John Moxie Memorial Stadium
Staunton, VA
Review by Gary
The Valley Baseball League in the Shenandoah Valley of western Virginia has been in existence for over a century. The organization boasts a few clubs that have been fielding teams every season of the league’s existence, including the Staunton Braves. Baseball has been played site of John Moxie Stadium since as early as 1900. While no exact date of construction can be found, John Moxie Memorial Stadium, home of the Braves and the local high school team, is a throwback to a bygone era.
The Braves, originally called the Presidents (Woodrow Wilson’s home is just blocks away) when the league formed back in 1923, have played here every year except during WWII and Covid. Located in a lovely suburb of Staunton, VA, the main focal point of the ballpark is the wide, boomerang-shaped cinder block building that curls around the backstop below. This blue structure rises high above field level with its bleacher seating anchored to concrete steps.
Summer sunsets in straightaway centerfield blind batter, catcher, homeplate umpire and any fans sitting directly behind home for the first few innings of games, causing some folks to choose seating down each baseline until the sun drops behind the trees that run along the exterior of the outfield wall. Dozens of local advertisements are festooned along the entire wall, save for the batter’s eye, which is painted to match the grandstand building.
Rather than have the less obtrusive protective netting for foul balls and errant bats, an imposing gray chain link fence lines the playing field. This feature is the main detriment to this otherwise attractive ballpark and runs around the entire ballfield. Bleacher seating can also be found high above the third base line and out of the natural seating bowl and not so close to the metal fencing.
The “concourse” behind the press box is a road with double, no passing lines and a speed bump. Fans must look both ways before crossing to the concession stand and souvenir huts from the seating area. The classic stone dugouts are the smallest ever seen and would seem a better fit near Stonehenge than rural Virginia. Additional chair-backed, bleacher seating for players extends further down the baseline on the first base side while similar seating is found in front of the third base dugout.
John Moxie Stadium was dedicated in honor of a former longtime owner of the Braves, while the field is named for Ted Bosiack, who played for Staunton before eventually being promoted to the pros. Bosiack managed the Braves from 1953 to 1959, winning four championships in seven seasons. Both men would be proud to see that Staunton Brave baseball continues to be played in the 21st century at this exquisite venue.
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2026
290
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