Progressive Field
Template:Infobox Baseball Stadium
Progressive Field is a ballpark located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, and is the home of the Cleveland Indians of the American League. Along with Quicken Loans Arena, Progressive Field is part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex.
The ballpark bears the name of Progressive Corporation, an insurance company headquartered in nearby Mayfield Village. The ballpark had been known as Jacobs Field (informally called "The Jake") since its inaugural season in 1994. The renaming of the park was announced on January 11, 2008, and removal of the iconic Jacobs Field sign on the front of the building occurred starting the morning of January 18.[1] Progressive agreed to pay $57.6 million for the naming rights for 16 years.[2][3] Originally named for former team owners the Jacobs brothers, the original naming rights expired at the end of 2006.[4]
History
Jacobs Field contributed to the revitalization of downtown Cleveland. Opened in 1994 as the new home of the Cleveland Indians, whom had formerly shared Cleveland Stadium with the NFL's Cleveland Browns.
In May 1990, Cuyahoga County voters approved a 15-year sin tax on alcohol and cigarette sales in order to finance the new sports complex. In June 1992, the ceremonial first pitch was thrown at the site of the new Jacobs Field before construction of the building began. On April 4, 1994, the Indians played their first game at the new stadium. President Bill Clinton threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and the Indians defeated the Seattle Mariners 4-3 in 11 innings.
In 1995, it hosted its first World Series, which the Cleveland Indians lost to the Atlanta Braves, and two years later was the site of the 1997 MLB All-Star Game and the host of the 1997 World Series, which the Cleveland Indians lost to the Florida Marlins.
Prior to the start of the 1997 season, two sections of seating were added onto the ends of the bleacher section, increasing the capacity by about 1,000 to its current 43,345.
In 2004, its scoreboard, the largest free-standing scoreboard in the United States, was modernized with the installation of the largest video display in the world at a sports venue, built by Daktronics of South Dakota. The video board measures 36 feet high by 149 feet wide. Also in 2004, a center field dining area located behind the seating, formerly occupied by auxiliary bleachers, was replaced with a bar area called the Batter's Eye Bar.
In 2007, the Cleveland Indians opened Heritage Park, a section honoring the Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame, the 100 greatest Cleveland Indians players,[5] memorable Indians moments, and a memorial plaque for Ray Chapman that was originally installed in League Park. It is located behind the center field wall, and is shielded by plantings so it doesn't interfere with the batter's eye.[6]
On October 5, 2007, in the eighth inning of a playoff game against the New York Yankees, a swarm of insects (believed to be midges from Lake Erie)[7] enveloped the playing field, distracting relief pitcher Joba Chamberlain. Chamberlain walked Grady Sizemore who later scored the tying run on a wild pitch.[8] The incident became infamous as the "Bug Game."
Attendance record
The Indians' move to their new home coincided with the coming of age of an outstanding young team, and the Indians soon became the hottest ticket in Cleveland. The ballpark set a major league record between June 12, 1995 and April 4, 2001 by selling out 455 straight games.[9] Demand for tickets was so great that they sold out all 81 home games before opening day on three separate occasions. The Indians "retired" the number 455 in honor of this outstanding record.
Ballpark firsts
| Statistic | Person(s) | Date |
| First Ceremonial First Pitch | President Clinton to Sandy Alomar, Jr. | April 4, 1994 |
| First Hit | Eric Anthony (Seattle Mariners), home run | April 4, 1994 |
| First Indians Hit | Sandy Alomar, Jr., single to right field | April 4, 1994 |
| First Double | Manny Ramírez | April 4, 1994 |
| First Triple | Ken Griffey, Jr. (Seattle Mariners) | April 7, 1994 |
| First Home Run | Eric Anthony (Seattle Mariners) | April 4, 1994 |
| First Indians Home Run | Eddie Murray | April 7, 1994 |
| First Indians Run | Candy Maldonado, scored on Manny Ramírez 2-run double in the 8th inning | April 4, 1994 |
| First Grand Slam | Paul Sorrento | May 9, 1995 |
| First Inside-the-park home run | David Bell | April 15, 1998 |
| First Winning Pitcher | Eric Plunk | April 4, 1994 |
| First Save | Hipólito Pichardo (Kansas City Royals) | April 15, 1994 |
| First Triple Play | Casey Blake-Asdrúbal Cabrera-Víctor Martínez (5-4-3) | August 27, 2007 |
Photo gallery
 | This section contains an unencyclopedic or excessive gallery of images. |
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A look at the front of the then-Jacobs Field in April 2003. -
2005 photo of the scoreboard at then-Jacobs Field, featuring one of the largest video screens in the world.
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Looking in from behind the right-center field bullpen at Progressive Field.
References
- ^ Smith, Robert L (January 18, 2008). "Jacobs Field sign passes into history". Cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer. Includes video.
- ^ Lubinger, Bill (2008-01-12). "Goodbye 'Jake'". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
- ^ Castrovince, Anthony (2008-01-11). "Indians find Progressive partner". MLB.com. Retrieved 2008-01-12.
- ^ Hoynes, Paul. Tribe fielding offers to rename Jacobs Field, The Plain Dealer, May 24, 2006.
- ^ Top 100 Greatest Cleveland Indians Players. Cleveland State University Library.
- ^ Briggs, David. Tribe cuts ribbon on Heritage Park, MLB.com. 2007-03-29.
- ^ http://www.nj.com/columns/ledger/graziano/index.ssf?/base/columns-0/1191644759190170.xml&coll=1
- ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2007/10/06/2007-10-06_bugs_irritate_joba_chamberlain_yankees.html
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/indians/2001-04-04-sellout.htm
External links
