Blair Field
4700 Deukmejian Drive
Long Beach, California 90804
Telephone: (562) 570-1725
Baseball field (opened 1958)
Seats 3,238
About blair field
A Long Beach icon since it opened on April 11, 1958, Blair Field is best known as the home (since 1993) of the Long Beach State 49ers baseball team. Named after long-time Long Beach Press-Telegram sports editor Frank T. Blair, it was built in the hopes of attracting a Triple-A baseball club to Long Beach. After the move of the Dodgers to Los Angeles, any hope of this was dashed, but it became a popular site anyway. The Class-AA Western Baseball League Long Beach Barracuda/Riptide did play there in 1995 and 1996 and the Long Beach Aces women's baseball team played there in 1997. The Western League returned to Blair Field with the Long Beach Breakers in 2001-02. Currently, the Long Beach Armada of the Golden Baseball League reside at Blair Field.
Designed by Harold Dollinger, the facility was built for $500,000 and features a unique cantilevered roof to shade spectators all the way down each foul line. It was renovated in 1992. The all-time attendance record came in 1961 when the Dodgers drew an SRO crowd of 6,250 for a spring exhibition game. The site has also been the venue for such unusual events as MTV's "Rock 'n Jock" celebrity softball game from 1993-97, pre-season training for the Los Angeles Rams and even weddings!
Joe Rodgers Field (built in 1971; capacity 700) is located adjacent to Blair Field and is one of the nation's finest softball parks.
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Quick Facts
•The basics:
Seating is available for 3,238 on aluminum benches (with backs). There are 26 boxes with six seats each.
•Location and parking:
The field is located at the intersection of 10th Street and Park Drive in Long Beach's Recreation Park, about three miles west of the intersection of the San Diego (405) and San Gabriel River (605) Freeways meet.
•Management:
Blair Field is owned and operated by the City of Long Beach. Inquiries concerning use of the facility should be made to the City of Long Beach sports office at (562) 570-1725 or by fax at (562) 570-1737.
•Technical information:
The field is grass with a dirt infield. Dimensions include 348 feet down the lines, 387 to the power alleys and 400 feet to center. The field is lit for night play (the towers were upgraded in 1992).
There are two locker rooms with 40 locker stalls each for home and visiting teams, plus a smaller facility for officials.
Spectator amenities include two ticket booths, three permanent concession stands and one nearby meeting room (400 sq.ft.) which can be used for administrative or hospitality functions. There is a 1999-installed matrix scoreboard.