Tinker Field

Tinker Field was an outdoor baseball stadium in Orlando, Florida, United States. Named after Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Tinker, it was located in the West Lakes neighborhoods of Downtown Orlando, adjacent to the Camping World Stadium and one mile west of the Amway Center. In April, 2015 the City of Orlando tore down the grandstands and removed all other extant buildings.

Tinker Field
Location287 South Tampa Ave, Orlando, Florida
Coordinates28°32′19″N 81°24′17.2″W
OwnerCity of Orlando
OperatorCity of Orlando
Capacity5,014 (1965–2015)
4,000 (1933–1964)
1,500 (1923–1932)
Field sizeLeft Field - 340 ft (104 m)[1]
Center Field - 425 ft (130 m)
Right Field - 320 ft (98 m)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Broke ground1914
Built1914
Opened1923
DemolishedJune 2015
Tenants
Cincinnati Reds (MLB) (spring training) (1923–1933)
Brooklyn Dodgers (MLB) (spring training) (1934–1935)
Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins (MLB) (spring training) (1936–1990)
Orlando Rays (SL) (1963–1999)
Orlando Suns (FCSL) (2008)
Tinker Field
Location in Florida
Location in United States
Location1610 W. Church St., Orlando, Florida
Area7 acres (2.8 ha)
Built1922 (1922)
NRHP reference No.04000456[2]
Added to NRHPMay 14, 2004

Constructed in 1914, Tinker Field was the spring training home of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Senators, and Minnesota Twins. It was also the home park of the Orlando Rays minor league baseball team before they moved to Cracker Jack Stadium in 2000. It is located directly adjacent to the western side of the Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium and boasted a capacity of 5,100 before the grandstands were removed in 2015.

History

The field first saw use for baseball in 1914; the first known stadium built on the site was in 1923. It was all wood construction and seated 1,500. For the next 10 years, the Cincinnati Reds would call Tinker Field their spring training home til 1933. The Brooklyn Dodgers trained there in 1934 and 1935. In 1936 Clark Griffith moved the Washington Senators to Orlando where the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins would train until after the 1990 season. The stadium was rebuilt again in 1963, and when Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. was demolished nearly 1,000 of the stadium's seats were moved to Tinker Field. The remaining seats were sold by the City of Orlando in 2015.[3] The old press box next to the home side dugout was the original press box and can be seen in photographs as early as the 1920s.

Tinker Field was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places in 2004.[4] One of the most historical non-baseball events to take place at Tinker Field was a visit from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on March 6, 1964. He spoke before thousands of people from the pitcher's mound in his only visit ever to Central Florida.[5]

On January 28, 2014, during the groundbreaking of the Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium reconstruction it was announced that the grandstands and all other extant buildings surrounding Tinker Field would be torn down. The reasons cited were that the expansion of the Orlando Citrus Bowl Stadium would shorten right field so much that it would make it unusable even if it the entire building complex was renovated. On March 9, 2015, Orlando City Council approved an ordinance to demolish the grandstands and buildings, and allocated money to re-create the area surrounding the field.[6]

In September, 2015, the City of Orlando held a public input meeting and unveiled preliminary plans to memorialize Tinker Field.[7]

Present

Each November, Tinker Field hosts the Electric Daisy Carnival—a two-day festival that features electronic dance music with celebrity DJs, visual effects, rides, and art.[8]

On September 6, 2015, Tinker Field was the site of West Lakes Family Fun Day—an event held by members of the neighborhoods surrounding the field prior to the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.

Each June or July, Tinker Field hosts the Orlando Vans Warped Tour—a one-day festival that features rock music with popular bands from around the world.

  • Interior of the original Tinker Field
  • Updated Entry that was added in 1990.
  • View from Tampa ave along the Left Field line.
  • Looking down on Tinker field from The Florida Citrus Bowl.
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References
  1. "Tinker Field - Ballpark History". springtrainingonline.com. Retrieved 2016-03-18.
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  3. "Orlando to sell Tinker Field seats at Citrus Bowl this month". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  4. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Tinker Field". National Park Service. Retrieved April 19, 2020. With accompanying pictures
  5. "Orlando Sentinel". March 7, 1964.
  6. "Orlando City Council votes to demolish Tinker Field grandstands". www.wftv.com. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  7. "Tinker Field memorial plans draw scrutiny at Parramore community meeting". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  8. "HOMEPAGE". EDC Orlando 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
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