Played at Meiken Field a million times during my childhood Knothole days and Kenny Shield's summer baseball clincs. Tons of great memories. When there were 3 fields it was a real big deal to be scheduled for a night game under the lights on Field #1 . The backstop was near where you would enter the parking lot.

 

When looking at it now it's hard to imagine 3 fields, but I do remember being in the outfield with my back to other outfield players playing in another game simultaneously on one of the other fields.

 

Because the whole area was so big, in some situations a ground ball that got past the outfielder would turn into an instant home run as it rolled on dry dirt into infinity.

 

As a kid, and even now I have always thought that it was so strange to have the field so close to the giant gas tanks. Thankfully nothing bad has happened over the years, but I can't help but envision a tragic accident where the tanks blow and instantly incinerate everyone on the field and in the stands, and any residents in the surrounding area. Hopefully nothing like that would ever happen, but if it did, the first question would be why did they build fields so close to giant gas tanks.

 

Sounds like the balls were getting by you & rolling to "infinity" with all your daydreaming about gas tank explosions.

 

Played a many a Friday night softball game there. Never could quite hit one far enough to clear fences. Heard legend that a few did, I never saw one though.

 

Agreed on the left field netting. Saw/heard many cars getting tagged back in the day.

This is always something that bothers me more and more. Who are those kids and why do they deserve it? Think it is great that the Reds are helping out with this project and the CIPS has taken over maintenance of the field. Just do not understand why someone 'deserves' it more so than anyone else.

Surely you are brighter than this...

Never said anyone deserved it more than others... But, every kid who has played on that dump of a field (home or visiting team) deserves better. The outfield was downright dangerous with hills, holes, etc... Infield was incapable of taking a true hop and actually sloped downhill into the outfield in spots.

Everyone (from both teams in any given game) deserved better...

Sounds like the balls were getting by you & rolling to "infinity" with all your daydreaming about gas tank explosions.

 

Played a many a Friday night softball game there. Never could quite hit one far enough to clear fences. Heard legend that a few did, I never saw one though.

 

Agreed on the left field netting. Saw/heard many cars getting tagged back in the day.

 

Played down there on Tuesday nights. Would not happen often but I saw a handful clear the fence in left.