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Canada’s Favourite Ballpark contest is here! Please vote for your favourite ballpark below. The ballpark that receives the most votes by August 8th at 10am ET will advance to the semi-final round.

Best of Luck to all ballparks!

PLAY BALL!

Stade de Baseball Julien Morin de Coaticook – Coaticook, QC

The Coaticook stadium was built in 1963. That year, the Coaticook Canadians adhered to the provincial league. The wood made seats in the dugouts were purchased from the Montreal Royals.

In 1973, the stadium was the host of the Bantam championships.

Following Sherbrooke’s Amédée-Roy stadium renovations, LBJM A’s team moved to Coaticook for the 1981-1982 seasons.

Then Coaticook hosted the Senior provincial championship in 1991 and 1992. The following year, Coaticook hosted the Senior Nationals.

In 1995, new bleachers were installed (650) as well as a Bar-VIP section.

In 1997, the stadium changed its name to Julien Morin Stadium, honouring a great sport icon of this region.

In 2002, Coaticook hosted the World Junior Championship and for this occasion, the playing surface was enhanced with grass infield and a new warning track.

Finally in 2010, other improvements have been scheduled in preparation for the 2013 Canada Games: new bleachers, new scoreboard, new fence and new sound system.

Over the years, several people have enjoyed the stadium for its beauty, its bleachers close to the action and players. 

All that for a small city with a population of 7,500.

 

Labatt Memorial Park – London, Ontario

There is no doubt that Labatt Memorial Park in London, Ontario is Canada’s favourite ballpark. It must be, as whenever a true fan of the grand old game visits the park, particularly for the first time, a smile erupts, as they look around to capture the “aura of baseball” that dominates the setting.

Canada’s and arguably the world’s oldest continuously operating baseball park, Labatt Memorial Park, hosted its first game on May 3, 1877. Just three weeks later, in front of 8,000 fans, the National League Champion – Boston Red Stockings edged the London Tecumsehs 7-6. The park has been owned by the City of London since 1936. A new grandstand was built for the 2001 Canada Games.

The park is used constantly and for the past 134 years has been the home of minor, senior and professional baseball. Mooney Gibson, Satchel Paige, Ferguson Jenkins, Lester B. Pearson and Wayne Gretzky are just some of the notables who have played at the park.

The field is maintained in pristine condition by the City of London, as a tribute to players past and present; a true community treasure and worthy of the title of Canada’s Favourite Ballpark.

Citizen Field – Prince George, BC

Citizen Field is home to Prince George Youth Baseball Association, Prince George Senior Baseball League and the nation’s premier international tournament, the World Baseball Challenge. Officially opened in 2006, it is surrounded by lush green trees that provide a picturesque backdrop to the field on Del Laverdure Way in Carrie Jane Gray Park, and has provided the world a stage in 2009 and 2011 -- after this summer, teams from Germany, USA, Canada, Bahamas, Cuba, Chinese Taipei, Japan and Beijing will have all played there -- while also being ready to welcome the Baseball Canada Senior Championship in 2012. A cozy park with a signature electronic scoreboard, “monster” left-field fence and classic dugouts, has a twin next door in the newly re-surfaced Rotary Field. Those improvements are compliments of the supportive leadership at the City of Prince George. The two fields, both with lights, combine to form Canada’s best tournament setup.

The professionally-groomed and maintained Citizen Field, which features clay-brick foundations for the mound, bullpens and plate areas, replaced Monty Gabriele Park, which hosted countless tournaments, the highlight of which was the 2002 Baseball Canada Senior Championship.

Canada’s best park – a grand slam!      

   

St. Pats Ballpark – St. John’s, NL

Set in the heart of St. John's, the oldest city in North America, sits St Pat's Ballpark, home to the oldest continuous senior baseball league in the country. Nestled down in a valley, and having a hitter’s backdrop of lush greenery and trees surrounding the field, some would argue it's one of the nicest parks in the country.

 St. Pat's has been home to baseball in St John's since 1947. The ballpark was built with the help of the American Servicemen stationed at Fort Pepperell (Pleasantville) during World War II.

 St. Pat's has showcased a National Junior Championship in 1966, a Canada Games in 1977, and 2 Senior Nationals (1982 and 1997).

 St. Pat's is fully equipped with lights, press box, scoreboard, and full canteen service so fans can enjoy a hot dog during a ball game. It has a full Clubhouse which includes the "Joe Wadden Room", which doubles as both a social meeting room and museum of local baseball.

 


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