This week my friend and co-worker Tony Mazur took a road trip, and found himself in Columbus and on the site of an old baseball stadium.  Cooper Stadium on the near south side of town, has been replaced after many years of service to the Columbus Jets, then the Clippers (Indians AAA team).  There are only overgrown remnants left.  It closed in 2008 and this is what it looks like today.  He sent me these pics!  I always think things like this are fascinating.  I mean, how do these places just remian abandoned?

Complete Stadium History Here!

Third Base Stands and the Uncovered Bleachers!

I told Tony I worked at Cooper Stadium many years ago when I was doing the morning show at a country station, WRMZ  in C-Bus!  I was the Clippers stadium announcer for three years in the mid 1980's, a side job I really liked.  In those three years I had some great memories there.  Some on the field, some off.  Working the games till about 10PM, then getting up at about 3AM for the morning show!  One game took two days!  Curfew  - then finished it the next night before the real game -  19 innings!

Scoreboard In The Outfield - It Was VERY Fancy In Those Days!

The Clippers were, and are in the International League (baseball's oldest league).  At that time the Clippers were the Yankees AAA team.  The players I saw play before they were stars was incredible.  A number of Hall Of Famers, mostly for other teams.  GREAT future MLB players like Tom Glavine, Paul Assenmacher, Ron Gant, David Justice, John Smoltz, Cecil Fielder.  Pretty much all the great players in the Toronto Blue Jays organization that won a World Series or two.  Many great Yankees, Twins, Braves, Orioles, Red Sox, Mets and others.  As I look back it was a fun thing to see.

The old park was a jewel then. Hosting big crowds, and fun promotions.  The press box was great, and so was the food.  There was an actual grave yard just beyond the home run fence in right field.  And talking with players from other teams, we were the envy of all other cities.  It was clean, modern and sat about 15,000 I think.

Centerfield Fence - The Graveyard was just to the left of this vantage point in Right Field.

I sat in the best seat in the press box, next to the scoreboard operator and the official scorer.  It was a great seat to see baseball and get paid.  I met the San Diego Chicken, numerous sort of celebs that came to the park, THE George Steinbrenner, and almost all of the Yankee legends that were still alive then. And I mean ALL OF THEM!  I heard some of the worst National Anthems ever sung, and some of the best.  I also saw some great games, and some real dogs too.

The Concourse

At that time, Cooper (originally Franklyn County Stadium - the name changed in my first year with the Clippers)  along with the new Diamond in Richmond were considered the very best minor league stadiums in the entire country.  But other cities did catch up and time marched on.  I always think when stadiums, theaters, amusement parks, and schools close, it's a sad thing. Places built specifically for humans to have fun. But new things replace those that have seen their day.

I went on to work the same job at The Diamond in Richmond for the Braves when I moved from Columbus for a new country station in Virginia.  I have the same great memories there for the three years I was there too.  If you ever went to Cooper Stadium, I hope you had fun.  And just think, if it was many years ago, you may have heard my voice long before now. 

The Sign

RIP Cooper Stadium and thanks!   (Photos and inspiration from Tony Mazur)