Stadium Minor League History:
American Association 1932-1954
International League
1955-1970, 1977-present
Stadium Negro League History:
Negro National League
1933, 1935
Negro Southern League 1932
Current Status:
Home of the Columbus Clippers of the International
League (AAA)
What's Good: Like Bush Stadium in Indianapolis and Silver Stadium in Rochester, Cooper is a wonderful example of a large depression-era minor league park. Like those ballparks, it seats over 10,000 and has a full roof -- a grand, sturdy place for folks in America's "second tier" of baseball cities to watch a game. Unlike the other two, it's still used for baseball, and it's a very comfortable place to do so.
What's Not So Good: One look at the picture reveals the twin abominations of artificial turf and skyboxes on the roof. However, in 1999 (after 15 years) the turf was ripped out and replaced with real grass. The skyboxes, of course, remain, but with grass instead of the rug this must be an even greater place to see a game.
This Photo:
May 30, 1993 Columbus Clippers vs. Charlotte Knights