"Some people say you have to be nuts to be a relief pitcher, but the truth is I was nuts before I ever became one."
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Stadiums
Jacobs Field
By Wikipedia
Jacobs Field is a baseball stadium located in the middle of
downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment
Complex, along with Gund Arena, it was built as a baseball replacement for
Cleveland Municipal Stadium
for the Cleveland Indians.
Left
Field - 325 ft (99 m)
Left-Center - 370 ft (113 m)
Center Field - 405 ft (123.5 m)
Right-Center - 375 ft (114 m)
Right Field - 325 ft (99 m)
Fence
Height:
Left Field - 19 ft (6 m)
Center and Right Fields - 8 feet (2.5
m)
History
Jacobs Field is one of the contributing factors to the revitalization
of downtown Cleveland. Opening in 1994, it replaced Cleveland Stadium,
which the Indians shared with the NFL's Cleveland Browns, and which for
the Tribe had become the archetype of the adjective "cavernous."
In May 1990, city voters approved a 15-year sin tax on alcohol and
cigarette sales in order to finance the new sports complex. In June of
1992, the ceremonial first pitch was thrown at the site of the new Jacobs
Field before construction of the building began.
Fly
to the Jacob's Field!
If you have Google
Earth installed, click here
to be "flown" to the site of Jacobs Field. (If you do not
have it installed, get
it from Google. It allows you to view virtually anywhere on
Earth in 3D using satellite imagery.)
Finally, on April 4, 1994, the Cleveland Indians played their first
baseball game at Jacobs Field against the Seattle Mariners.
In 1995, Jacobs Field hosted its first World Series, where the
Cleveland Indians lost to the Atlanta Braves. In 1997, Jacobs Field was
the site of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and the host of the
1997 World Series where the Cleveland Indians lost to the Florida Marlins.
Prior to the start of the 1997 season, Jacobs Field had a slight
addition as two sections of seating were added onto the ends of the
bleacher section, increasing the capacity by about 1,000 to its current
43,345.
The Indians' move to "The Jake" coincided with the coming of
age of an outstanding young team, and the Indians soon became the hottest
ticket in Cleveland. The ballpark set a major league record between 1995
and early 2001 by selling out 455 straight games. Demand for tickets was
so great that they sold out all 81 home games before opening day on three
separate occasions. The Indians "retired" the number 455 in
honor of this outstanding record.
Primary
research by Jim Herdman & David Vincent
Courtesy of Retrosheet.
In 2004, Jacobs Field was modernized with the installation of the
largest video display in the world at a sports venue, built by Daktronics
of South Dakota.
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Stadiums
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