten played here.
• Fort Dodge Stadium (Dodger Stadium), Fort Dodge, Webster County: Constructed in 1939-40 as a WPA project, a baseball diamond was added in 1941-42. An exhibition game between the Cubs and White Sox was played here in April 1942.
• Davenport Municipal Stadium (now John O'Donnell), Davenport, Scott County: Constructed in 1930-31, this stadium has good integrity despite several renovations. It "still presents the look of a 'grand old' baseball stadium" and has housed teams in the Three-I and current Midwest League.
• Riverview Stadium, Clinton, Clinton County: This stadium was designed by local architect A.H. Morrell and built in 1936-37 under the auspices of the WPA. The facility is noteworthy for it Art Deco/Moderne exterior design. Park has been used for Three-I League, industrial league, Central Association, Mississippi and Ohio Valley League, and Midwest League games.
• Middle Amana Ball Field, Amana Colonies, Iowa County: Field developed in late 1920's when baseball was allowed and Amana Athletic Association formed. Middle Amana had most outstanding village team in 1920's and 1930's and most famous product was Bill Zuber. No above ground remnants of field remain.
• 26th Street Field (Comiskey Field), Dubuque, Dubuque County: Historically, this field was used by the Northwestern League from 1879-1881. Charles A. Comiskey, who lived in Dubuque played on the local entry here. The park once featured wooden grandstands and a diamond, surrounded by a wood board fence. No above ground structures remain. The park now is used as a playground and ball diamond.
• Waterloo Municipal Stadium (now Riverfront Stadium), Waterloo, Black Hawk County: Built in 1946 and renovated in the 1990's, this stadium was used for Three-I and Midwest League games. Now used by a college league. Despite renovations, the basic structure appears intact along with other original components and materials.