LABATT PARK

London, Ontario

There is some debate as to whether Labatt Park might be the oldest ballpark in North America. You'd never guess it if you went there today as it looks to be as up-to-date as any contemporary minor league stadium. One thing that's certain is that baseball has been played at the corner of Wilson and Riverside since the latter part of the 19th century. Any way you look at it, Labatt Park has fielded teams of the Indians, Tigers, and Pirates organizations as well as independent leagues for well over a century:

London Tecumsehs, International Association, 1877-78

London Tecumsehs, International Association, 1888-89

London Tecumsehs, International League, 1890

London Alerts, Canadian Leauge, 1896-97

London Techumsehs, Canadian League, 1898-1900

London Cockneys, Class D International League, 1908

London Cockneys, Class C Canadian League, 1911

London Tecumsehs, Class C Canadian League, 1912-mid.1914, Class B Canadian League mid.1914-1915

London Tecumsehs, Class B Michigan-Ontario League, 1919-1924

London Indians, Class B Michigan-Ontario League, 1925

London Tecumsehs, Class D Ontario League, 1930

London Pirates, Class D PONY League, 1940-41

London Tigers, Class AA Eastern League, 1989-93

London Werewolves, independent Frontier League, 1999-2001

London Monarchs, independent Canadian Baseball League, 2003

When I stopped by in 2002, Labatt Park was being used by the semipro London Majors of the Intercounty Major Baseball League. The ballpark was locked up tight on the day I visited and despite my best breaking-and-entering efforts, I was unable to gain access. I was able to snap off a few shots from the outside though. The place certainly looks like a pro team could step right in and call it home, and the London Monarchs of the new Canadian Baseball League did just that in 2003.

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Fielders' view

Looks a bit different today

A nice ballpark