Frederick, MD

Memorable Moments:

• 1990, 2005, 2007, 2011 Mills Cup Champions
• 2006 Northern Division Pennants
• 2005 Class A All Star Game

Harry Grove, for whom this park is named, was one of the founders of the Frederick Hustlers, the original professional team to play in this city. They played in the Blue Ridge League, from 1915 through World War II. Most importantly, his family gave $250,000 for the construction of this stadium. The rest of the money to build this stadium came from the City of Frederick, $1 million, the State of Maryland, $1.5 million, and Frederick County, $250,000. The Keys are named after Francis Scott Key, the man who penned the Star Spangled Banner. He is buried near the stadium.

Similar to how Baltimore's Camden Yards pioneered a new area in ballpark design, you can say Harry Grove Stadium was also ahead of their time for minor league ballparks. This was one of the first stadiums to feature the design of the luxury boxes right behind the home plate stands and on top of the press box, open air concourses where you can see the field, and a park where you enter on the top of the stands, rather than the bottom. For all of it's new features, this park still feels a little dated. There has been some work done recently with the addition of new scoreboards and video screens. The worst thing about this park, is the sheer quantity of advertising on the outfield wall.

© 2010-17 Paul Healey.