View source for Parker Field

{{Short description|American baseball stadium}}
{{Infobox stadium
| stadium_name      = Parker Field
| nickname          =
| image             =
| location          = 1000 S. 12th Avenue<br />[[Yakima, Washington|Yakima]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]], U.S.
| coordinates       = {{Coord|46.586|-120.527|display=inline,title}} 
| broke_ground      = 
| opened            = 1937, {{Years or months ago|1937}}
| renovated         =
| expanded          =
| owner             = 
| operator          = 
| surface           = Natural grass
| former_names      =
| construction_cost = 
| architect         =
| tenants           = [[Yakima Bears]] ([[Northwest League|NWL]]) (1990–1992)<br />[[Yakima Valley Braves]] (NWL) (1964–1966)<br />[[Yakima Bears (original)|Yakima Bears]] (NWL) (1955–1963)<br />[[Yakima Bears (original)|Yakima Bears]] ([[Western International League|WIL]]) (1949–1954)<br />[[Yakima Packers]] (WIL) (1948)<br />[[Yakima Stars]] (WIL) (1946–1947)<br />[[Yakima Pippins]] (WIL) (1937–1941)
| seating_capacity  = 2,500
| dimensions        = <!--'''Left Field''' – {{convert||ft|abbr=on}}<br />'''Center Field''' – {{convert||ft|abbr=on}}<br />'''Right Field''' – {{convert||ft|abbr=on}} -->
}}
{{Location map
|USA
|relief     = 1
|label      = <small>Yakima</small>
|lat        = 46.586
|long       = -120.527
|caption    = Location in the [[United States]]
|marksize   = 5
|float      = 
|background = 
|width      = 240
}}
{{Location map
|USA Washington
|relief     = 1
|label      = <small>Yakima</small>
|lat        = 46.586
|long       = -120.527
|caption    = Location in [[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|marksize   = 5
|float      = 
|background = 
|width      = 200
}}
'''Parker Field''' is a 2,500-seat [[baseball]] [[stadium]] in the [[Pacific Northwest|northwest]] [[United States]], located in [[Yakima, Washington]]. Opened {{Years or months ago|1937}} in 1937 for the [[Yakima Bears#History|Yakima Pippins]] of the [[Western International League]], it hosted various professional and amateur teams in the area prior to the opening of [[Yakima County Stadium]] in 1993.<ref name="mysite">[http://mysite.verizon.net/charliesballparks/stadiums/yakimold.htm Parker Field] at mysite.verizon.net, URL accessed December 12, 2009. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606141653/http://mysite.verizon.net/charliesballparks/stadiums/yakimold.htm |date=2011-06-06 }} 12/12/09</ref> 

The stadium is adjacent to [[Yakima Valley Community College]] and hosted the [[American Legion Baseball|American Legion]] World Series in 1954, 1978, and 2001.<ref name=otoltsl>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=voRUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MI8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=2396%2C1712710 |newspaper=Ellensburg Daily Record |location=(Washington) |title=One third of Legion tickets sold |date=July 29, 1978 |page=4}}</ref><ref name=hiaclms>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uflVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CuIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4343%2C1315072 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=UPI |title=Hialeah claims Legion crown |date=September 5, 1978 |page=2C }}</ref><ref name=pmwaws>{{cite news |url=http://www.emissourian.com/sports/post-manager-strauser-works-at-american-legion-world-series/article_32043ce3-3e2c-5c45-b6ec-3ed7e97b2964.html?mode=jqm |newspaper=Southeast Missourian |location=(Cape Girardeau) |last=Battle |first=Bill |title=Post 218 manager Strauser works at American Legion World Series |date=September 5, 2001 |access-date=November 8, 2015}}</ref> The Yakima Beetles, the American Legion team based at Parker Field, won national titles in 1953, 1975,<ref name=yicolgb>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UMopAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yvgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3254%2C912507 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Yakima is champion of Legion baseball |date=September 2, 1975 |page=17}}</ref> and 1979.<ref name=ywltle79>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HltOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=J_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4768%2C514068 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Yakima wins Legion title |date=September 4, 1979 |page=17}}</ref><ref name=albnchmps >{{cite web |url=http://www.legion.org/documents/baseball/national_champions.pdf |publisher=American Legion Baseball |title=National Champions |access-date=November 8, 2015}}</ref>

The stadium is named for attorney and businessman Shirley D. Parker (1888–1950)<ref name=shpkdies>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tAcKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fUoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3409%2C1835200 |newspaper=Ellensburg Daily Record |location=(Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Shirley Parker dies |date=November 30, 1950 |page=8}}</ref><ref name=pynsfnd>{{cite web |url=http://www.parkeryouthfoundation.com/history.html |publisher=Parker Youth & Sports Foundation |title=History |access-date=November 8, 2015}}</ref> and his wife Eleanor, who donated the {{convert|10|acre|0|spell=in}} of land to the city for public park and amusement purposes.<ref name=ddretis>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mjRWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zecDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6887%2C3346437 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |title=Deed return is asked of Yakima |date=May 25, 1960 |page=12 }}</ref><ref name=fifupiny>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yGIzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=x-cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6900%2C4060682 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |title=Field issue flares up in Yakima |date=July 13, 1960 |page=6}}</ref><ref name=bbsddyb66>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xFdYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uvcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2788%2C3944024 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Baseball seen dead for Yakima Braves |date=September 14, 1966 |page=40 }}</ref> Parker grew up in Yakima, was a quarterback at the [[Washington Huskies football|University of Washington]] in [[Seattle]], organized the Western International League, and established the Yakima Pippins baseball club.<ref name=shpkdies/><ref name=pynsfnd/><ref name=bmbybtm>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vO9XAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RfUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3760%2C6585363 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Business men buy Yakima ball team |date=November 30, 1940 |page=1 }}</ref>
 
A fire in March 1962 destroyed the wooden grandstand,<ref name=desptefr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gsZeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4395%2C2098725 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho) |agency=Associated Press |title=Bears to play despite fire |date=March 14, 1962 |page=10 }}</ref><ref name=fdest>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UTtWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QukDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1397%2C2168545 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=UPI |title=Fire destroys ball park |date=March 13, 1962 |page=2B }}</ref><ref name=srybpb>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fapWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FegDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5633%2C4547691 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Yakima ballpark burns |date=March 14, 1962 |page=6 }}</ref> which was quickly rebuilt.<ref name=bspkburn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iPxVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=b-MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6799%2C2488334 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |last=Harvey |first=Paul III |title=Bus, park burn but Yakima in black |date=August 12, 1965 |page=2D }}</ref>

The natural grass playing field is at an approximate [[elevation]] of {{convert|1060|ft|round=5}} above [[sea level]].  It has an unorthodox orientation, aligned southeast (home plate to center field); recommended alignment is east-northeast.<ref name=mlbobj>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/objectives_1.jsp|publisher=Major League Baseball |title=Objectives of the Game - rule 1.04|access-date=November 8, 2015}}</ref> It was formerly aligned to the northeast.<ref name=hisaer64>{{cite web|url=http://historicaerials.com/?layer=0&zoom=11&lat=46.586&lon=-120.527 |publisher=Historic Aerials |title=1964 photo |access-date=November 8, 2015}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
*[http://www.yakimavalleytourism.com/yakima-sports/yakima-sports-venues.asp Yakima Valley Tourism] - sports venues
*[http://www.parkeryouthfoundation.com/ Parker Youth & Sports Foundation]
*[http://goyaks.com/index.aspx?tab=baseball&path=baseball Yakima Valley Community College Athletics] - Yaks baseball
*[http://www.yakimabeetlesbaseball.com/ Yakima Beetles] - American Legion baseball

[[Category:Minor league baseball venues]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Yakima, Washington]]
[[Category:1937 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1937]]
[[Category:Baseball venues in Washington (state)]]

{{Washington-baseball-venue-stub}}