Sunday morning, I continued to explore the baseball fields and history of Northwest Indiana, which borders the Chicago, Illinois area.  I am working in the Chicago terminal this week for ABF Freight.  And I found a really cool baseball stadium in nearby East Chicago, Indiana, with a pretty famous former Major League Baseball player attached to its renovation.  The place, Block Stadium.  The player, former Cleveland Indians star and East Chicago native, Kenny Loften.

Block Stadium sits just off the main street area of East Chicago, Indiana.  It has a wonderful presence as you look upon the stadium driving down E 144th St.  Behind Block Stadium sits a series of Little League fields, home of the Indian Harbor Little League, and more famously known locally as Kenny Loften Complex.  Loften grew up in East Chicago and went to nearby Washington High School before starring at the University of Arizona in multiple sports, then a prolific career in Major League Baseball.  I’m not sure why he didn’t get more attention Hall of Fame voting wise, but I’ll see if I can do something about that!!!  First, let me share my experience at East Chicago’s Block Stadium.

As I parked and made my way up to the front gate entrance of Block Stadium, I noticed a series of players entering the stadium from a side gate.  I was met at the front gate by a park attendant, who let me know that the East Chicago Thunder of the Region Collegiate Baseball League were about to play (in about 2 hours).  I mentioned who I was and why I was at Block, and he graciously allowed me in to take photos and check out the baseball stadium.  I always ask for entrance, I don’t always get the okay, but when I do, it makes my trip so much more enjoyable.  And stress free knowing I am not intruding on a team getting ready to play.  That was cool.

Inside the stadium, I took my normal tour around the backstop area, over to the home and visitor dugouts via the bleacher stands, and around the concourse area.  The Thunder players and coaches continued to file in as I was walking around.  The attendant had mentioned that Kenny Loften had a big part in Block Stadium’s recent renovations.  The renovations, in my guesstimation, including the stadium seating, bullpens, dugouts, field because they all had a newer, more modern look to them.  Block Stadium, according to a few signs around the park, opened in 1942, so it likely has a very different look now than it once did.  Still, I love the fact that Loften, a hometown East Chicago kid who went on to celebrity status, came home to make an impact in his community.  Hats off to you, Mr. Loften.

As I was heading out, I thanked the attendant and said I would hopefully be back someday to catch a game there at Block.  For my time there, I was super impressed by the field, the stadium seating, the bullpens, the field itself, and the awesome baseball feel at Block Stadium.  I love that right next to Block is the Indian Harbor Little League and Kenny Loften Complex of fields, encouraging the next generation of East Chicago ballplayers to get involved with baseball.  Like their field’s namesake, East Chicago’s Kenny Loften.  Block Stadium has tons of great views from right field, through the backstop area, and over to left field.  It has a great walkup presence as you enter the Block Stadium experience.  A very welcoming feeling entering the gates and being a part of the East Chicago baseball scene.  Overall, it was an amazing East Chicago, IN baseball experience at historic and newly renovated Block Stadium, home of the East Chicago Thunder, and thanks largely to East Chicago’s Kenny Loften.