Bicentennial Park (Allentown)
Encyclopedia
Bicentennial Park is a stadium
in Allentown, Pennsylvania
. The park, officially named Earl F. Hunsicker Bicentennial Park, is primarily used for baseball
and softball
.
The ballpark opened in 1939 as Fairview Field, home to the Allentown Dukes, a Boston Braves Minor League
farm team. The next year, the Dukes were replaced by the Allentown Fleetwings, which were affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals
. The team was renamed the Allentown Cardinals in 1944 and moved to Breadon Field
, a new ballpark just north of the city in Whitehall Township
, in 1948.
Fairview Field was renovated in the mid-1970s and re-opened as Bicentennial Park in 1976. The ballpark, which seats 4,600, hosted the Allentown Ambassadors
professional baseball team from 1997 to 2003. It is currently the home of the Philadelphia Force
of National Pro Fastpitch
at the Elite Championship Tournament Baseball (ECTB) Stadium.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown, Pennsylvania
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city, after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and the 215th largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently...
. The park, officially named Earl F. Hunsicker Bicentennial Park, is primarily used for baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
.
The ballpark opened in 1939 as Fairview Field, home to the Allentown Dukes, a Boston Braves Minor League
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
farm team. The next year, the Dukes were replaced by the Allentown Fleetwings, which were affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. The team was renamed the Allentown Cardinals in 1944 and moved to Breadon Field
Breadon Field
Breadon Field was a minor league ballpark in Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, located on the east side of MacArthur Road, about 0.5 mile north of the U.S. Route 22 interchange. It was named for St. Louis Cardinals owner Sam Breadon, who built the ballfield in 1948. In 1958, it was purchased by...
, a new ballpark just north of the city in Whitehall Township
Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania
Whitehall Township is a township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is a suburb of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state.The population of Whitehall Township was 24,896 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, in 1948.
Fairview Field was renovated in the mid-1970s and re-opened as Bicentennial Park in 1976. The ballpark, which seats 4,600, hosted the Allentown Ambassadors
Allentown Ambassadors
The Allentown Ambassadors were an independent baseball team that competed in the Northeast League and the Northern League from 1997 until 2003. They played their home games at Allentown, Pennsylvania's Bicentennial Park.- History :...
professional baseball team from 1997 to 2003. It is currently the home of the Philadelphia Force
Philadelphia Force
The Philadelphia Force was/is a women's professional softball team based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. From 2006 to 2009 it played as a member of National Pro Fastpitch league until a failed sales in September of 2009 but the team's future is in question and is still undecided...
of National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch , formerly the Women's Pro Softball League , is the only professional women's softball league in the United States. The WPSL was founded in 1997 and folded in 2001. The NPF revived the league in 2004 and currently features four teams: USSSA Pride, Akron Racers, Chicago...
at the Elite Championship Tournament Baseball (ECTB) Stadium.
See also
- History of baseball in Allentown, PennsylvaniaHistory of baseball in Allentown, PennsylvaniaAllentown's association with the national pastime spans nearly 125 years, from the formation of the Allentown Dukes in the late 19th century to the startup of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in the early 21st century.-Late 19th century:...
- Sports in Allentown, PennsylvaniaSports in Allentown, PennsylvaniaWhile most of the Allentown, Pennsylvania area supports professional sports teams in New York City or Philadelphia, Allentown itself is home to a Triple-A-level baseball team, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball, and other professional...