Tinker Field was the home of the Orlando Rays of the Southern League. The Rays are the AA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
By the time I got to Tinker Field, the Orlando Rays had already moved on, playing their home games at Disney Field beginning in the 2000 season. From all appearances, it looks like I missed an awfully nice ballpark.
The defining feature of this stadium is obvious from a mile away. It's the gigantic concrete hulk of the the Citrus Bowl football stadium which appears to be on the verge of crushing little Tinker Field. The big bully is so close (how close is it?) that the distance to the gap in right center field is a paltry 350 feet. The right field wall practically leans against the big stadium's support pillars.
When finally you are able to wrench your eyes away from Goliath looming to right, the David it casts it's shadow on is a charming example of mid-century minor league ballpark construction. A solid grandstand with mostly fixed-back seats wraps from 1st base around to 3rd. A partial roof covers about one third of the seats and likely provided sufficient shade for the rest. The pressbox at the top of the seating bowl is open and directly behind the last row. And, best of all, "ceiling" fans hang all along the front edge of the roof. This is something I have never seen at a ballpark. I can't imagine it would help much on a sweltering Central Florida evening, but you have to admire the effort.
The concourse is behind the seating area and it looked like it had a sufficient number of windows to serve a park of this size. In a startling contrast to the Incredible Hulk beyond right field, the view beyond the 3rd base stands featured residential housing.
I never saw a game there, but I would have liked to.
