Wood-Ridge Little League Field

The press box and concession stand building at the Wood-Ridge Little League field, Jun-2012.

A view from down the right-field line.

The unlighted field is tucked into a residential neighborhood bordering the borough of Carlstadt.

• Location: 6th Street between Center and Union streets, Wood-Ridge, N.J. (map it using Google Maps)
• Opened: 1953
• Additional names: 6th Street Field (2017)
• Home team: Wood-Ridge / Moonachie Little League

The field is at one of the highest points in the borough of Wood-Ridge, and the lay of the land made it difficult to build the field any larger, as a hill drops off just beyond the left-field fence. Even with netting above the fence, many a home run has gone sailing into back yards of residents on 8th Street.

With the field nestled into a residental area as it is, local pressure has conspired to keep the local league from adding lights to its facility. As a result, many games start before 6 in the evening in order to afford a good opportunity to play all six innings. One of the most dramatic finishes in the field’s history came in 1985, when Marty Voelker of the Wood-Ridge 12-year-old tournament team doubled down the left-field line amid the gloaming, scoring the tying and winning runs in the district championship game against Garfield American as a storm approached from the west and blocked what was left of the day’s light.

The field never had an official name until 2017, when Mayor Paul Sarlo, who has been active with the Wood-Ridge league as a coach (and who played in the league through 1981), had a sign erected at the facility designating it as 6th Street Field. There is also a park at Union and 12th streets that is used for some Little League games.