Stadium Opened: 1926
Teams Seen: Williamsport Cubs (Cubs) 1994-98; Crosscutters (Pirates 99-2006) (Phillies 2007-present)
1st Visit: 7/18/98
Most Recent Visit: 8/20/11
# Games: 6
Food: 6/10
Team Store: 4/10
Stadium: 8/10
Future/Rehabbing Stars Seen: Eric Hinske, Will Ohman
As you will come to see in my reviews, I am a sucker for historic well-kept ballparks. And Bowman Field in Williamsport is one of the best in that regard. That said, Bowman is a sign of how much minor league baseball has changed in the last 20 years. After seeing the scope of places like Trenton, Reading, Portland, etc, it is hard to believe this cozy little place was Class AA as late as 1991. Short-season A New York-Penn is a perfect fit for Bowman.
My first visit here in 1998 had the Cubs in town, with the likes of Eric Hinske and Kerry Wood passing through town. The following year they became a Pirates affiliate and became the Crosscutters; now with the more popular PA team, the Phillies, as their affiliate, the 'Port couldn't be happier.
The stadium has made alot of improvements over the 13 years I've been going there, adding an expanded food court and beer stand near the entrance. The seats are, sadly, mostly unchanged in that time, with uncomfortable bleachers in most of the park. Even the box seats are tight and packed together. Most of the seating is covered, which is a plus. The good part is that you are right on top of the action. The scoreboard has been vastly improved, adding a small video screen on top of the line score.
The team store is small-ish, but probably the right size for a short-season. Selection is limited as well. The food is fairly consistent with most place, but the beer selection is very solid, with plenty of choices and decent prices.
Overall, I like our annual trip to see the Cutters- a nice place to see a game in the hills of Central PA.
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