Cheney Stadium

Cheney Stadium, in Tacoma, Washington, is the home field for the Tacoma Rainiers minor-league baseball team of the AAA Pacific Coast League. The stadium opened in 1960, and has a capacity of 9,600. 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 AAA affiliate from Phoenix if the city could open the stadium for the beginning of the 1960 season. 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 Juan Marichal, Gaylord Perry, José Canseco, Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi, Félix Hernández and Alex Rodriguez.

During his 1985 stint in Tacoma, José Canseco cleared the center fence to hit one of the most impressive home runs in Tacoma history. The center fence has since been lowered.

References

External links

• Ballpark Digest Visit to Cheney Stadium
• Cheney Stadium Home Page
• Cheney Stadium on MinorLeagueBallparks.com