For the second straight year, Motor Mile Field at Calfee Park, home of the Pulaski Yankees, has earned the title of best rookie-level ballpark in America.
Calfee Park won five rounds of head-to-head competition with other ballparks hosting rookie-level clubs, including teams in both the Appalachian and Pioneer leagues, in Ballpark Digest’s annual Best of the Ballparks competition.
“Even without baseball, the love and appreciation fans across the country have for Calfee Park is evident,” said Pulaski Yankees General Manager Betsy Haugh. “We are proud of our ballpark and excited to be voted the best rookie-level ballpark in America for the second consecutive year.”
As 2019 champion, Calfee Park was the top seed in the competition and earned a first-round bye before defeating Bluefield’s Bowen Field, Grand Junction’s Suplizio Field, Burlington’s Burlington Athletic Stadium, and Kingsport’s Hunter Wright Stadium en route to earning the title.
Since the Shelor Automotive Group purchased Calfee Park from the Town of Pulaski in 2015, the ownership has completed numerous upgrades. These include a renovated home team clubhouse, a new visiting team clubhouse, concession stand, press bo., and souvenir store. Two VIP Towers have been added, and seating has been upgraded. Other improvements include a 35′ x 22′ JumboTron, a Bermuda grass playing field and new irrigation system, construction of new home offices for ballpark employees and the expansion of the upper concourse.
Prior to the 2019 season, a three-tiered party deck and new boxes were added along the third-base line, increasing the ballpark’s capacity to 3,200. Upgrades including 800 new seats behind the party deck and new concessions points of sale were planned for 2020 before they were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
