Park Name: Clare "Doc" Henley Ball Park In Use: 1922-2016 Address: 1125 North Florida Avenue, Lakeland, Florida 33805 Dimensions: 325' (L), 420' (C), 330' (R) Former Names: Athletic Park (1922-1942) Former Tenants: Lakeland Highlanders (Florida State League) 1923-1926 Cleveland Indians (Grapefruit League) 1924-1927 Detroit Tigers (Grapefruit League) 1934-1942, 1946-1965 Lakeland Pilots (Florida International League) 1946-1950 Lakeland Patriots (Florida International League) 1951 Lakeland Pilots (Florida International League) 1952 Lakeland Pilots (Florida State League) 1953-1955 Lakeland Indians (Florida State League) 1960 Lakeland Giants (Florida State League) 1962 Lakeland Tigers (Florida State League) 1963-1964, 2002, 2016 The grandstand at Henley Field, as seen from the left field corner. The park was built in the 20's and hosted professional baseball into the 60's. It is now mostly used for high school and college baseball. The grandstand seating is entirely aluminum bleachers, with poles between them to support the wooden roof. The pressbox is just wooden desks built into the seating bowl, meaning the announcers are just feet from the fans throughout the game. The grandstand features a wide aisle in front of the seating, and a chain link fence instead of netting attached to the backstop. A smaller bleacher section is also located down the first base line. A net above the dugout protects the busy street beyond the ballpark from stray balls. Murals along the concourse and in the restrooms depict former Tigers teams who trained at Henley Field until Joker Marchant Stadium was built just down the road in the 1960's. Henley Field's original concrete outfield wall still stands, and is visible beyond the current fence. The Lakeland Flying Tigers on the field during a Florida State League game at Henley Field. The Flying Tigers played their 2016 season at Henley while Joker Marchant Stadium was being renovated, only the 2nd time pro baseball had been played here since the 1960's. |
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