Palm Springs Stadium
Encyclopedia
Palm Springs Stadium is a stadium
in Palm Springs, California
. It is primarily used for baseball
. It was formerly named Angels Stadium and was the home field of the Palm Springs Suns of the Western Baseball League
in 1995 and 1996. Palm Springs Stadium is currently the home of the Palm Springs Power
, of the collegiate summer Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association
. The stadium had a capacity of 5,185.
teams throughout the 1950s and 1960s. From 1961 to 1992, it hosted spring training
for the California Angels
under team owner Gene Autry
, also a part-time resident. Their class-A minor league affiliate, the Palm Springs Angels
of the California League
played good "in the heat" from 1986 to their last season, 1993.
Three other teams played in the stadium, the Palm Springs Promise of the California Collegiate League
folded quickly in 1994. The Cal League's Modesto A's played 20 home games that year, and the Riverside Pilots
done the same in 1995 (the Pilots are now the Lancaster Jethawks
). The Phoenix Firebirds
of the AAA-level Pacific Coast League
played 20 "home" games at the stadium in 1997 before they became the Fresno Grizzlies
.
For a while, the only bond with the major leagues was softball. But the Pepsi All-Star softball game went to nearby Cathedral City
in 1998 at the Field of Dreams complex. The Palm Springs Heat of the Western States Football League
had lackluster games in the 1993 season with a 4-10 record before they folded operations.
The status of Palm Springs Stadium was unclear in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The city council had refused to pay for renovation in the past, when Sonny Bono
, then-mayor of Palm Springs, shown little interest. As a result, baseball was lost, teams left, and locals debated whether baseball could survive in an area known for summer heat and more local interest in golf
and tennis
.
It is a possible site of interest for the independent Golden Baseball League
. However, the current tenant, the Palm Springs Power
, draw in more fans and local media than previous baseball teams.
The stadium hosts all the games of the four team California Winter League
in the 2010 season. The founding team, the Palm Springs Chill
is formerly of the Arizona Winter League
began play in 2007/08.
In addition to being the home stadium of Power and Chill baseball (who also have year round offices in the stadium), Palm Springs Stadium hosts an amateur football team, the Desert Valley Spartans, who are members of the LaBelle Community Football League (LCFL) and LCFL-West, from August to October, a springtime USABF Amateur Baseball tournament, pop-warner football, numerous local festivals, and softball tournaments throughout the year.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
. It is primarily used for 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...
. It was formerly named Angels Stadium and was the home field of the Palm Springs Suns of the Western Baseball League
Western Baseball League
The Western Baseball League was an independent baseball league based in the Western United States and Western Canada. It's member teams were not associated with any Major League Baseball teams. It operated from 1995 to 2002....
in 1995 and 1996. Palm Springs Stadium is currently the home of the Palm Springs Power
Palm Springs Power
The Palm Springs POWER is a collegiate-level baseball team based in Palm Springs, California and are members of the Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association. They play their home games at Palm Springs Stadium, also the home of the California Winter League...
, of the collegiate summer Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association
Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association
The Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association is a collegiate summer baseball league. The SCCBA is a member of the National Baseball Congress. The PSWBL League Champion represents the league annually at the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kansas. 2009 will mark the...
. The stadium had a capacity of 5,185.
History
Formerly a polo ground, the present-day stands opened in 1949 and was expanded 4 times in the 1950s. They hosted exhibition games for several Pacific Coast LeaguePacific 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...
teams throughout the 1950s and 1960s. From 1961 to 1992, it hosted spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
for the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
under team owner Gene Autry
Gene Autry
Orvon Grover Autry , better known as Gene Autry, was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s...
, also a part-time resident. Their class-A minor league affiliate, the Palm Springs Angels
Palm Springs Angels
The Palm Springs Angels were a minor league baseball team of the Class A California League from 1986 to 1993 and an affiliate of the California Angels...
of the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
played good "in the heat" from 1986 to their last season, 1993.
Three other teams played in the stadium, the Palm Springs Promise of the California Collegiate League
California Collegiate League
The California Collegiate League, founded in 1994, is a collegiate summer baseball league headquartered in Carpinteria, California. It is associated with the National Baseball Congress.-Current teams 2010:Ten to 14 teams will play in the CCL....
folded quickly in 1994. The Cal League's Modesto A's played 20 home games that year, and the Riverside Pilots
Riverside Pilots
The Riverside Pilots were a minor league baseball team in Riverside, California. They were a high-A class team that played in the California League, and were a farm team of the Seattle Mariners for the franchise’s entire stay in Riverside...
done the same in 1995 (the Pilots are now the Lancaster Jethawks
Lancaster JetHawks
The Lancaster JetHawks are a minor league baseball team of the California League located in Lancaster, California. The team is named for the city's association with the aerospace industry and plays its home games at Clear Channel Stadium...
). The Phoenix Firebirds
Phoenix Firebirds
The Phoenix Firebirds, formerly the Phoenix Giants, were a Minor League Baseball team that played in Phoenix, Arizona, USA from 1958-1959, and 1966 until 1997....
of the AAA-level 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...
played 20 "home" games at the stadium in 1997 before they became the Fresno Grizzlies
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
.
For a while, the only bond with the major leagues was softball. But the Pepsi All-Star softball game went to nearby Cathedral City
Cathedral City, California
Cathedral City is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. The population was 51,200 at the 2010 census. Sandwiched between Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage, it is one of the cities in the Coachella Valley of southern California...
in 1998 at the Field of Dreams complex. The Palm Springs Heat of the Western States Football League
Western States Football League
The Western States Football League is a U.S. junior college football league for schools in the states of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The league is part of the National Junior College Athletic Association.-History:...
had lackluster games in the 1993 season with a 4-10 record before they folded operations.
The status of Palm Springs Stadium was unclear in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The city council had refused to pay for renovation in the past, when Sonny Bono
Sonny Bono
Salvatore Phillip "Sonny" Bono was an American recording artist, record producer, actor, and politician whose career spanned over three decades.-Early life:...
, then-mayor of Palm Springs, shown little interest. As a result, baseball was lost, teams left, and locals debated whether baseball could survive in an area known for summer heat and more local interest in golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
.
It is a possible site of interest for the independent Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
. However, the current tenant, the Palm Springs Power
Palm Springs Power
The Palm Springs POWER is a collegiate-level baseball team based in Palm Springs, California and are members of the Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association. They play their home games at Palm Springs Stadium, also the home of the California Winter League...
, draw in more fans and local media than previous baseball teams.
Present
The status of Palm Springs Stadium has largely been resolved. The City of Palm Springs repainted the entire stadium in May 2007, right before the start of Power Baseball's 2007 season. In addition the Power have made additional capital improvements to the stadium and the field.The stadium hosts all the games of the four team California Winter League
California Winter League
California Winter League is a former baseball Winter League. It is the first integrated league in the 20th century as players from Major League Baseball and Negro League Baseball played each other in training games. The league existed for almost 50 years during the first half of the 20th century...
in the 2010 season. The founding team, the Palm Springs Chill
Palm Springs Chill
The Palm Springs Chill are an independent baseball team based in Palm Springs, California. They are co-owned by the Palm Springs Power and play their home games at Palm Springs Stadium...
is formerly of the Arizona Winter League
Arizona Winter League
The Arizona Winter League is the short-season instructional independent winter professional baseball league affiliated with the independent North American League...
began play in 2007/08.
In addition to being the home stadium of Power and Chill baseball (who also have year round offices in the stadium), Palm Springs Stadium hosts an amateur football team, the Desert Valley Spartans, who are members of the LaBelle Community Football League (LCFL) and LCFL-West, from August to October, a springtime USABF Amateur Baseball tournament, pop-warner football, numerous local festivals, and softball tournaments throughout the year.
Palm Springs Stadium chronology
- January 1950: World Class Rodeo inaugurates Polo Grounds Arena, build on an earlier recreation site used by locals
- 1950-1955: Pacific Coast LeaguePacific Coast LeagueThe 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...
’s Seattle RainiersSeattle RainiersThe Seattle Rainiers, originally named the Seattle Indians and also known as the Seattle Angels, were a minor league baseball team in Seattle, Washington, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903-06 and 1919-68...
played at Polo Grounds, which had a ball diamond - 1951 Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
spend Spring Training at stadium, later the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in 1954-55 and Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
in 1958-59 shared with RiversideRiverside, CaliforniaRiverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California... - 1957-1959: Other Pacific Coast League and class D/AAA American AssociationAmerican Association (20th century)The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
teams use facilities - 1960: Seattle Rainiers return to Palm Springs
- 1961: California Angels, owned by Gene Autry and Robert Reynolds, makes Palm Springs their spring training home
- April 1969: 250 law officers face 1,500 youths during Pop Music Festival riot
- May 1975: Professional women's football all-star game is held there, the diamond is used for American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
play - July 1976: America 200th bicentennial celebration held in stadium with fireworks display
- 1978-79: The California Sunshine soccer team based in OrangeOrange, CaliforniaSouthern California is well-known for year-round pleasant weather: - On average, the warmest month is August. - The highest recorded temperature was in 1985. - On average, the coolest month is December. - The lowest recorded temperature was in 1950...
held exhibition games - March 1983: Tommy John takes on Sutton at Angels Game
- July 1983: Stadium Gets Lights Due to Funds Donated By Gene Autry
- 1984-91: California Angels hold an annual exhibition game series every April, an acknowledged thanks to the city and local fans
- October 1985: Stadium Site of the Big Circus and Halloween Carnival, a predecessor to the 1990-91 Annual Children's festival
- November 1985: Vintage Grand Prix Held at Stadium, later was the Palm Springs Grand Prix of the late 1980s/early 1990s
- January 1991: Darryl StrawberryDarryl StrawberryDarryl Eugene Strawberry is a former American Major League Baseball outfielder who is well-known both for his play on the field and for his controversial behavior off it...
and other Dodgers play in celebrity softball game held at stadium, sponsored by MTVMTVMTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs.... - June 1991: Power Jam Loads Stadium with Top-40 Bands for the Palm Springs Music Festival
- December 1991: Senior OlympicsSenior OlympicsThe National Senior Games or "Senior Olympics" is a sports competition for seniors from the United States. It is a multi-sport event specifically devoted to adults aged 50+ . It is composed of regional competitions held yearly in all American states...
return for their fifth year, and a youth olympics event held in March 1992 - March 1992: Angels transfer to Tempe, ArizonaTempe, ArizonaTempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
after spring training ends - August 1992: Kansas City RoyalsKansas City RoyalsThe Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
tryouts set in Palm Springs - April 1993: PS Angels start play, their 7th (and last) season
- September 1993: PS Angels move to Lake Elsinore to play in 1994
- June 1994: PS Promise opening game. They were a collegiate level team that lasted one season
- July 1994: Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
held a tryout camp for a 3-day weekend - April 1995: Modesto A's hold 10 "home games" in stadium
- May 1995: PS Suns Start Play at Stadium, lasted two seasons before relocation to Oxnard, CaliforniaOxnard, CaliforniaOxnard is the 113th largest city in the United States, 19th largest city in California and largest city in Ventura County, California, by way of population. It is located at the western edge of the fertile Oxnard Plain, and is an important agricultural center, with its distinction as the...
(folded in 1999) - April 1996: Riverside PilotsRiverside PilotsThe Riverside Pilots were a minor league baseball team in Riverside, California. They were a high-A class team that played in the California League, and were a farm team of the Seattle Mariners for the franchise’s entire stay in Riverside...
of the California League hold 10 "home games" in the stadium - June 1996: Angels Stadium renamed PS Stadium at request of PS Suns (also known for a clothing-optional fan attendance)
- July 1997: Phoenix FirebirdsPhoenix FirebirdsThe Phoenix Firebirds, formerly the Phoenix Giants, were a Minor League Baseball team that played in Phoenix, Arizona, USA from 1958-1959, and 1966 until 1997....
of the Pacific Coast League played 20 "home" games at the stadium - January 1998: First Major League Baseball Exhibition game between the Colorado RockiesColorado RockiesThe Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
and Seattle MarinersSeattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July... - June 2004: New hometown team, Palm Springs Power, opens
- June 2005: PS Power starts second season -- total season fan attendance over 100,000
- June 2006: PS Power starts third season -- fan attendance climbs above 150,000
- June 2007: PS Power starts fourth season -- fan attendance surpasses 200,000
- May 2008: PS Power's fifth season has total seasonal attendance of over 250,000 fans. The team is now a member of the Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association
- 2009: PS Power plays sixth season in 2009, with about 300,000 fans in attendance
- December 2008: The Arizona Winter League grants a team in Palm Springs, the Palm Springs ChillPalm Springs ChillThe Palm Springs Chill are an independent baseball team based in Palm Springs, California. They are co-owned by the Palm Springs Power and play their home games at Palm Springs Stadium...
- January 2009: The Chill ends their first season with total fan attendance all season at above 100,000
- February 2009: Second Major League Baseball Exhibition game of the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and the Los Angeles Angels of AnaheimLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimThe Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles... - January 2010: The California Winter League premieres its first season, all their games representing four teams played in the stadium. The CWL championship was held on Feb. 25, 2010
- February 2010: Another exhibition game for the Angels versus the San Diego PadresSan Diego PadresThe San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
- January 2011: Third exhibition game of the Angels vs. the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
- 2011: The North American LeagueNorth American LeagueThe North American League is an independent baseball league that began play in the 2011 season...
may field a team in the stadium - 2012: Host of the Southwest CupSouthwest CupThe Southwest Cup is an open soccer tournament to Native American tribal teams in the Southwest United States. This tournament is biennial and started in 1957...
amateur soccer tournament representing Native American tribes of the American Southwest.