City Stadium, Portsmouth, VA

City Stadium

Portsmouth, VA

Capacity: 11,000 (1964), 6,161 (1969)	AKA: Frank D. Lawrence Stadium (1964 - 1997)
Year Opened: 1936	Dimensions: LF 404 CF 380 RF 340 (1940) LF 340 CF 375 RF 320 (1969)
Demolished: 1997

When this park was constructed, it was designed for both baseball and football, which is why left field, originally, was so huge. In addition, a large portion of the baseball seating was in dead center for this reason (pictured below). The park was renamed for Frank D. Lawrence, a local banker and baseball executive. He was very much involved with the planning and design of the ballpark. The catcher faced northeast.

When this park opened up, another park in Portsmouth, Sewanee Stadium, built in 1921, was a viable ballpark. The Portsmouth Cubs (of the Piedmont League) split their schedule between both parks. This continued until 1941, when the Cubs moved all of their games to City Stadium. The Piedmont League disolved in 1955. In 1961, the Portsmouth Norfolk Tides (of the Southern League), started playing here. This lasted until 1963, when the Tides moved to Nashville. However, the name "Tides" would stay, and the Portsmouth Tides were a new franchise in the Carolina League. In 1969, the Jacksonville Suns (of the International League) moved to the Tidewater area, and took over the Tides moniker. They renovated the Stadium and played one season here while they constructed a new stadium. Professional baseball was never played here again.