One recurring theme I had exploring baseball experiences in Tampa last week was they were all night time visits. My work commitments were from early morning to late afternoon, so sunlight just wasn’t going to factor into my baseball explorations in Tampa. Not to worry, I actually got really lucky with stadiums and ballparks being open and lit up. Case in point, my trip to the University of Tampa just after dinner time last Thursday night.

From my hotel near Busch Gardens, it was a very quick trip downtown, over a series of bridges that spanned waterways such as the Hillsborough River. I found the baseball stadium there on N Blvd all lit up and with some activity going on. So, I found parking in a nearby public lot and headed over to baseball field area. Along the way, there were basketball courts with activity (outside), a running track with athletes training (outside), and this historical marker which I read and found very interesting.

To paraphrase, the area where the baseball field, soccer field, and running track currently occupy was once known as Plant Field. Plant Field once hosted the Florida State Fair, automobile races, football games, and was the Spring Training home for several Major League baseball clubs like the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox. Pretty cool find on my way to a very well lit up baseball stadium that was filled with youth baseball players, playing outside.

After navigating from the running track area over to the baseball field, onto the field, through a gate next to the dugout, then up to the stands, I was able to get a good photo of the University of Tampa Spartan Baseball Stadium. There was in fact a clinic going on. The clinic was being run by the Ritchie Hockey Foundation, a local charitable organization that annually hosts a baseball clinic, golf tournament, and youth hockey clinic to raise money for youth scholarships. The volunteers checking families in gave me an informational booklet, which included the roster of coaches at the clinic. I’m not sure if any of these young players knew just how many former and current MLB players were coaching them, but let’s just say the list was very impressive. Many of them from the Tampa area or played/are playing for Tampa based professional baseball teams.

So, does the University of Tampa have any famous baseball alumni? Let’s see if you recognize any of these names – Tino Martinez (Seattle Mariners, NY Yankees) and one of my all-time favorites, Lou Piniella. A number of professional wrestlers, politicians, and a few NFL greats all claim University of Tampa alumni status. Oh to be a fly on the wall of the University of Tampa dugout when a young Lou Piniella struck out on a questionable called third strike. Did he develop his infamous tirades and antics as a young Spartan? Oh what I would have paid to see that!!!

Because of the clinic going on, I took just a wide shot photo of the field. As mentioned earlier, I was warmly greeted by the Ritchie Hockey Foundation volunteers, took a few more photos of the exterior of the field, then headed back to my car and hotel for my last official night in Tampa. The University of Tampa campus was very well lit up, from the soccer fields and track to the baseball fields and basketball courts. The campus looked amazing at night and there were a lot of families and students enjoying the nearly 70 degree Thursday night temps, outside. A baseball clinic, in January, outside, in a baseball park – blows your mind, right? And then, there is this…

It was another night time, amazing Tampa baseball experience at the University of Tampa. When I saw the stadium lit up, as I was driving down N Blvd, and families going into the ballpark, I was so psyched to see what was happening. Turns out, a youth clinic was happening on the field, hosted by the Ritchie Hockey Foundation. The campus was well lit, clean, and impressive. The baseball stadium was awesome and I am so psyched that I got to see it firsthand. And I loved reading about the history of Plant Field and all those cool sporting events it previously hosted. From Dwight Gooden’s home high school field to George Steinbrenner’s statue, from The Bulls Stadium to the Spartans Field, it was an incredible week of Tampa baseball experiences.