 Monument to Walter Johnson outside the field dedicated to him, Jul-2015. |
 This is a typical community ball field, as seen from just beyond third base. |
 Looking out on the field from behind home plate. |
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Monument to Walter Johnson outside the field dedicated to him, Jul-2015. |
This is a typical community ball field, as seen from just beyond third base. |
Looking out on the field from behind home plate. |
 
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Perhaps the train connection is why the town honors “The Big Train”, Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson, with this local ball field that also serves the junior college based in town. Johnson was born about 50 miles north of here, near Humboldt in Allen County. He moved to California with his family at age 14, and after his playing career with the Washington Senators he settled in the Maryland suburbs, where he is also honored with a field that I have not yet visited.
Despite his apparent lack of any connection to Coffeyville, this ball field honors the pitcher, and it was a pleasant discovery as I drove US 166 toward Joplin in 2015.