Ed Smith Stadium

The much improved exterior of Ed Smith Stadium, Aug-2019.

The seating bowl, as seen from down the left field line.

Between innings at a drizzly Gulf Coast League game.

Chronological Tour: Stop 264

• Location: Tuttle Avenue at 12th Street, Sarasota, Fla. (map it using Google Maps)
• Opened: 1988
• Home team: Sarasota White Sox (1989-92), Red Sox (1993-2008), Reds (2009), Florida State League; spring training, Baltimore Orioles (1991-92, 2010-present), Cincinnati Reds (1998-2009)
• Capacity: 7,500

Rating: 3 baseballs

The only thing that seemed really good about this place was the press boxes. Otherwise, from the seating bowl to the concession stands, the park was simply blah. They even got a buck to park, which I didn’t think was necessary. At least the side grandstands have partial roofs, which came in handy during a rain delay I experienced here. In addition, there are no bleachers; everything is stadium seating.

Ed Smith Stadium got a facelift in time for the 2011 season, as the Baltimore Orioles, who occupied the facility when it was first built, moved back in and made major upgrades, enough for me to upgrade my rating of the park.

With no Florida State League occupant, the facility hosts other baseball events throughout the year. In 2022, for instance, the Orioles co-hosted the World Baseball Softball Confederation’s under-18 World Cup as well as hosting a women’s baseball tournament.

The Orioles’ Florida Complex League (rookie) team usually plays here. However, they occasionally shift games onto a back field.