Mallory Field
League City, TX
Review by Mike
Mallory Field in League City, Texas is a very interesting little ballpark. Once home to the Bay Area Toros of the independent Continental League, it is now exactly what it started out as, a high school field. The grandstand is metal with aluminum benches, but everything else is done in really nice finishes of concrete and wood painted a rich reddish brown.
The outfield fence is made of wooden slats. The distances are short, just 365 to the power alleys and the close proximity of centerfield is mitigated by the fence rising to nearly twice its normal height, thus serving as a deterrent to easy home runs and a batters eye at the same time.
The field level dugouts are also made of would slats. I think fancy people on home improvement shows call this shiplap. Whatever it’s called, it looks really good. At the top of the grandstand, the materials change again as the press box is housed in what appears to be a metal shipping container, paired with a cinderblock tower whose purpose I cannot divine.
The concession stand is almost as big as the grandstand. It is a concrete structure on the 1st base side with a nice textured concrete finish and a roof to keep people out of the sun while ordering Texas favorites. A single solitary picnic table is also under the roof and I can only imagine the jockeying that takes place to get a seat here.
A number of major leaguers have played at Mallory Field and these are celebrated with small banners along the roof line of the concession strand. Jay Buhner is the most notable alumni. The ballpark was built in 1957 and while I am not sure if the structure on the site is the same one opened in that year, it does have a classic old-timey feel about it. It’s too bad independent pro ball couldn’t stick because this is a nice little stadium.
2025
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