Point Stadium
- Location: Johnstown, PA
- Year Built: 1926
- Year Rebuilt: 2006
- 1926 Seating Capacity: 17,000
- 2006 Seating Capacity:
- 1926 Playing Surface: Grass
- 2006 Playing Surface: Turf
History[edit]
Originally built in 1926, Point Stadium was a 17,000 seat double tiered stadium located in Johnstown, PA. Some time later, the upper tier was removed and the seating capacity was reduced to 10,000. In 2005, the last of the original Point Stadium was demolished and a newly constructed more modern and simple single tiered stadium was built in its footprint.
Throughout the years Point Stadium has been home to many professional teams, perhaps most notably it was the occasional home to the Pittsburgh Crawfords and Homestead Grays Negro National League teams in the 1930s. Johnstown has also been home to several minor league teams, most of which bearing the Johnstown Johnnies moniker. Point Stadium was last used for professional baseball during a period from the late 1990's through 2002 by the Johnnies and the Johnstown Steal of the Frontier League. Point Stadium has for many years also been home to the All American Amateur Baseball Association national tournament.
During the off-season, Point Stadium is the home to local high school and community football teams.
Dimensions[edit]
1926[edit]
- Left Field: 251 feet
- Center Field: 385 feet
- Right Field: 262 feet
2006[edit]
- Left Field: 290 feet
- Left Center Field: 336 feet
- Center Field: 409 feet
- Right Center Field: 395 feet
- Right Field: 290 feet
Professional Baseball Teams Calling Point Stadium Home[edit]
Negro National League Teams[edit]
AA Teams[edit]
- Johnstown Johnnies- 1955-1956
- Johnstown Red Sox
Class C Teams[edit]
- Johnstown Johnnies- 1925-1938, 1946-1950
Class D Teams[edit]
- Johnstown Johnnies- 1939-1942
Independent Minor League Teams[edit]
- Johnstown Steal
- Johnstown Johnnies- 1998-2002
NCAA Teams[edit]
Unique Features and Problems[edit]
Johnstown, PA is famous for having the world's steepest vehicular incline and for a series of floods that claimed the lives of many of its citizens. From atop the incline, one can look down from the mountain onto Point Stadium. From this height it is abundantly clear how the ballpark earned its name. Nestled into a single city block between the steep mountain climbed by the incline and the city streets of Johnstown, Point Stadium's center field comes to an unusually sharp point.
First Base Grandstand[edit]
Point Stadium was designed to house both baseball and football teams. Partly because of this, and partly because of the geographical location of the stadium, the grandstand design is decidedly asymmetrical. Along the first base line, the grandstands are bleachers which stretch out far into the outfield. Point Stadium actually features two press boxes, one behind home plate, and another located in the middle of the first base grandstands which is much smaller and is designed for calling football games.
Left Field Net[edit]
Because the stadium is so tightly set into its urban location, left field backs directly against the street. If any player were to hit a home run over the left field wall the ball would literally fall into the street, against a local business, or onto a passing car. To prevent this from becoming a problem a 70 feet high net was constructed above the left field wall. What is especially distinct about Point Stadium's net is that should a ball strike that net, the ball remains in play. This creates for some very interesting fielding situations, and gives the home team outfielders the distinct advantage of having learned to play Point Stadium's unique field.
External Links and Resources[edit]
- [1] Benson, Michael (1989). Ballparks of North America.
- Photos of Point Stadium from Fronteirnet
- Ballpark Reviews Page
- Smallparks.com Page
- Minorleagueparks.com Page
- Charlies Ballparks Page
- Digital Ballparks Page
- Minorleagueballparks.com Page
- AAABA Home page
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