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Lynchburg Hillcats - User Comments Add your own

Awesome! -- 2007-02-07

The Hill Cats renovated city stadium is an excellent ballpark. Those who make comments about the old stadium are talking about a virtually different ballpark. The new one is fan friendly, with a special section right behind home plates where alcohol is not allowed and families are encourages to sit. Tickets are only $6, and the players are friendly. Once again, this is a virtually a brand new ballpark. You need to check it out.

Joseph Rixon

Avoid First-Base Side -- 2005-07-27

On sunny evenings, the sunlight shines directly into your eyes when you sit on the first-base side -- at least in the lower seats behind the dugout. I had to use my hand to shield my eyes from the sun for the first three innings so I could see the batter.

Joe Reisel

A Stadium Full Of Memories -- 2004-03-23

There's not another minor league stadium in the country with more history than Lynchburgh's City Stadium.I would like to see a list of past and present day major league players that have played at City Stadium. Back in the early 60's(I was 9 yrs.old at the time),I was fortunate to live next door to then Lynchburg White Sox first basement "Jungle" Jim Koranda.He was kind enough to take me to nearly all home games.I got to hang out with former Sox players such as Bill Voss,Duane Josephson,Rich Morales, and the likes. Who remembers those guys and the Lynchburg White Sox days?I now live in Hickory,N.C.(home of the Hickory Crawdads-many former players are now playing for the Hillcats).I will always have fond memories of Lynchburg baseball and City Stadium.

Terry Holt

Major improvements to the Hillcat's home -- 2004-03-10

Those who have a negative opinion of Lynchburg's City Stadium, I recommend giving it another chance this season. Since it was built in 1939, the only improvements to the facility were upgraded seats and clubhouse in the 70s. However, a $6 million renovation project begun in Oct. 2002 is nearing completion. A wider concourse, huge bathrooms, and restaurant-size concession area mean no more waiting in line. New seats, handicap accessibility and picnic areas improve the stands. Luxurious skyboxes with food service, cable and other conveniences add a high-end flair. Other highlights include a new outfield fence and scoreboard, and even an arcade room for the kids. All of these improvements definitely contribute to the festival atmosphere of the games. And in case you want to watch the game while you're there, the Hillcats are gearing up for a great season. They won the Carolina League championship in '02, and after winning the first half last season, put up a good fight against Winston-Salem in the finals. I'm sure there are hecklers out there who will still try their hardest to find something to complain about. Either give City Stadium a chance, or stay home and let the rest of us have all the fun.

Editor, Greater Lynchburg Guide

Classic Minor League Ballpark -- 2003-06-05

Lynchburg City Stadium was a classic. You couldn't find a better place to watch a ballgame. Not full of amusement park theatrics, but a ball park with great sight lines and scenery. You can't beat the sunset over the OF wall and the great breeze you get up on the hill. It was a baseball park in the truest sense.

Best atmosphere in minor league baseball bar none.

The new park will perserve City Stadium's original structure and give the ballpark upgrades to secure affiliation with a parent club.

If you want to see baseball in a baseball park go to Fort Avenue and City Stadium.

Alex Almond

forget lynchburg -- 2002-08-07

I have been to one hillcats game at Merritt Hutchinson Stadium. That was my first and last time. I made the mistake of believing my grandson would enjoy a game there. The park is less than clean, the fans are obnoxcious, the hot dogs were cold, the players interacted with the fans between innings (the female ones only). No less than 4 players ignored our plea to sign the score book. As the beer flowed very freely, fans behind us yelled obsentitys, and threw objects at other people in the stands. When I asked a fan next to me about calling security she said "forget it, they won't do anything" She said the reason was they have a hard enough time getting people in here, even with FREE tickets layed out all over the city. I do NOT recomend anyone to go there.

bob brickman

"Nice" Old Park? -- 2002-05-30

I don't know when you went to see a Hillcats game, but to call City Stadium (okay, "Merritt Hutchinson Stadium") a "...nice old ballpark" is like calling Bea Arthur a "vivacious, sexy starlet in the prime of her career". City Stadium wasn't nice when it was built. It has been and remains a utilitarian stadium for a minor league baseball team.

However, that's not what bothers me most about your comment. What bothers me most is your description of Miller Park, the "...rambling, shady park" you found nearby.

As a native of Lynchburg who moved away a little more than two years ago, who lived three miles from Miller Park and watched it change from a rambling, shady park when I played there as a child to what it is now, let this serve as a warning: Miller Park isn't safe.

Every city has a part that's getting older, that's in a state of disrepair and begins to attract more questionable dealings. Eventually, these areas become home to junkies and pushers, and that's *exactly* what Miller Park is.

If you value your family's safety, don't go to Miller Park. If you want an enjoyable day of baseball, drive the hour East to Salem, and go catch an Avalanche game. Heck, if you're that much of a Pirates/Hillcats fan, wait until the 'Cats go to Salem on a road trip; Salem Memorial was rated one of the top ten minor league parks in the country less than a decade ago.

As much as I miss the Lynchburg Mets (Darryl, Dwight and Lenny before the Mets went all the way) I don't miss Merritt City Hutchinson Stadium one bit...

Braz

Nice old park -- 2001-09-07

This is one of the nicer old ballparks. The approach is within a larger park, with imposing stone walls and a monumental gate, and then it's good 50-ish atmosphere inside. Lynchburg is a massive expanse of yuppie-dom, with no motels for under $50 anywere in the vicinity. But the old inner city is very nice. We could not find a park anywhere in the Lynchburg area that had a picnic table, except the old inner-city park a couple of blocks from the ballpark. The rambling, shady park also has a big public swimming pool if you arrive on a hot day. Unless you want to while away your pre-game hours at a garish mall, this city park is the place to be.

Jim Turner

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