Rhode Island is set to play Boston College in a college baseball exhibition game at Cardines Field in Newport. The historic 118-year-old+ stadium has some of the most unusual outfield dimensions in the sport.
It also has one of the most beautiful backdrops in the sport!
Although this specific college baseball game will not count toward the record for either team, it will make for an incredible visual. More games should be played a historic venues, if you ask me!
Rhode Island will play baseball at Cardines Field in Newport.
Although Newport, Rhode Island is best known for its wealthy history, famous residents, and sailing, it also has a deep connection to baseball. Major League Baseball teams that traveled through New England would stop in Newport to play exhibition games in the late 1800s, which eventually led to the creation of the Newport Colts and the Newport Trojans.
The Trojans eventually moved to a field that was first known as ‘The Basin’ because the property was originally used by local railroads as a drainage and supply basin for steam engines. Complaints from locals about stagnant water and mosquitoes ultimately led the basin area to be drained, which made room for a baseball field. The Basin was renamed as Cardines Field in 1936 after Private Bernardo Cardines, a local resident and Army soldier who was the first man from Newport to die in World War I.
Originally built for unofficial sandlot games for railroad workers, players like Satchel Paige, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto and Bob Feller have played at Cardines Field. Today, the field is home to the Newport Gulls of the New England Collegiate Baseball League and Rogers High School.
It is one of the oldest (if not the oldest) baseball stadiums in the United States that is still in use! You cannot ask for a more picturesque location.
The University of Rhode Island is located approximately 15 miles west of Newport. The Rams will play one of their fall ball exhibition games at Cardines Field on Thursday against Boston College.
What are the outfield dimensions?
Although the game will not hold any legitimate stakes in terms of the standings, it is a good first test for both programs. They get to see what their rosters might look like without the pressure of a win or a loss.
The exhibition contest also serves as a cool opportunity to showcase a historic stadium. But it will take some getting used to!
Cardines Field (The Basin) was built in the middle of Newport, Rhode Island more than 200 years ago. It is cut out of the city.
As a result, there are a lot of quirks. That includes the dimensions. Lets break it down:
- Left field: 325 feet
- Left-center field: 345 feet
- Center field: 395 feet
- Right-center field: 345 feet
- Right field: 285 feet
Multiple trees hang over the wall in left and left-center field. Any ball that hits an overhanging branch is ruled as an automatic home run. Right-center field is cut in at a 90º angle to avoid having to demolish nearby homes. The entire outfield fence (except for a small portion in left-center for the trees) is 28-feet tall. Oh, and there is a warehouse in right field that serves as the foul line.
Here is a great look at the dimensions as plotted by David Hrusovsky:
As far as I can tell, the college baseball exhibition game between Rhode Island and Boston College will not be streamed. However, it is sure to produce some pretty awesome photos of a historic venue!