matthewweaver.com | mlb ballparks

Ballpark:
Progresive Field opened in 1994 as "Jacobs Field" after the Indians spent over 60 years in "the mistake by the lake" called Municipal Stadium. A working class cousin to Baltimore's Camden Yards, the park fits well into its industrial neighborhood with exposed steel columns and smoke-stack-like lights (some say they look like toothbrushes). It opens to the skyline of Cleveland and provides fans with a variety of seating options, including Dugout Suites that are closer to the pitcher's mound than the actual players dugout. There is also a glass enclosed restaurant in the second level of left field, called the Terrace Club, where fans can watch the game and have a great - but overpriced - meal. The Club section and the Suites are tremendous places to see the game, being close to the field and serving up great food right to your seats.

After several small expansions in the 1990's, the ballpark holds a maximum of 45,000 fans, though the crowds are not nearly as big as when the sellout streak of 455 games was underway. Hitters love it in the summer, as the ball travels well, though the spring and fall can bring strong winds off Lake Erie to knock down fly balls. The left field bleachers sit atop a 19-foot wall, dubbed "the little green monster", though it is not much like Fenway, and the wall is generally 8 feet the rest of the way around to right field.

One recent addition of note is Heritage Park, an oval shaped area in dead center field with plaques and bronze castings of important players from the Indians in the team's over one century of play. Fans may purchase paver bricks in the Park and the team plans to expand the attraction over the years. The area connects the left and right field concourses and fans may enter the Park at any time, though they cannot see the game from the sunken-in location.

Unfortunately, the park was built within the existing city street grid, so some sacrifices had to be made. The seats were placed very close to the field, which is great for the folks near the infield. However, the fans sitting in far right field and some in left field are stuck craning their necks toward home plate. Sections 119-121, 179 and 520-522 are particularly poor for viewing the game and many longtime fans avoid them like the plague. Even though these seats are angled slightly toward home plate, the game is tough to watch from about 10% of the seats. Oriole Park at Camden Yards did a much better job with more foul territory and angled sections in the outfield, rather than just angled seats.

This, plus the recent exodus of fans from the ballpark, knocks Progressive Field down to a weak "A-" rating. If I didn't grow up in Cleveland, I might even go lower than that!

How to get there:
The ballpark sits at the South end of Downtown Cleveland nestled between East 9th Street, Carnegie Avenue and Ontario Street. From Cleveland Hopkins Airport, take Interstate 71 North until it hits Downtown. Exit at the East 9th or Ontario Street and you can find ample parking at any number of area garages. The park is located at the intersection of Interstates 71, 77 and 90, so its very easy to find.

City:
Cleveland was my home for 24 years and it is still a decent place to visit in the summer. Despite everyone's misconception about Cleveland being a cold and gray place (that's during winter!), summer in Cleveland is generally warm and very sunny. The city's Downtown experienced a renaissance in the early 1990's and there is a decent nightlife, though the city is not quite as vibrant as it was in the late nineties. The city sprawls a bit, like most Eastern cities, but the suburbs are mostly respectable and somewhat affluent.

This is probably a shock to you, but Cleveland is an industrial hub (duh!) and that tends to cause a fair amount of air and water pollution. However, things are much better than in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's. No more burning rivers!

The city is home to rabid sports fans that cheer on their beloved Indians, Browns and Cavaliers every season. They are also very typical of Eastern fans and easily get angry when the teams underachieve. However, when the teams are playing well, most every fan is decked out in the team colors and logo. The glory years from 1995 until 1999 (playoffs every year and two World Series appearances) were an incredible time to live in Cleveland. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case.

Stuff to do while there:
Cleveland is a working class city that just happens to have a great cultural scene. The city is home to many museums and theaters, though it is better known for being the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Playhouse Square has three restored theaters and University Circle is home to world class museums. The lakefront houses the Rock Hall as well as the Great Lakes Science Center and the Browns Stadium. The Warehouse District is the hopping night spot where you can hit the bars and dance clubs, though the Flats (along the Cuyahoga River) is no longer the place to be. If you want to do some shopping, Tower City in Terminal Tower and The Galleria at Erieview are the places to go. And don't forget to do some boating on Lake Erie or spend a day at either the Cedar Point amusement park in Sandusky.

Story:
I have sat in every general area of Jacobs (Progressive) Field, except for the Terrace Club and the Dugout Suites. I did have lunch in the Terrace Club once, but it wasn't during a game.

My favorite memory is Sandy Alomar's 2-out, 8th inning home run off Mariano Rivera in Game 5 of the A.L. Division Series in 1997. The place went completely bonkers as the All-Star catcher tied up the game against the most dominant closer of the era. The Indians went on to win the game and move on to the ALCS and, eventually, the World Series. As for the homer, it was a line drive that barely made it to the right field seats. I was sitting in the upper deck of right field and I knew it was gone before the crowd went crazy, as I focused in on Alomar raising his fist as he rounded first base in a full sprint. It was the most exciting - and stressful - game I have ever attended.

Fun facts:
The ballpark was originally named for Dick Jacobs, the club's owner in 1994 when the park opened. (He sold the team to cable-TV magnate Larry Dolan in 2000.) Mayfield Heights, Ohio based Progressive Insurance bought the long term naming rights and changed the name to Progressive Field prior to the 2008 season.

President Bill Clinton threw out the first pitch at, then named, Jacobs Field on April 4, 1994. The Indians beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 in 11 innings, spoiling a nice outing by Seattle pitcher Randy Johnson. It was also the debut of legends Dennis Martinez and Eddie Murray in an Indians uniform.

The ballpark was sold out in an incredible 455 consecutive games from June 12, 1995 until April 2, 2001. This is by far the Major League Record.

My Brothers and I have a paver stone outside of Gate C at the ballpark. It cost $50 in 1994 and was purchased by our Father. Click here to see an image of the paver stone!

The ballpark was built on the site of the old Central Market where residents of Downtown Cleveland used to shop for food and household goods in the early to mid 20th Century. Click here to see a construction photo.

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Matt at the 1999 Division Playoff Series versus the Red Sox
October 7, 1999

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Photo mosaic from home plate
July 4, 1996

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Photo mosaic from Section 520
April 17, 1994

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Photo mosaic from the bleachers
June 18, 1994

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The Indians and Marlins line up during pre-game ceremonies at Game 3 of the '97 World Series
October 21, 1997

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The flag and lots of balloons
at the 1996 Division Series
October 5, 1996

A view of old Municipal Stadium from the far away bleachers
August 13, 1993