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25-582: Newport teams played home minor league games at Cardines Field , then called Basin Field, built in 1893 and still in use today. In 1897, the Newport Colts began minor league play, when the team became members of the six–team Class B level New England League . The Brockton Shoemakers , Fall River Indians , New Bedford Whalers , Pawtucket Phenoms and Taunton Herrings joined Newport in 1897 New England League play. After beginning play on May 1, 1897,

50-467: A drainage and supply basin for steam engines. Complaints from neighbors about the stagnant water and mosquitoes prompted the drainage of the basin area, permitting baseball to be played. A local historical debate continues as to whether baseball was played prior to 1900, making Cardines one of the oldest existing ballparks in the country, or if play didn't begin until 1908, the earliest documented proof of stadium construction. The Basin Field ballpark

75-566: A full schedule throughout the summer, though the park's lighting system now permits games to go well beyond dusk. The field is home to baseball games for Rogers High School , Newport's Babe Ruth League , the historic Sunset League, Newport's American Legion team, Salve Regina University , Naval Academy Preparatory School and the Newport Gulls of the New England Collegiate Baseball League . In

100-491: A matching $ 500,000 grant from the state Department of Environmental Management and the formation of the Friends of Cardines Field Foundation. In recent years, the grandstands, concession operation, and bathrooms have been renovated as part of the project, along with the addition of a state-of-the-art field lighting system. The winter of 2005 - 2006 saw the entire outfield and infield replaced among other improvements, including

125-503: A stone facade and wooden bleachers with unique outfield angles. The exterior's elliptical arches reflect the facade of the original Yankee Stadium . In 1936, the city of Newport took over ownership. Stone and concrete bleachers were built along the third-base line by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1936-1937. The plaque at the entrance that reads "1937" refers to this date. The current grandstand

150-515: Is America's Cup Avenue and West Marlborough Street, Newport, Rhode Island. Newport Colts players Cardines Field Cardines Field is a baseball stadium located at 20 America’s Cup Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island . It is believed to be one of the oldest ballparks in the United States and has been called "a small urban gem of a ballpark". The field serves as a buffer between

175-445: The 1st place Portland Blue Sox. Newport, Rhode Island has not hosted another minor league team. Newport minor league teams reportedly hosted home games at Cardines Field . The ballpark was originally called "Basin Field" and built in 1893 on railroad land, with the backstop added in 1908. The ballpark is still in use today. The Newport Gulls of the New England Collegiate Baseball League continue play at Cardines Field. The location

200-503: The Gulls to produce games. The park today has changed drastically in upkeep and appearance from that of the recent past. As early as a decade ago, some in the city of Newport had proposed for a then dilapidated Cardines Field to be demolished in order to expand parking in the cramped downtown area, a mere block in each direction from the waterfront to the West, commercial and tourist center to

225-517: The January 18, 2004 edition of Baseball America , Cardines Field was chosen as one of the top five locations in America to play college summer baseball, in response to the jump in reputation the Gulls brought to the park. While most teams playing at Cardines average attendance in the dozens or, at most, a few hundred per game, the Newport Gulls , since moving to Newport in 2001, have helped to bring

250-722: The Newport Colts won the New England League championship in their first season of play. The Colts had a record of 70–37 record, playing under manager Mickey Finn and finished in a tie, as the Brockton Shoemakers finished with the same record. They were followed by the Pawtucket Phenoms (54–51), Fall River Indians (47–59), Taunton Herrings (40–68) and New Bedford Whalers (38–67) in the New England League final standings. Pitcher Marvin Hawley of Newport led

275-479: The Portland Phenoms and Manchester, not wanting Newport to win the second half of the season, expanded the schedule on the final day from a doubleheader to play six games in one day, beginning at 9:00 AM. Manchester won all six games, to move ahead of Newport in the standings, but the league allowed only two of the wins. In was noted that Portland subsequently refused to play Newport in the finals. Newport

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300-518: The South, and world-famous historical district to the East. Future projects at Cardines include: concluding outfield fence replacement via a state grant, widening and lengthening of the hockey-style side-by-side dugouts, the additions of a locker room and an umpire's room, and further restoration of bleachers, framework, trim, and other facets. The removal of a large, rundown private warehouse which makes up

325-421: The addition of a fully functional drainage system and new outfield fence, all at the cost of an additional half million dollars. [1] The Newport Gulls also have necessitated the expansion of concession equipment, in addition to the renovation of a team office, storage rooms, souvenir stand, ticket booth, scoreboard, and public address system, much of which has been covered by the ongoing restoration project led by

350-471: The city's Parks and Recreation Department, the Gulls former ownership, and Roger Williams University Professor Jeffery Staats. The most recent improvements have been to upgrade the stadium's broadcasting abilities, with the addition of high speed Internet and phone lines, camera positions, and a control room below the pressbox for use by the Tigers TV Crew, the volunteer production crew who work with

375-431: The field back to its former glory days of the mid-20th century, attracting hundreds of fans every night. During the 2004 regular and playoff seasons alone, the Gulls attracted over 50,000 fans through just 26 home games, often with sellout crowds. Following the 2010 season, the Gulls set a team and NECBL record for regular season home attendance, totaling 45,683 after 21 games. Renovation work began in 2000 with funds from

400-616: The field hosted many barnstorming all-stars, including Negro league teams like the Baltimore Elite Giants , Boston Royal Giants and the New York Black Yankees . Satchel Paige once played at Cardines. The original backstop dates back to as early as 1908, when the city organized its first six-team league at the park. Cardines Field is a smaller cousin of other notable ballparks of that era, such as Ebbets Field , Fenway Park and Wrigley Field , with

425-478: The final standings. Player/manager Mike Kelley led the league with 56 runs scored and teammate John Gilbert stole 36 bases to lead the league. The 1899 New England League expanded to eight teams, but four folded during the season. With a 52–46 final record, the Newport Colts placed third among the four remaining teams in the overall standings. Playing again under manager Mickey Finn, the Colts finished 8.0 games behind

450-403: The first place Portland Phenoms . The New England League did not return to play in the 1900 season. John Gilbert again led the league with 53 stolen bases and Newport pitcher Gussie Gannon led the league with a .739 win percentage, compiling a record of 17–6. It was reported that the Newport Colts won the second–half of the 1899 New England League season under dubious circumstances. Allegedly,

475-421: The league with 24 wins. Continuing play in the 1898 six–team Class B level New England League, the Newport Colts placed fourth in the final standings, as the league folded during the season. The league stopped play on July 5, 1898. The Colts ended the season with a record of 26–28, playing under returning manager Mickey Finn and Mike Kelley . Newport finished 9.0 games behind the first place Brockton Shoemakers in

500-609: The outfield. The Sunset League was named because games began at 5:30 p.m. and ended at dusk, prior to the addition of lights at the park. It is the oldest continuous amateur baseball league in the country. With black players such as Larry Doby and Luke Easter , the Sunset League was integrated several years before Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. The league continues today as key chapter of Cardines' history. The Sunset League still plays

525-430: The residential and commercial sections of an older part of Newport. The oddly shaped outfield fence and dimensions are created by the close proximity of residential housing, while the spectator side of the park is contained by America's Cup Avenue and West Marlborough Street. Originally called Basin Field , references to the field can be found as early as 1893. At that time, the property was used by local railroads as

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550-515: The right field foul line has been discussed for some time, though no official plans have been announced. Route 238 (Rhode Island) Route 238 was a numbered state highway running 1.4 miles (2.3 km) in Newport, Rhode Island . Its southern terminus was at Thames Street in Newport , and its northern terminus was at Route 138 in Newport. As of 2023, this route has been retired with its entire alignment added to Route 138A . Route 238

575-746: Was built by the WPA following the devastating hurricane of 1938. The distinctive curving grandstand section behind home plate was built in 1939. Over the coming decades, the park continued to grow through construction projects to increase capacity, eventually creating the patchwork, overlapping stadium seen today. During World War II , many former professional ball players were stationed at Naval Station Newport . Many of these players, including Yogi Berra , Phil Rizzuto , and Bob Feller participated in Newport's George Donnelly Sunset League , an amateur league formed in 1919. Wednesday night all-star games drew thousands and required construction of temporary bleachers in

600-557: Was later renamed for Bernardo Cardines, a Newport baseball player who was Newport's first citizen to die in World War I . Today, the ballpark continues to be the home of the historic Sunset League , as well as the Newport Gulls of the New England Collegiate Baseball League . Built for unofficial sandlot baseball games by railroad workers from the adjacent Old Colony Division of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Line ,

625-563: Was without a minor league team until 1908, when the city hosted their final minor league team to date. The Newport Ponies played briefly as members of the Atlantic Association , which folded during the season. After beginning league play on May 2, 1908, the Ponies had a record of 5–5 record under managers Ben Anthony and George Reed. The Atlantic Association disbanded on May 21, 1908, with Newport in fourth place, 2.5 games behind

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