Cheney Stadium
Encyclopedia
Cheney Stadium, in Tacoma, Washington
, is the home field for the Tacoma Rainiers
minor-league baseball
team of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League
. The stadium opened in 1960, and has a capacity of 9,600. It is next to Henry Foss High School
and the stadium has an agreement with the school to use the school parking lot for parking.
, a local businessman who worked to bring minor league baseball to Tacoma and also was put in control of the project. Cheney Stadium was constructed in 42 working days after the San Francisco Giants
had committed to moving their Triple-A affiliate from Phoenix if the city could open the stadium for the beginning of the 1960 season. Construction included light towers and wooden grandstand seats from Seals Stadium
in San Francisco. The wooden grandstand seats are still in place today.
Cheney Stadium has been home to Pacific Coast League
baseball continuously since 1960, in the form of seven teams: the Tacoma Giants (1960-65), Cubs (1966-71), Twins (1972-77), Yankees (1978), Tugs (1979), Tigers (A's) (1980-94), and the Rainiers (Mariners) (1995-present).
Notable players who played in Cheney Stadium include Juan Marichal
, Gaylord Perry
, Jose Canseco
, Mark McGwire
, Jason Giambi
, Felix Hernandez
, Cliff Lee
, and Alex Rodriguez
.
On November 19, 2009 the Tacoma Rainiers renewed their lease with the City of Tacoma to keep playing at Cheney Stadium for 32 years. The deal relied on the renovation proposal getting passed. The proposal, now said to be 28 million dollars in cost, was approved on November 25, 2009. The approval means the Rainiers will continue to play in Tacoma until at least 2041 and the renovations are scheduled to be completed by the 2011 season. The final plan included basic repairs, 16 luxury suites, a kids’ "play area", more restrooms and concession stands, and a new restaurant.
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
, is the home field for the Tacoma Rainiers
Tacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
minor-league baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. The stadium opened in 1960, and has a capacity of 9,600. It is next to Henry Foss High School
Henry Foss High School
Henry Foss High School is a high school in Tacoma, Washington. It opened in 1973. It is a part of the Tacoma Public School District. The school is named after Henry Foss, a civic leader and tugboat tycoon in Tacoma.-History:...
and the stadium has an agreement with the school to use the school parking lot for parking.
History
Cheney Stadium is named for Ben CheneyBen Cheney
Benjamin Bradbury Cheney was an American businessman and sports enthusiast active in Pacific Coast states. Cheney founded the Cheney Lumber Company and is credited with standardizing the size of wall studs at 8 feet long by 2 inches thick by 4 inches wide, commonly referred to as a 2-by-4...
, a local businessman who worked to bring minor league baseball to Tacoma and also was put in control of the project. Cheney Stadium was constructed in 42 working days after the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
had committed to moving their Triple-A affiliate from Phoenix if the city could open the stadium for the beginning of the 1960 season. Construction included light towers and wooden grandstand seats from Seals Stadium
Seals Stadium
Seals Stadium was a minor league baseball stadium that stood in San Francisco from 1931 through 1959.Built during the depression, Seals Stadium opened on April 7, 1931, It cost $600,000 to construct, and Seals President "Doc" Strub described how laborers would leap onto the running boards of his...
in San Francisco. The wooden grandstand seats are still in place today.
Cheney Stadium has been home to Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
baseball continuously since 1960, in the form of seven teams: the Tacoma Giants (1960-65), Cubs (1966-71), Twins (1972-77), Yankees (1978), Tugs (1979), Tigers (A's) (1980-94), and the Rainiers (Mariners) (1995-present).
Notable players who played in Cheney Stadium include Juan Marichal
Juan Marichal
Juan Antonio Marichal Sánchez is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. Playing for the San Francisco Giants most of his career, Marichal was known for his high leg kick, pinpoint control and intimidation tactics, which included aiming pitches directly at the opposing batters'...
, Gaylord Perry
Gaylord Perry
Gaylord Jackson Perry is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1962-1983 for eight different teams in his career. During a 22-year baseball career, Perry compiled 314 wins, 3,534 strikeouts, and a 3.11 earned run average...
, Jose Canseco
José Canseco
José Canseco Capas, Jr. is a Cuban-American professional baseball manager, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Yuma Scorpions of the North American League and former Major League Baseball player. He is the identical twin brother of former major league player and current teammate Ozzie Canseco...
, Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire
Mark David McGwire , nicknamed "Big Mac", is an American former professional baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently the hitting coach for the St...
, Jason Giambi
Jason Giambi
Jason Gilbert Giambi is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball.He was the American League MVP in 2000 while with the Oakland Athletics, and is a five-time All-Star who has led the American League in walks four times, in on base percentage...
, Felix Hernandez
Félix Hernández
Félix Abraham Hernández , nicknamed "King Félix", is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners....
, Cliff Lee
Cliff Lee
Clifton Phifer "Cliff" Lee is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. Lee has also played for the Cleveland Indians, the Seattle Mariners, and the Texas Rangers....
, and Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
.
2009 renovations
On November 11, 2009 it was announced the City of Tacoma was considering a 30 million dollar renovations to Cheney Stadium. Early renovation plans included a new grandstand superstructure, roof and concourse, as well as new concession stands, seats, luxury suites and a restaurant. The proposal drew little controversy from tax payers.On November 19, 2009 the Tacoma Rainiers renewed their lease with the City of Tacoma to keep playing at Cheney Stadium for 32 years. The deal relied on the renovation proposal getting passed. The proposal, now said to be 28 million dollars in cost, was approved on November 25, 2009. The approval means the Rainiers will continue to play in Tacoma until at least 2041 and the renovations are scheduled to be completed by the 2011 season. The final plan included basic repairs, 16 luxury suites, a kids’ "play area", more restrooms and concession stands, and a new restaurant.