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July 2007
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Section: Feature
20 Years of Dunn Tire Park
By Christopher Schobert
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Vintage baseball cards from Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Merritt card is LOT 13163-25, no. 191. Clancy card is LOT 13163-18, no. 445.
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Buffalo’s love affair with baseball and the Bisons stretches back very far, to the glory days of War Memorial Stadium — the legendary “Rockpile” — players like Ollie Carnegie and Luke Easter, and through affiliations with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Indians, the team’s current affiliate. Much has changed during the franchise’s lifetime, but what hasn’t is the fun and excitement of a day at the ballpark. The stadium draws residents from all age groups and all walks of life, with events such as Senior Days, Kids Days, and the popular Fridaynightbashes, which feature fireworks, taking their rightful place as local traditions.
As the Bisons continue their 20th season at Dunn Tire Park, Forever Young takes a look back at Western New York’s love affair with the Herd.
Dunn Tire Park’s opening in 1988 was the culmination of years of planning, struggle and teamwork. Buffalonians have always taken this kind of dedication to heart, and quickly saw that there was a new attitude in Buffalo baseball. The groundbreaking building was designed by HOK Sport, the architectural firm that later designed Camden Yards in Baltimore. Fans responded to the excitement by snapping up more than 10,000 tickets in just 84 minutes for the opening of what was then called Pilot Field, on March 7, 1988. The Bisons responded to the 19,500-strong crowd by defeating the Denver Zephyrs, 1-0.
One early Pilot Field highlight was the National Old Timer’s Baseball Classic. The nationally-televised affair put the young ballpark on the map, and saw such legends as Brooks Robinson, Tug McGraw and Harmon Killebrew take to the field. The game, which saw the National League defeat the American League, 4-3, might be most remembered for its rare appearance from the Yankee Clipper — Joe DiMaggio. While DiMaggio did not play in the game, he did suit up in American League red-and-white. He trotted out of the dugout, tipped his cap, and received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd, giving Pilot Field one of its first “goosebump” moments. (The National Old Timer’s Game was held again the following year; this, too, was broadcast on ESPN.)
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Photo courtesy of the Buffalo Bisons.
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This was one of many memorable events during the stadium’s introductory campaign. On July 13 of that year, Buffalo hosted the first-ever Triple-A All-Star Game, and on August 17, the team became just the second club in minor league baseball history to break the 1 million attendance mark. In fact, the season concluded with a minor-league record of 1,186,651 attendees. In 1990, additional seating was added, expanding Pilot Field’s capacity to 20,900. The next season was a busy one, seeing a visit from the National League Expansion Committee. Buffalo was one of six cities contending for a Major League Baseball franchise, and while the city was not chosen, the opportunity brought a high level of community excitement that continued through the season, culminating in the Bisons’ first American Association Eastern Division title.
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Photo courtesy of the Buffalo Bisons.
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September 1994 saw a major change, as the Bisons signed a two-year working agreement with the Cleveland Indians. In 1995, the name Pilot Field became a thing of the past — the ballpark was now North AmeriCarePark. This season saw the Herd reach the American Association championship, falling to Louisville in five games. However, the team captured the title in 1997, defeating the Iowa Cubs. The next season saw the Bisons return to the International League, and another title, as Buffalo took down the Durham Bulls, becoming the first Bison team to win back-to-back championships. Buffalo captured the crown again in 2004, and on October 1, thousands of fans filled what was now Dunn Tire Park to honor their victors.
While the Herd missed the postseason last year, the campaign still saw its share of highs, including a 6-2 win over the Rochester Red Wings to capture the 2006 Thruway Series Cup. Wherever this season takes manager Terry Lovullo’s team, Buffalo will be behind them, and on the lookout for the Tim Wakefield, Grady Sizemore or Jeff Manto of tomorrow.
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