Joe Becker Stadium
{{Short description|Baseball stadium in Joplin, Missouri}}
{{Infobox stadium
| stadium_name = Joe Becker Stadium
| nickname =
| image =
| caption =
| location = 1301 E. 3rd Street
Joplin, MO 64801
| coordinates = {{coord|37.08883|-94.49883|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground =
| built =
| opened = 1913
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = City of Joplin
| operator =
| surface = Infield turf, Outfield grass
| construction_cost =
| architect =
| project_manager =
| services engineer =
| general_contractor =
| former_names =
| tenants = Joplin Outlaws (MINK) (2017–present)
Joplin Blasters (AA) (2015–2016)
MSSU Lions (college) (1966–2014)
Joplin Miners (1917–1954)
| seating_capacity = 4,200
| dimensions =
}}
Joe Becker Stadium is an American baseball ballpark, built in 1913, located in Joplin, Missouri. The stadium has burned down twice, the first time in 1936 and the second time in 1971. The stadium currently has seating capacity of 4,200 as the home of the Joplin Outlaws of the summer collegiate Mid-America League.
History
The original tenants were the Joplin Miners, a longtime minor league affiliate of the New York Yankees. Whitey Herzog and fellow Hall of Fame inductee Mickey Mantle played for the Miners. Other team monikers have included the Joplin Blasters minor league baseball team and the current Joplin Outlaws collegiate summer baseball team. The Missouri Southern State University baseball team played there through 2014 before relocating to an on-campus stadium in 2015.
In April 1920, Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Ty Cobb and his Detroit Tigers played an exhibition game against the Miners at Joe Becker Stadium.
Renovations and tenants
In January 2014, the El Paso Diablos of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball relocated to Joplin in exchange for improvements to the stadium's seating, restrooms, lighting, and other infrastructure. They began play in the 2015 season as the Joplin Blasters. A $4.7 million reconstruction of the stadium by Hanson Sports, Corner Greer Architects, and Crossland Construction began in September 2014 which saw the installation of new lighting and fixed seating for 2,400, renovation of restrooms, locker rooms, and team dugouts, plus the addition of concession stands, merchandise sales space, and modern ticket booths.
In 2016, the Blasters closed offices and left Joplin and in 2017, the stadium became home to the Joplin Outlaws of the MINK League, as a collegiate wood-bat team. In 2024, the Outlaws changed leagues, from the MINK League to the Mid-America League.
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{cite web |website=Baseball-Reference.com |title=Mickey Mantle |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=mantle001mic |access-date=March 31, 2014}}
{{cite web |website=Missouri Southern State Lions |title=Joe Becker Stadium Photo Gallery |url=http://www.mssulions.com/facilities/becker |access-date=March 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410020148/http://www.mssulions.com/facilities/becker |archive-date=April 10, 2014 |url-status=dead }}
{{cite news|url=http://www.lakenewsonline.com/article/20150520/NEWS/150529861|title=Professional baseball returns to Joplin at rebuilt stadium|agency=Associated Press|date=May 20, 2015|work=Lake Sun Leader|location=Camdenton, Missouri|publisher=GateHouse Media}}
{{cite news |first=Debby |last=Woodin |newspaper=The Joplin Globe |location=Joplin, Missouri |title=Landing pro squad would require city to upgrade historic Joe Becker Stadium |url=http://www.joplinglobe.com/topstories/x296455995/Landing-pro-squad-would-require-city-to-upgrade-historic-Joe-Becker-Stadium |date=November 23, 2013 |access-date=March 31, 2014}}
{{cite news |first=Calley |last=Dougherty |publisher=KOAM-TV |location=Pittsburg, Kansas |title=Joplin City Council approves lease agreement for Joe Becker Stadium |url=http://www.koamtv.com/story/24513546/joplin-city-council-approves-lease-agreement-for-joe-becker-stadium |date=January 22, 2014 |access-date=March 31, 2014}}
{{cite news |first=Katie |last=Lamb |newspaper=The Joplin Globe |location=Joplin, Missouri |title=Joplin plays host for groundbreaking ceremony for Joe Becker Stadium |url=http://www.joplinglobe.com/news/joplin-plays-host-for-groundbreaking-ceremony-for-joe-becker-stadium/article_9f86de04-4459-11e4-99f9-efc2dd2c5f98.html |date=September 24, 2014 |access-date=January 19, 2015}}
{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Schremmer |newspaper=The Joplin Globe |location=Joplin, Missouri |title=After stadium groundbreaking, Blasters look to sign manager, players |url=http://www.joplinglobe.com/sports/after-stadium-groundbreaking-blasters-look-to-sign-manager-players/article_39676994-446e-11e4-a49b-23b5ea3403fa.html |date=September 24, 2014 |access-date=January 19, 2015}}
{{cite news |url=https://www.joplinglobe.com/news/local_news/updated-city-of-joplin-blasters-settle-lawsuit/article_378eb797-09e5-5ae7-a009-079b5794cfca.html |title=UPDATED: City of Joplin, Blasters settle lawsuit |first=Debby |last=Woodin |newspaper=The Joplin Globe |location=Joplin, Missouri |date=March 16, 2017}}
{{cite news |url=https://www.morningsun.net/article/20090529/NEWS/305299907 |title=Joplin Outlaws ready to begin play |first=Cody |last=Thorn |newspaper=The Morning Sun |location=Pittsburg, Kansas |date=May 29, 2009}}
{{cite news |url=https://www.koamnewsnow.com/sports/joplin-outlaws-shift-leagues-join-mid-american-league/article_a53d4862-dca5-11ee-8715-9382f816f614.html |title=Joplin Outlaws shift leagues; join Mid-American League |first=Stacie |last=Strader |work=KOAM-TV |location=Joplin, Missouri |orig-date=March 7, 2024 |date=July 2, 2024 |access-date=March 26, 2025}}
{{cite news |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/era-dawns-joplin-outlaws-baseball-041230872.html |title=A New Era Dawns on Joplin Outlaws Baseball |first=Michael |last=Emami |work=KSNF |via=Yahoo Sports |location=Joplin, Missouri |date=May 23, 2024 |access-date=March 26, 2025}}
}}
External links
- [http://joplinmo.org/facilities/Facility/Details/31 Official website]
{{Missouri Southern State University}}
Category:Baseball venues in Missouri
Category:Buildings and structures in Joplin, Missouri
Category:Sports in Joplin, Missouri
Category:Minor league baseball venues
Category:Missouri Southern Lions baseball