Lawrence Stadium (Portsmouth)

Lawrence Stadium, also known as Frank D. Lawrence Stadium, was located in Portsmouth, VA where it was in operation from 1936 to 1997. It was first known as City Stadium and at first shared the games of the Portsmouth Cubs of the Piedmont League with the older Sewanee Stadium, before becoming their full-time home in 1941. The Cubs became the Portsmouth Merrimacs in 1953, until they folded after the 1955 season. Baseball returned here in 1961 with the Portsmouth-Norfolk Tides of the South Atlantic League, the Portsmouth Tides of the Carolina League (1963-1968) and the Tidewater Tides of the International League in their inaugural 1969 season. That team then moved to a new ballpark, Metropolitan Memorial Park, in nearby Norfolk, VA, in 1970.

In its original design, the ballpark had an unusual outfield shape, as it was designed to hold a full football gridiron there (see link). Capacity was 11,000, but this included a section of football bleachers behind the center field fence that were not really suited for baseball. Capacity in the grandstand was 6,161. Outfield dimensions were originally 404' in LF, 380' in CF, and 340' in RF. Following renovations that removed the football field and closed the faraway bleachers, they became a more standard 340-375-320.

On April 6, 1962, the Pittsburgh Pirates played an exhibition game here and Roberto Clemente blasted two homers, including one into the distant centerfield bleachers.

Frank D. Lawrence, the ballpark's namesake, was a local banker and baseball executive.

Related Sites

• Portsmouth City Stadium at Project Ballpark