Medlar Field at Lubrano Park

Medlar Field
Location	University Park, PA United States
Building chronology
Built	2006
Tenants
Penn State University
Former Tenants
State College Spikes
Capacity
5,406

Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in University Park, PA, was the home of State College affiliated baseball from 2006 through 2019. After that and the Coronavirus pandemic-canceled 2020 season, MLB's 2021 Minor League Reorganization eliminated the State College Spikes and most other New York-Pennsylvania League teams.

The Spikes then joined the new amateur MLB Draft League.

Pennsylvania State University built the ballpark for Nittany Lions baseball, taking on a secondary tenant to defray the costs - but the Spikes hosted its first regular-season baseball game June 20, 2006. The 18.55-foot right-field fence commemorates Penn State's founding. Its unusual name salutes former Penn State baseball player Anthony Lubrano and the coach he wanted to honor: 19-year PSU skipper Chuck Medlar (see "History").

In 2006 - a year after moving from Augusta, NJ - the then-St. Louis Cardinals' farm club joined the Pittsburgh Pirates. During the ensuing years, the playpen was adorned with the slogan "The Bucs START Here." When that affiliation ended, the Cards and Spikes remarried. The franchise dates to 1983 - as the Newark Orioles, Hamilton Redbirds, Glens Falls Redbirds and New Jersey Cardinals. The 1994 return to Jersey was one of five moves in the 14-team NYPL. PSU's baseball team, not its national power football team, first used "Nittany" - which is Algonquin for "single mountain" - in its team nickname.

For the record, "University Park" is the name of PSU's campus, which lies partly in the municipality of "State College".

It has a capacity of 5,406 people.

History

The park is named after Penn State alumnus and former baseball player Anthony Lubrano, who made a significant monetary contribution toward the construction of the park. Lubrano specifically wanted to honor his coach Chuck Medlar, who led the Nittany Lions baseball program for 19 years. The dual naming of the field and park is not uncommon in collegiate stadiums, but Medlar Field at Lubrano Park was one of only a handful of professional stadiums to take on this naming style that long ago. However, the practice is becoming more and more common. he construct more often reflects honoring the field separately from an already named stadium.

Medlar Field at Lubrano Park was specifically designed to house both collegiate and Professional Baseball teams, which makes it unique amongst the parks built in this era. The park however exceeds many of the standards set by other comparable teams and facilities. Medlar Field is decidedly the largest facility in use by any Big Ten baseball program, and the park's amenities put it ahead of most other Short-Season A parks as well.

From behind home plate the stadium looks toward Mt. Nittany in the east, however from the right field bleachers it is impossible to ignore the towering Beaver Stadium, home to the Nittany Lions football team.

Dimensions

• Left Field: 328 ft.
• Left Center Field: 414 ft.
• Center Field: 403 ft.
• Right Center Field: 378 ft.
• Right Field: 322 ft.
• Playing Surface: Natural Grass
• Seating Capacity: 5,406
• Additional Capacity: 600 Standing Room Capacity

Unique Features

The very footprint of Medlar Field at Lubrano Park sets it apart from other stadiums. The location of the park allows the stadium an expanse of room, and therefore the architects took some liberty with the exterior space surrounding the stadium. The landscaping of the park is also exceptional and shows that the architects devoted a great deal of time and effort to appropriately using the space available to them.

The Arm

Extending toward the parking lot from the exterior walls of the stadium is a unique arm which in addition to being cosmetically appealing, houses the gift shop and ticket window of the park.

Interior footprint

The field dimensions are an exact replica of PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA, with one exception: The "Clemente Wall" in right field of PNC Park is 22 feet high, whereas the right field wall of Medlar Field has been shrunk to 18.55 feet to honor Penn State University which was founded in 1855.

Seating

Medlar Field at Lubrano Park may infact be one of the roomiest parks in all of organized baseball, with rows spaced 42 inches apart. The concourse surrounding the lower level seating is far wider than most in Minor league Baseball.

Additionally, the visiting bullpen is embedded into the third base grandstand, which conserves space, and allows fans a unique opportunity to see some of the leagues up and coming pitchers warm up.

In an apparent homage to Blair County Ballpark, home of the State College Spikes' sister team the Altoona Curve, Medlar Field features seating similar to the rail kings seating along the left field fence. Also in homage to PNC Park, there is an additional set of grandstand bleachers along the right field wall.

Academia

Medlar Field at Lubrano Park features a 2,500 square foot press box which is equipped with multi-media teaching tools. The park's luxury skyboxes are also designed to double as PSU classrooms.

External Links

• State College Spikes Home Page
• Penn State Baseball Home Page
• Baseballparks.com Page
• Ballpark Reviews Page
• Ballparks of the Minor Leagues Page