MAYO FIELD

Rochester, Minnesota

Baseball has been played at Mayo Field for over 100 years. The land on which the ballpark is situated was donated to the city by the Mayo brothers with the proviso that it be used only as a baseball field. In the 1920's Swede Risberg, one of the banned-for-life "Black Sox," played semi-pro ball on this field for the Rochester Aces. In the late 40's and early 50's, a very high caliber semi-pro league, the Southern Minny, had a franchise in Rochester.

Young stars such as Bill Skowron played in the league as well as a number of Negro League stars, including "Double Duty" Radcliff and a young Sam Jones. At one time Rochester's manager wanted to bring a 16 year old kid from Alabama to play for the team. The kid's name was Mays; I wonder what ever happened to him.

Through all these years the city of Rochester supported only two professional teams. The Rochester A's of the Class B Three-I League started the 1958 campaign at Mayo Field until sometime midseason when they moved about 50 miles away and became the Winona A's. Decades later, the Rochester Aces was a charter member of the independent Northern League in 1993, after which the team relocated to Winnipeg. Since then Mayo Field has been used by the Rochester Honkers of the collegiate wood-bat Northwoods Leauge. The Honkers are able to consistently draw about a thousand fans per game to this charming old ballyard from season to season.

The ballpark sits on the banks of the Zumbro river on the edge of downtown Rochester. The illuminated buildings of the Mayo Clinic provide a scenic backdrop to night games and a reminder of the park's origin.

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Two rows of box seats in front of metal benches with backs

Three different party areas down the left field line

View of the city from the 3B side