Tinker Field
Tinker Field was a historic outdoor baseball stadium in Orlando, Florida, that operated from 1923 until its demolition in 2015.[1][2] The facility, built on a site first developed for baseball in 1914, was named after Joe Tinker, a Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop who contributed to establishing professional baseball in the area after arriving in Orlando in 1920.[3][4] The stadium initially served as the spring training home for the Cincinnati Reds starting in 1923 and later hosted teams including the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1948 to 1952 and the Minnesota Twins from 1963 onward, accommodating capacities that grew from about 1,500 seats to over 5,000.[2][5] It also functioned as the primary venue for Orlando's minor league baseball teams from 1923 to 1999, drawing Hall of Fame players for games and exhibitions.[1] Beyond baseball, Tinker Field gained historical significance as the site of Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1964 speech calling for "Integration Now," delivered to a large crowd during his only visit to Orlando.[6][7] Designated a local historic landmark, the wooden grandstand and field endured for nearly a century before removal to facilitate urban redevelopment adjacent to Camping World Stadium.[8][1]Origins and Construction
Founding and Dedication
The site of Tinker Field in Orlando, Florida, was initially established for baseball activities in 1914, serving as a basic playing field for local teams.[9] Construction of a dedicated stadium commenced in late 1922 on this existing site, with the structure completed at a cost of $50,000 and featuring approximately 1,500 wooden seats.[3][6] The new ballpark was formally dedicated on April 19, 1923, and named in honor of Joe Tinker, a Baseball Hall of Fame inductee and former Chicago Cubs shortstop known for his role in the famous Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance double-play combination.[8] Tinker had relocated to Orlando in December 1920, where he managed the local Orlando Caps team starting in 1921 and actively promoted baseball development in the region, contributing to the decision to name the venue after him as a tribute to his efforts.[10][9] The dedication marked the facility's transition from a rudimentary field to a more substantial venue capable of hosting organized games and attracting regional attention.[3]Naming and Initial Design Features
Tinker Field was named in honor of Joseph Bert "Joe" Tinker, a Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop renowned for his role in the Chicago Cubs' famous double-play trio "Tinker to Evers to Chance" from 1902 to 1912. After retiring as a player, Tinker moved to Orlando in 1920, where he managed the local minor league team and actively promoted baseball in Central Florida, including investing in real estate and community development tied to the sport.[3][1] The stadium's naming recognized these contributions, with the ballpark dedicated on April 19, 1923, bearing his name from its opening.[8][9] The initial design consisted of a wooden grandstand constructed for $50,000 on the site of an existing baseball field dating back to at least 1914.[3][9] It provided seating for approximately 1,500 spectators, typical of early 20th-century minor league and spring training venues emphasizing affordability and functionality over elaborate architecture.[2] The open-air structure lacked advanced amenities, focusing on a basic diamond layout suited for professional exhibition games and local matches.[1]Early and Mid-20th Century Operations
Local and Minor League Usage
Tinker Field hosted local baseball activities and minor league teams throughout much of the 20th century, serving as a hub for organized baseball in Orlando beyond major league spring training. In the early decades following its dedication on April 19, 1923, the venue accommodated semi-professional and amateur games, including contests involving Negro League teams during the 1930s, reflecting its role in community-level play amid segregation-era constraints on professional opportunities.[1] [8] Professional minor league affiliation began in earnest in 1963 with the arrival of the Orlando Twins, initially a Class A team in the Florida State League as an affiliate of the Minnesota Twins organization, continuing the franchise's presence at the ballpark through spring training ties.[1] [11] The team transitioned to the Class AA Southern League in 1973, remaining at Tinker Field until 1989 and drawing local fans to regular season games that showcased developing talent.[1] This era marked Tinker Field's integration into structured minor league circuits, with the stadium's capacity supporting crowds for Florida State League and later Southern League matchups.[2] Subsequent minor league tenants in the Southern League included the Orlando Sun Rays from 1990 to 1992, followed by the Orlando Cubs from 1993 to 1996 as a Chicago Cubs affiliate, and the Orlando Rays from 1997 to 1999 affiliated with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.[1] These teams utilized Tinker Field for home games until the franchise relocated to Cracker Jack Stadium in 2000, ending nearly four decades of continuous professional minor league baseball at the site.[12] Throughout these periods, the ballpark also hosted local high school and recreational leagues, maintaining its status as a community baseball venue.[8]MLB Spring Training Era
Tinker Field entered its MLB spring training era in 1923, when the Cincinnati Reds selected the newly constructed stadium as their preseason base, utilizing it annually until 1933.[2] This period marked the venue's transition from local and minor league play to hosting major league teams, with the original wooden grandstand seating approximately 1,500 spectators.[2] The Reds' presence helped establish Orlando as a viable spring training destination in Florida's growing baseball landscape. The Brooklyn Dodgers followed as tenants in 1934 and 1935, conducting their preseason workouts and exhibition games at the field during a brief shift before relocating elsewhere.[3] Beginning in 1936, the Washington Senators adopted Tinker Field as their primary spring training site under owner Clark Griffith, continuing through 1942 before wartime travel restrictions halted MLB spring training operations nationwide from 1943 to 1945.[1] After the war, the franchise—relocated to Minnesota as the Twins in 1961—resumed at Tinker Field until 1990, spanning over five decades and solidifying the venue's reputation for consistent major league use.[1]| MLB Team | Spring Training Years |
|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds | 1923–1933 |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | 1934–1935 |
| Washington Senators / Minnesota Twins | 1936–1942, 1946–1990 |