Amerige Park
Fullerton, CA
Review by Mike
Amerige Park in Fullerton, California is the home of the Hope International University baseball team of the Golden State Athletic Conference. Baseball has been played here since 1934, with an original wooden grandstand in place until 1989 when it was demolished and the current concrete structure was built to replace it.
This site served as the spring training home for several Pacific Coast League teams in the 1930s and 1940s, including the Hollywood Stars and Portland Beavers. With its proximity to the train station, it was also a popular barnstorming stop for Major League and Negro League ballplayers during the offseason.
The new grandstand is a simple concrete structure, embellished with pleasant brick accent work, especially on the outside. The four rows of orange seats wrap around the home plate area, providing an intimate experience. The seats are from nearby Anaheim Stadium reclaimed from the renovation of that ballpark. Banners on the interior of the grandstand celebrate HIU players from the past who have made their mark.
The field is an interesting combination of real and artificial turf. The baselines are artificial turf as are the areas around home plate and the pitcher’s mound, but the rest of the infield is grass. It appears as though a transition to turf is being undertaken a little at a time. The field, however, was nice, even during my off-season visit and the location, right in downtown Fullerton, is excellent.
This is a simple, well-kept little ballpark, perfect for its tenant, with lots of history, free parking, and plenty of places nearby to grab a bite before and after the game. My thanks to the grounds crew who let me walk around and even took me under the stands to check out some historical photos.
2025
--
--
285
The original wooden grandstand in 1938. There is a wall of historical photos in the office under the new grandstand