Cheney Stadium

Cheney Stadium
Location 2502 South Tyler Street
Tacoma, Washington 98405
Coordinates 47°14′16.92″N 122°29′51.16″W / 47.2380333°N 122.4975444°W / 47.2380333; -122.4975444Coordinates: 47°14′16.92″N 122°29′51.16″W / 47.2380333°N 122.4975444°W / 47.2380333; -122.4975444
Owner Pierce County
Operator Schlegel Sports Group
Executive suites 16[1]
Capacity 6,500[2]
Field size 325 (LF), 425 (CF), 325 (RF)
Surface Grass
Construction
Broke ground January 2, 1960[3]
Built 1960
Opened April 16, 1960[4]
Renovated 1992, 1998, 1999, 2011[1]
Construction cost $940,000
($7.53 million in 2016 dollars[5])[6]
$29-$30 million (renovations)[1][7]
Architect E.L. Mills & Associates[6]
Populous (2011 renovation)
Structural engineer Anderson Birkeland & Anderson[3]
General contractor Earley Construction Co.[3]
Mortenson Construction (2011 renovation)
Tenants
Tacoma Giants (1960–1965)
Tacoma Cubs (1966–1971)
Tacoma Twins (1972–1977)
Tacoma Yankees (1978)
Tacoma Tugs (1979)
Tacoma Tigers (1980–1994)
Tacoma Rainiers (1995–present)[1]

Cheney Stadium is a minor league baseball stadium located in Tacoma, Washington. It currently serves as home of the Tacoma Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League. The stadium opened in 1960, and has a capacity of 6,500. It is next to Henry Foss High School and the stadium has an agreement with the school to use the school parking lot for parking.

History

Cheney Stadium is named for Ben Cheney, a local businessman who worked to bring minor league baseball to Tacoma and also was put in control of the project. Cheney Stadium was constructed in 42 working days after the San Francisco Giants had committed to moving their Triple-A affiliate from Phoenix if the city could open the stadium for the beginning of the 1960 season.[8] Construction included light towers and wooden grandstand seats from Seals Stadium in San Francisco. The wooden grandstand seats are still in place today.

Cheney Stadium has been home to Pacific Coast League baseball continuously since 1960, in the form of seven teams: the Tacoma Giants (1960–65), Cubs (1966–71), Twins (1972–77), Yankees (1978), Tugs (1979), Tigers (A's) (1980–94), and the Rainiers (Mariners) (1995–present).

Notable players who played in Cheney Stadium include Tom Kelly, Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry, Reggie Jackson, Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi, Félix Hernández, Cliff Lee, and Alex Rodriguez.

The stadium hosted the baseball competition of the 1990 Goodwill Games.[9]

2011 Renovation (The New Stadium)

On November 11, 2009 it was announced the City of Tacoma was considering a $30 million renovations to Cheney Stadium. Early renovation plans included a new grandstand superstructure, roof and concourse, as well as new concession stands, seats, luxury suites and a restaurant.[7] The proposal drew little controversy from taxpayers.[10]

On November 19, 2009 the Tacoma Rainiers renewed their lease with the City of Tacoma to keep playing at Cheney Stadium for 32 years.[11] The deal relied on the renovation proposal getting passed.[11] The proposal, now said to be $28 million in cost, was approved on November 25, 2009.[1] The approval means the Rainiers will continue to play in Tacoma until at least 2041 and the renovations were completed before the 2011 season.[1] The renovations included basic repairs, 16 luxury suites, a kids’ "play area", more restrooms and concession stands, and a new restaurant.[1]

Cheney Stadium Firsts

First...
Rainout April 14, 1960
Game April 16, 1960 (game one of day/night double header)
Result (first game) Portland Beavers 7, Tacoma Giants 2
Attendance (first game) 6,612
Tacoma Win April 16 - game two (Tacoma 11, Portland 0)
Ceremonial First Pitch Ben Hanson, Mayor of Tacoma
Pitcher Eddie Fisher, Tacoma, April 16 vs. Portland
Batter Clem Moore, Portland (fouled out to RF Bob Perry)
Hit George Freeze, Portland, April 16 - 1st inning, game one (single)
Tacoma Hit Danny O'Connell, Tacoma, April 16 - 1st inning, game one (single)
Run Scored Eddie Fisher, Tacoma, April 16 - 3rd inning, game one
Run Batted In Matty Alou, Tacoma, April 16 - 3rd inning, game one
Double Nippy Jones, Portland, April 16 - 8th inning, game one
Triple Tom Haller, Tacoma, April 16 - 1st inning, game two
Home Run Matty Alou, Tacoma, April 16 - 3rd inning, game one (2-run HR)
Grand Slam Frank Reveira, Tacoma, April 27 - 5th inning
Pinch-Hit Home Run Frank Reveira, Tacoma, April 27 - 5th inning
To Hit For The Cycle Bill Hain, Tacoma, vs. Spokane August 8, 1961
Winning Pitcher Lynn Lovenguth, Portland, April 16 - game one
Losing Pitcher Eddie Fisher, Tacoma, April 16 - game one
Shutout Juan Marichal, Tacoma, April 16 - game two
Hit Allowed Eddie Fisher, Tacoma, April 16 - 1st inning, game one
Home Run Allowed Lynn Lovenguth, Portland, April 16 - 3rd inning, game one
Strikeout Eddie Fisher struck out Jim Greengrass, April 16 - 1st inning, game one
Walk Eddie Fished walked Bill Causion, April 16 - 1st inning, game one
Stolen Base Matty Alou, Tacoma, April 16 - 6th inning, game two
Error Tom Haller, Tacoma catcher, April 16 - 1st inning, game one
Grounded Into DP Benny Valenzuela, Tacoma, April 16 - 4th inning, game one

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kamb, Lewis (November 19, 2009). "Tacoma Goes to Bat for Ballpark". The News Tribune. Tacoma. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
  2. ↑ Website, Team. "Cheney Stadium". Cheney Stadium. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 "Tacoma-Pierce County Buildings Index - Image Display". Tacoma Public Library. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  4. ↑ McGrath, John (April 10, 2011). "About the First Day of Baseball at Cheney Stadium – April 16, 1960". The News Tribune. Tacoma. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  5. ↑ Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Evans Yankopolus, Jennifer (2006). Almanac of Architecture & Design 2006. Atlanta: Greenway Communications LLC. ISBN 0-9755654-2-7.
  7. 1 2 Kamb, Lewis (November 11, 2009). "Tacoma Board to Consider Face-Lift for Cheney Stadium". The News Tribune. Tacoma. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
  8. ↑ Lacitis, Erik (April 19, 2005). "Memories Fade, but Ben Cheney Lives on Through Stadium". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Traffic Impacts During the Goodwill Games" (PDF). Washington State Department of Transportation. May 1991. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  10. ↑ Callaghan, Peter (November 19, 2009). "There Are Good Reasons Public Renovation Deal for Cheney Drew so Little Protest". The News Tribune. Tacoma. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
  11. 1 2 Kamb, Lewis (November 19, 2009). "30-Year Deal Keeps Rainiers at Cheney Stadium". The News Tribune. Tacoma. Retrieved November 25, 2009.
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