Operator Princeton University Scoreboard Electronic Opened 31 March 1961 | Surface Natural grass Renovated 2005, 2006 Owner Princeton University | |
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Location Western Way west of Fitzrandolph Road, Princeton, New Jersey, USA Field size 325 ft. (LF), 375 ft. (LCF), 400 ft. (CF), 375 ft. (RCF), 315 ft. (RF) Similar Walter Lowrie House, University Field, Class of 1952 Stadium, Roberts Stadium, Cannon Club | ||
Bill Clarke Field is a baseball venue in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. It is home to the Princeton Tigers baseball team of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Ivy League. Opened in 1961 and renovated in 2005, the venue is named for Bill Clarke, former Princeton head baseball coach. The field is a sunken diamond, with the playing surface lying lower than the surrounding seating areas.
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History
The first game played at Bill Clarke Field was on March 31, 1962, in which Princeton lost 4-2 to University of Massachusetts at Amherst. As of the end of the 2006 season, Princeton had gone 422-277-6 (.603) at Clarke Field and finished with a losing record in only eight seasons.
In 2005, the facility underwent renovations. As part of the renovations, the infield was redone and the outfield fences were moved closer to home plate. In 2006, outdoor batting cages surfaces were added past the left field fence.
Naming
The facility is named for former Princeton coach Bill Clarke. Clarke assisted the team from 1897-1901, while still playing in Major League Baseball. After retiring from professional baseball in 1905, Clarke returned to Princeton as the first paid head coach in 1909. He served two stints as the Tigers' head coach, one from 1909-1927 and the other from 1934-1944. Princeton was 564-322-10 (.642) under Clarke.
Features
In addition to the features involved in 2005 and 2006 renovations, the field has an electronic scoreboard, public address system, and press box. The field's seating areas, raised around the sunken diamond, consist of permanent seats on the first-base side and bleachers on the third-base line.