OSC Game Day: Clinton LumberKings

by Derrick Sloboda
Published on August 7, 2003 under Midwest League (MWL1)

You know when people say, "Baseball isn't like it used to be," and when a team's marketing slogan is "Baseball the way it used to be", what they are talking about is Clinton LumberKings baseball - team owned by the community, an historic stadium, and thousands of stories. I've visited Clinton many times before, and decided to take in a 7:00 game against the Burlington Bees on July 30th. As usual, I wasn't disappointed with my experience.

The LumberKings play at Alliant Energy Field. Originally Riverview Stadium, the park took on the name Alliant Energy Field, in 2002. Yes, I realize it isn't a historic name, but I'll give the Kings a pass on this one because anything that helps baseball in Clinton and in this stadium is okay with me, even selling the stadium's naming rights. Professional baseball has been played at the park for 66 years, 50 of those in the Midwest League, giving Clinton the longest tenure in the league.

The stadium itself was built in 1937 as a Works Progress Administration project like many parks erected during this time. It has a simple grandstand with a roof overhead supported by pillars. Anything behind the pillars is general admission and a steal at five dollars. In front of the pillars are the green box seats for six dollars.

The park sits near the Mississippi River, thus the original name Riverview Stadium. While it doesn't have a view of the river like the Bandits have in the Quad Cities, you can see the tops of the boats on the water. The surrounding area of the stadium is a city park with a nice walkway along the river. Being close to the river does have its disadvantages, such as drawing bugs. Make sure you bring your bug spray as the mosquitoes can get to you on warm evenings.

One great story involves the first three rows of green wooden seats at the park. At first glance they are just old seats with paint chipping away. But what makes them interesting is that they are originally from Wrigley Field. In 1947 the Cubs approached the Clinton team about becoming a Cubs' farm team. Clinton was reluctant as they were happy with their current affiliation. But the Cubs sweetened the deal by offering 500 new seats for their stadium. At the time the Cubs were ordering new seats for Wrigley Field so they simply added on 500 more seats to their order and when they arrived shipped them out to Clinton. Most likely they were only at Wrigley for a day or so, but technically they are authentic Wrigley Field seats.

Visiting the Clinton park is like stepping into a time warp, not that I was alive to attend games 40 years ago, but you just feel like the game is very simple. When the stadium opens, there isn't your typical stadium music playing as you find your seat. Instead, over the P.A. system plays a local country music radio station. During the game it was announced a former LumberKing made it to the majors for the Expos, and everyone gave him a nice hand as if he was at the game. It feels like there isn't a barrier between you and the team or the organization. There is just a hometown feel to the place. You buy a general admission ticket, find a seat with a nice view and enjoy the game, simple as that.

I find it hard to believe that Clinton plays in the same league with organizations such as Dayton and West Michigan, which have video boards, luxury boxes and seemingly endless resources, especially when considering Midwest League teams like Madison, Waterloo, and Springfield have folded in the last decade or so. What makes Clinton special? Why have they have been able to hold on?

According to General Manager Ted Tornow it is because of three things: determination, money, and luck. According to Tornow, when there have been bad times and money was needed for the team to stay alive, the directors and shareholders in the team have stepped up and found a way. In other communities it wasn't that they didn't care about their team, it just didn't work out financially for those involved. But in Clinton it has worked out. I believe it is because the people behind the Clinton organization are the community of Clinton. Their hard work, along with the good luck Tornow mentioned, has kept baseball in Clinton.

I really couldn't be happier Clinton baseball has survived. I can't tell you how many times I have driven right by Kane County to go out to see a game in Clinton. No knock against Kane County, but Clinton is just a special place to see a game. The stadium holds three landmarks for myself. This is the only place I ever saw a steal of home, only place I ever participated in an on field promotion, and the only place I ever helped roll out the tarp. For whatever reason after a game I went to years ago they needed help to roll out the tarp, and I was more than happy to help.

The future in Clinton is positive. The city all but finalized plans to renovate the stadium with funds from the state's Vision Iowa plan, but litigation has the funds caught up in the court system. The litigation is about the use of the money awarded to Page County in western Iowa and has nothing to do with the Clinton plans, but since all of the money is under the same umbrella the money is stuck. The renovations on the park are still in the works once the cash comes through. Despite the lawsuit, some improvements have been completed. A party deck in right field was installed, there is new paint around the ball park, and the stadium received much needed new lights.

I have very few complaints about Clinton LumberKings' baseball. The lighting in the grandstand is a little dim making it difficult to read the scorecard, but that is about it and is a very minor point. If you call yourself a baseball fan, you owe it to yourself to go to Clinton for a game. I don't want to describe Clinton as a small slice of Americana, even if it is true, or use any cliche like that. Clinton is just a great place to relax and enjoy a game of baseball in a very special setting, and I really couldn't ask for more.

Post Game Notes:

• You can get two tickets for the price of one when you show your AAA card at the window.
• Parking is free in the lot right next to the stadium. But don't park too close to the field or you may end up with a souvenir through your windshield.
• The "Hot Box" grill area down the third baseline features a great selection like BBQ pulled pork and steak sandwiches. There are also fried food selections like cheese balls, poppers, and onion rings. Try the "Garbage Pail" for $3.50. It is a sampling of the fried food they offer.

Midwest League Stories from August 7, 2003

• OSC Game Day: Clinton LumberKings - OSC Original by Derrick Sloboda
• Tourists Sent Packing - Lake County Captains
• Dragons Skid Hits Five as They Fall 3-2 to the Bees - Dayton Dragons
• Hometown Hero Give 'Caps Road Win - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Harris and Fulmer Lead the Way to Rattler Win - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Lansing commits five errors in ghastly 9-1 loss - Lansing Lugnuts
• General Mills and Quaker Oats square off tonight - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Goas to Provo; Lincoln arrives - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Graham Sent to Oneonta - West Michigan Whitecaps

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.