McBride Stadium
Richmond, IN
Review by Mike
McBride Stadium was the home of the Richmond Jazz of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League as of 2023, but that team does not appear to be on the schedule in 2024. Built in 1936, this ballpark has been home to several minor league clubs over the years, most recently the Richmond Roosters of the independent Frontier League for 11 seasons, a run that ended in 2005.
This classic ballpark is showing its age in places, but the gentleman I spoke with, while he trimmed back the tall grass along the outfield fence, told me that a grass roots effort to maintain and restore the ballpark was underway, mostly led by volunteers. Crumbling concrete was being patched and painted, fresh tar paper applied to the roof and similar efforts were underway to hold back the march of time.
The stadium is worth the effort as it is a lovely old ballfield, with a wooden roof, fabulous metal frame light towers and an overall feeling of baseball from another time. There is a wooden deck in the left field corner and another raised patio above the clubhouse on the first base line. A concession stand and ticket office are found just behind the main grandstand.
The outfield distances are posted on signs along the fence, as is typical, but distances to the exterior walls of the property are also posted, which is fun, including a whopping 483 feet to launch the ball completely out to the street in center field. A grass berm in left field is good for sunbathers and there is parking aplenty, probably more than seating capacity warrants.
I hope this beautiful old park gets good use from high schools, tournaments and other folks who need a place to play in central Indiana, because it feels like this place could go either way. It’s hanging on through the work of dedicated volunteers, but it could easily slide into decay unless the community finds a good reason not to let that happen. I hope McBride can find a stable tenant because it really is an old-school gem.
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2023
232
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