Calfee Park

The original 1935 entrance to Calfee Park, Aug-2012.

Original third-base (and football) grandstand, and beyond to new (1999) construction.

Just off the photo, the fence rises in the outfield to meet the 301-foot right field line.

Chronological Tour: Stop 181

• Location: Washington Avenue (US 11) at Pierce Avenue, Pulaski, Va. (map it using Google Maps)
• Opened: 1935 as Pulaski Athletic Stadium (renovated: 1999, 2015)
• Additional names: Calfee Park (1940s); Motor Mile Field at Calfee Park (2015)
• Home team: Pulaski Counts, Virginia League (1942, 1946-50); Pulaski Phillies (1952-55, 1969-77), Cubs (1957-58), Braves (1982-92), Rangers (1997-2002), Blue Jays (2003-07), Mariners (2008-14), Yankees (2015-19), River Turtles (2021-present), Appalachian League
• Capacity: 2,500

Rating: 1 baseball

The park is set down in a valley from Route 11, but foul balls hit by lefties often go far enough out of play to be hit up close to (and sometimes onto) the two-lane road. The view here is of blocks of houses that extend beyond right field, and of a physical plant (including the visitors’ clubhouse, which wasn’t renovated as of 2012) in left. Dimensions are normal except for right field, which is short (301 feet) but capped off by a fence that has risen to 19 feet at the line.

Since my 2012 visit, further renovations have included actual suites in a “tower” behind home plate as well as a new visiting team clubhouse and a modern video board. However, for the most part, the character of the old yard has been preserved.

Ernest W. Calfee was major of Pulaski in 1935 when the park was built, and the stadium is named in his honor. A local auto dealer entered into an agreement with the city in 2015 (when the affiliation switched to the Yankees) to help finance further improvements, and so “Motor Mile Field” now appears in the facility name, but even the P-Yanks refer to the place most often as Calfee Park.

With the Appalachian League transforming from a rookie professional league to an MLB-sponsored college summer league for 2021, the club here will sport a name other than that of a major league affiliate for the first time since 1950. Pulaski’s team is now known as the River Turtles. Ownership said they were looking for a name that evoked the fan- and family-friendly atmosphere of Calfee Park. Peak Creek, which flows into the New River, runs less than half a mile from the ballpark.