Favorite Legion Ballpark and Why

Wow... Nice field. (McNair)

 

MS Deal stadium is it for me, the 29ers have had some absolute wars on that baseball field over the years. The concessions are good, crowds are huge and noisy. MS Deal Stadium received the National Field Of The Year back in 2000 I believe. It's a great place to watch a baseball game.

Carolina Man

 

Unbelievable!!!!! Kudos to McNair for his support, but I still say that Forest City is the home of Chad Flack!!!!!!!!!!

 

WOW...what a facility...Hats off to Mr McNair for doing that for his community. They are some great fields around the area...Great baseball communities

Carolina man

 

My three area IV favs

Cherryville has great atmosphere. You can sit literally right on top of the action and listen to the hecklers. Lots of landmarks surrounding this stadium. It's fun to watch HRs sail into the graveyard or over the gym. Grounds crew is top notch. Lots of fine looking southern belles walking around strutting their stuff. Nice walk to and from the parking areas. Cons are restrooms not being the best and concession lines tend to get long during playoff time.

Caldwell like Cherryville has great atmosphere and tradition. I like that you can find plenty of good places to put a yard chair behind the plate and on down the 1st base line. Good support from the home crowd and plenty of knowledgable hecklers roaming around. Playing surface is well kept. Outstanding concession stand. Parking is so-so. Cons would be the long hike to the restroom and that deep RF fence.

Shelby was a beautiful facility before the World Series upgrade and now is even better. I think they have the best layout in area IV in terms of convenience for seating, restrooms, and concessions. It's all wrapped together very nicely. The playing field always looks good. The local hecklers tend to be a little more laid back than their rivals but will crank up when things are looking their way. Cons: Nothing to speak of really. Parking is not my fav but it's adequate.

Others:

Haven't been to Rutherford but those pictures are beautiful. Just looking at those pics gives you the feeling that it just may be the nicest park around. While Cherryville & Caldwell may be Wrigley & Fenway. Rutherford is Pac-Bell or Safeco.

Went to a game at Rowan County many years ago. Can't remember too much about it except that there was a great crowd on hand and that their rich tradition was evident.

But the overall best stadium that I've ever watched a legion game at is The Winthrop Ballpark in Rock Hill. Super facility.

 

Rutherford County

I went to Forest City Tuesday night. WOW!! You have to have seen it before to really appreciate what has been done. We were on main street and driving to the stadium when myson and I got our first glimpse of the field. Before I could say anything my son who is pretty quiet and gets excited over nothing blurts out "oh my God look at that".

He then quickly followed that up with "I hate this". "It's not fair". You see this is the 1st year he has not played Legion ball because he is too old. He was jealous because he was not getting to play on that field.

I got jealous too because the summer wood bat team that got all of this started tried to come to our hometown of Hendersonville. Our Mayor got all excited and tried to get a new stadium built. They were talking about a major upgrade like that at Blue Ridge Comm Coll field. Our County said they were not interested. All they care about is shuffleboard and bridge games or they would like to bulldoze all the ballfields and put a retirement community there.

What a shame for us but what a gem for Forest City. Great job by a great community.

 

Shelby

Ok, I've not been to Rutherford yet this year, but I had the "season opener" yesterday at Shelby, it is unbelievable - and they're not even finished yet. They opened up against Cherryville and won 3-2 in a heck of a ball game. It rained really hard for about 20 minutes and the crowd stayed, most likely because they could sit there out of the rain under the awning... very nice. Playing surface was very good, drained well and grass looked great.

 

Well I have to ask, were you behind the plate or in the field..... My son pitched for Cherryville and commented several times after the game, What a great pair of umpires called the game. He was a little more animated than usual and said the umpires were Great. When he asked for the tool for his cleats he was surpised the game was paused and he was afforded the chance to clean them. He also said the guy behind the plate was willing to exchange wet balls (at anytime).... He normally has an opinion of the umpires and said this year he has had some DARN GOOD-en's.....

He said he thought the umpires were enjoying the game as much as the players....It was quite a game.

HOWEVER, If you folks haven't been to McNair field in Forest City your missing the best facility around. Like an earlier poster commented you can't really appreciate it unless you know what was there.

Keeter Stadium is nice, and will probably be just as grand once the final touches are put in place, but Right now McNair Field gets my Vote for best of 2008.....

 

McNair is a great place. I wouldn't be surprised to see Rutherford County try and make a push for a SE Regional or World Series in the future.

 

I had the plate. It was a fun ball game to umpire. Wish we hadn't had the delay, but after that, it was a well played game. Hate it ended the way it did, but I had a great time and I know my partner did. We always get pumped for Cherryville/Shelby/Caldwell.