Damaschke Field is the home of the Oneonta Tigers of the NY-Penn League. The Tigers are the Short Season Class A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.

Luck was with me when I stopped in Oneonta during a drive through Central New York State. The Tigers were out of town, but I went by the stadium anyway. It turns out I managed to get there during the 15 minutes that the gates were open that day. The groundskeeper was watering the infield and said I could take pictures until he was ready to lock up, which turned out to be about five minutes. What you see here are the fruits of five minutes frantic scrambling and snapping.

Ballpark people whose opinion I greatly respect tell me that Damaschke Field is a great place to see a ballgame. It certainly is a wonderful setting in a nice little town. The stadium is in a large public park with lovely mountain views all around. I can't speak for the in-game atmosphere, having not seen a game yet, but I am told it is classic, old-time, small town baseball.

As for the ballpark itself, it looks like it could use a bit of work. The left field bleachers look shiny and new, but the rest looks like it might topple over in a stiff wind. The small covered grandstand behind home plate is dingy and dark and encased in a chain link cage that must make for terrible visibility when trying to watch the game. Between the chain link and the poles crisscrossing in front, how can you see the ball?