Corbett Field (Minot) Explained

Corbett Field
Pushpin Map:USA#North Dakota
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the United States##Location in North Dakota
Pushpin Mapsize:240
Pushpin Label:Minot
Pushpin Relief:yes
Former Names:Minot Municipal Ballpark
Address:13th Street SE and
E. Burdick Expressway
Location:Minot, North Dakota, U.S.
Coordinates:48.2317°N -101.2753°W
Publictransit: Minot City Transit
Owner:Minot Park District
Capacity:1,266
Dimensions:Left field: 310feet
Center field': 400feet
Right field: 310feet[1]
Surface:FieldTurf (2018–)
Natural grass (1937–2017)
Broke Ground:1935
Built:1935–1937
Renovated:1947 (roof, field lights)
Architect:Ira Rush
Tenants:Minot State Beavers (NCAA)
Minot High School Magicians (NDHSAA)
Bishop Ryan High School Lions (NDHSAA)
Souris Valley Sabre Dogs (EL) 2018–2022
Minot Hot Tots (NWL) 2023-Present
Minot Metros and Minot Vistas (American Legion)
Minot Mallards (MDL) 1950–1957
Minot Mallards (NL) 1958–1960, 1962
Minot Mallards (PL) 1995–1997

Corbett Field (formerly Minot Municipal Ballpark) is a baseball park in the north central United States in Minot, North Dakota. Located east of downtown and south of the Roosevelt Park Zoo, it was designed by Minot architect Ira Rush and built between 1935 and 1937 through the Federal Emergency Relief Administration. The Minot Park Board began improvements on the ballpark in 1947, including a roof on the grandstand and field lights. It was named after local dentist Victor Corbett, the president of the park board during that time.[2]

The field is aligned southwest (home plate to center field) at an elevation of 1550feet above sea level. Natural grass for over eight decades, FieldTurf was installed in the fall of 2017.[3] The teams' dugouts are behind home plate in the base of the grandstand, rather than along the foul lines. The orange seats that were later added to the grandstand were purchased from the old Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium in Georgia.[4] The parking lot is located on the northeast corner of the property, along Burdick Expressway. The Minot Mallards, a team playing in the integrated Manitoba-Dakota League or Mandak League, began playing at Corbett Field in May 1950. The name "Mallards" was an entry submitted by Minot native Bonnie Rae Miller in a fan-naming contest, beating out "Kernels" and "Plainsmen".[5] In the summer of 1950, Satchel Paige pitched three games for the Mallards. After the league folded, the Mallards continued to play at the ballpark in the 1960s for the Northern League. In 1995, a newly-revived Minot Mallards began playing at the park in the Prairie League, but the league soon folded in 1997.

Today, the Minot State Beavers, Bishop Ryan Lions, and Minot High Magicians play their games at the field in the spring. In the summer, it is the home of the Minot Metros, a youth team, and the American Legion Class A Minot Vistas.

The Minot Hot Tots of the Northwoods League will begin playing collegiate summer baseball at Corbett Field in 2023.[6] [7] [8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Corbett Field-Specifications . MSU Athletics . Minot State University Athletics . February 15, 2023 . en . Dimensions: 310ft (Left), 350ft (Left-Center), 400ft (Center), 350ft (Right-Center), 310ft (Right)..
  2. Web site: Ballpark . Minot Mallards Baseball . July 1, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081120005333/http://www.minotmallards.com/Ballpark.htm . November 20, 2008.
  3. Web site: New turf being installed at Minot's Corbett Field . . Spinggate . Jack . November 8, 2017 . January 31, 2023.
  4. Web site: Corbett Field . Minot Park District . July 8, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120701060305/http://www.minotparks.com/corbettfield.html . July 1, 2012.
  5. News: Minot Semi-Pro Club Decides on New Name . October 23, 2022 . Mouse River Farmers Press . (Towner, North Dakota). March 23, 1950 . 1 . Google News Archive.
  6. News: Williams . Sean . Coming in hot! Hot Tots set to be name of new Minot team . October 23, 2022 . . October 22, 2022.
  7. News: Reichard . Kevin . New for 2023: Minot Hot Tots . October 23, 2022 . Ballpark Digest . August Publications . October 22, 2022.
  8. Web site: Corbett Field . Minot Hot Tots . October 23, 2022.