Riggin Field

Entrance to the Little League field area of Riggin Memorial Field, Jun-2013.

Looking in from the outfield, the multi-use concession building is visible.

The Little League field overlooks NJ 17.

• Location: Railroad Avenue at NJ 17, East Rutherford, N.J. (map it using Google Maps)
• Opened: 1951 (renovated: 2003)
• Home team: East Rutherford Little League

The Little League program in East Rutherford started in 1951. This area of the park was used for Little League at that time, but until a major park renovation, this ball field faced south, with the first-base line running parallel to NJ 17.

A renovation relocated the football field to be parallel to the highway, making the larger area near the corner of Hackensack Street (CR 55) and Union Avenue (CR S-32) the primary full-sized baseball field as well as a soccer area. The main baseball field (at which I have never attended a complete game) and the football field also received artificial turf at this time.

At the same time, the orientation of the Little League field was shifted, so that the first-base line is parallel to Railroad Avenue, which runs alongside the old main line of the Erie Railroad. As a result, the batter now looks directly at the highway.

In addition, the field now sports the regulation Little League outfield fence distance of 200 feet all around, which is deeper than the original field.

A plaque near home plate memorializes long-time league coach Tom Schreiber, who died in 2004.