Al Lopez Field
Located in Tampa FL, Al Lopez Field is one of the city’s most popular parks. It has two ponds, a playground and nature trails. The park is also sheltered for picnicking. Read on for some ideas.
Home plate
Located in West Tampa, Florida, Al Lopez Field was a baseball field that hosted minor league teams in the Florida State League (FSL). It was opened in March 1955, and was the site of a spring training game between the Cincinnati Reds and Tampa Tarpons in 1961.
The first tenants of the facility were the Chicago White Sox. They shared the facility with the Cincinnati Reds, and the teams played each other each spring until the Reds relocated their spring training operations to Plant City, Florida.
In the early 1950s, the city of Tampa purchased 720 acres of land from the federal government. It was originally Drew Field, which was a precursor to the Tampa International Airport.
The city of Tampa began buying up land for a large community sports complex. It was to include a new spring training ballpark. A new stadium was built on the site of the former Drew Field, and the park was named Al Lopez Field. The grandstand at the stadium was a concrete structure with a curved aluminum overhang.
Location
Originally known as Horizon Park, Al Lopez Field was a former baseball stadium located in West Tampa, Florida. It was named in honor of Major League Baseball player and manager Al Lopez, who was a native of Tampa. He became the first Tampa native to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
The stadium opened on March 10, 1955. It was the spring training home of the Chicago White Sox from 1955 to 1959. The Cincinnati Reds replaced the White Sox as the primary tenant of the facility in 1960. The Reds left the park for Plant City, Florida in 1988.
The facility was demolished in 1989. The site was then purchased by the city of Tampa for redevelopment. In 1992, it was renamed Al Lopez Park. It now is a 130-acre park with amenities such as a community center, a lake, and a fitness trail. Browse around this site to check places to visit.
Former tenants
Located in West Tampa, Florida, Al Lopez Field is the former spring training home of the Cincinnati Reds. It opened in March 1955, and was dedicated to the late baseball Hall of Famer, Al Lopez.
In addition to being the former Spring Training home of the Reds, Al Lopez Field served as the home of the minor league Tampa Tarpons from 1961 to 1987. The Tampa Tarpons were a Class A Florida State League team.
In 1961, the Tampa Tarpons won the Florida State League championship. The following season, Pete Rose won the league title, leading the Tarpons to their first title in the majors.
The Cincinnati Reds moved to Plant City in 1988, and the team’s old spring training facility in Al Lopez Field was demolished. The site became part of the new Raymond James Stadium complex.
Recreational facilities
Located in the northwest part of Tampa, FL, Al Lopez Park is a city park with a variety of recreational facilities. The park has 132 acres of green space, including a nature trail that winds through the woods. This park is perfect for walkers, joggers, and cyclists. There are also two fishing ponds and playground areas. The community center features a fitness station, computer lab, craft room, and game room.
The community center has separate hours than the park. It is open Monday through Sunday. The recreation center offers various activities, including a gymnastics area, play courts, ball fields, and a computer lab. There is also a playground and picnic shelters. During football season, the park is a popular place for picnics. The picnic shelters have tables and chairs, as well as electricity.
Closest major league ballpark to Tampa
Located just over a half an hour from the Tampa airport, Tropicana Field is the closest major league ballpark to the Tampa Bay area. The stadium is the home of the Tampa Bay Rays. In 2019, the stadium reduced its seating capacity from 42,735 to 25,100.
While not the newest or most ostentatious baseball facility in the country, Tropicana Field boasts some unique features. These include a touch tank that allows fans to see real rays captured in the Florida’s Gulf of Mexico. Other notable features include an artificial turf field and the stadium’s non-retractable roof.
In addition to Tropicana Field, other spring training facilities can be found in Tampa, Florida. In fact, four of the top six MLB teams are located in the vicinity. These include the Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Check our next area of interest here.
Driving directions from Elegant Accents to Al Lopez Field
Driving directions from Al Lopez Field to John Chesnut Sr. Park
