Ballpark Brothers | Marich Field, Phoenix, AZ

Marich Field
Phoenix, AZ

Review by Mike

Martin “Pug” Marich Field is the home of the Phoenix College Bears of the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference. There is some history at this ballpark. You might say that there is more history than ballpark. Named for the man who coached the team to two National Championships between 1961 and 1968, Marich Field is pretty basic, but nicely maintained nevertheless.

A simple erector set bleacher stands behind home plate and this is the extent of the seating; certainly adequate for this level of college ball. A fixed 3-piece blue awning extends out over the bleachers providing protection from the desert sun here in the Valley of the Sun. The ballfield does have lights, so hopefully they schedule the bulk of their games after the sun goes down.

There don’t appear to be any amenities, although there are restrooms in the gymnasium building next door. It looks like a strictly bring-your-own situation when it comes to snacks and refreshments, but if you bring sunflower seeds, be forewarned, a sign in the stands advises fans to put your sunflower seeds in a cup. They say you can always see something new at the ballpark, and this warning was a first for me.

The dugouts are brightly painted in the home team colors and the Bears logo features prominently on the home team dugout. The scoreboard out in right center is a classic, with inning by inning scores and old-fashioned light bulb displays. Though sparse and minimalistic, Marich Field seems to be a perfectly agreeable place to watch Junior College ball.

Several retired numbers adorn the back of the grandstand, including the #22 of Gary Gentry, a member of the 1969 Miracle Mets, winner of the pivotal game 3 that propelled the Mets to their unlikely title over Baltimore. He got his start right here at little Marich Field. That’s worth at least half a hot dog.