It Ain’t Chicken Feed

Home-plate entrance to Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, Jul-2010.

The seating bowl is typical of mid-1990s ballparks.

The view from behind the plate, with the field decked out in stars for the Fourth of July.

Chronological Tour: Stop 93

• Location: Hobbs Road, just south of Route 50 east of the bypass, Salisbury, Md. (map it using Google Maps)
• Opened: 1996
• Home team: Delmarva Shorebirds, South Atlantic League (1996-2020), Carolina League (2021-present)
• Capacity: 5,200

Rating: 3 baseballs

The Delmarva Shorebirds could not affiliate with the Baltimore Orioles until 1997, thanks to previously existing South Atlantic League player development contracts. However, they are now happily tied in with the O’s.

In the 14 years between my first and second visits to the ballpark, the management expanded the facility slightly, adding a picnic area down the right-field line and a merry-go-round down the left-field line. As is the case in Aberdeen and a few other places, the area directly behind the plate is taken up by a reserved dining area.

The park itself contains all the typical amenities of a 1990s facility, although there is nothing in particular to recommend it. However, if you’re vacationing in Ocean City, 24 miles east, it’s worth the drive.

For 2018, the team started with some renovations. The carousel that was located down the left-field line is gone; a berm is now in place flanking a sidewalk that will eventually wrap around the park. The general admission benches above the cross aisle were also replaced by reserved seats.