Joe Becker Stadium

Joe Becker Stadium is an American baseball ballpark, built in 1913, located in Joplin, Missouri. The stadium has burned down twice, the first time in 1936 and the second time in 1971. The stadium currently has seating capacity of 4,200 as the home of the Joplin Outlaws of the summer collegiate MINK League.[1]

Joe Becker Stadium
Location1301 E. 3rd Street
Joplin, MO 64801
Coordinates37°05′20″N 94°29′56″W
OwnerCity of Joplin
Capacity4,200
SurfaceTurf
Opened1917
Tenants
Joplin Outlaws (MINK) (2017-present)
Joplin Blasters (AA) (2015-2016)
MSSU Lions (college) (1966-2014)
Joplin Miners (1917–1954)

History

The original tenants were the Joplin Miners, a longtime minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees. Whitey Herzog and fellow Hall of Fame inductee Mickey Mantle played for the Miners.[2] Other team monikers have included the Joplin Blasters minor league baseball team and the current Joplin Outlaws collegiate summer baseball team. The Missouri Southern State University baseball team played there through 2014 before relocating to an on-campus stadium in 2015.[3]

In April 1920, Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Ty Cobb and his Detroit Tigers played an exhibition game against the Miners at Joe Becker Stadium.[4][5]

Renovations and tenants

In January 2014, the El Paso Diablos of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball relocated to Joplin in exchange for improvements to the stadium's seating, restrooms, lighting, and other infrastructure.[6][7] They began play in the 2015 season as the Joplin Blasters.[8] A $4.7 million reconstruction of the stadium by Hanson Sports, Corner Greer Architects, and Crossland Construction began in September 2014 which saw the installation of new lighting and fixed seating for 2,400, renovation of restrooms, locker rooms, and team dugouts, plus the addition of concession stands, merchandise sales space, and modern ticket booths.[9]

In 2016, the Blasters closed offices and left Joplin and in 2017, the stadium became home to the Joplin Outlaws of the MINK League, as a collegiate wood-bat team.[10][11]

References
  1. "Joe Becker Stadium". Ballpark Reviews. 2006. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  2. "Mickey Mantle". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  3. "Joe Becker Stadium Photo Gallery". Missouri Southern State Lions. Archived from the original on April 10, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  4. "WORKING NOTES FOR JOE BECKER STADIUM" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-09. Retrieved 2016-03-05.
  5. "Professional baseball returns to Joplin at rebuilt stadium". Lake Sun Leader. Camdenton, Missouri: GateHouse Media. Associated Press. May 20, 2015.
  6. Woodin, Debby (November 23, 2013). "Landing pro squad would require city to upgrade historic Joe Becker Stadium". The Joplin Globe. Joplin, Missouri. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  7. Dougherty, Calley (January 22, 2014). "Joplin City Council approves lease agreement for Joe Becker Stadium". Pittsburg, Kansas: KOAM-TV. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  8. Lamb, Katie (September 24, 2014). "Joplin plays host for groundbreaking ceremony for Joe Becker Stadium". The Joplin Globe. Joplin, Missouri. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  9. Schremmer, Mark (September 24, 2014). "After stadium groundbreaking, Blasters look to sign manager, players". The Joplin Globe. Joplin, Missouri. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  10. Woodin, Debby (March 16, 2017). "UPDATED: City of Joplin, Blasters settle lawsuit". The Joplin Globe. Joplin, Missouri.
  11. Thorn, Cody (May 29, 2009). "Joplin Outlaws ready to begin play". The Morning Sun. Pittsburg, Kansas.
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