Montpelier Recreation Field

The field was constructed in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration,[http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM6KWB_Montpelier_Recreation_Field_Montpelier_Vermont Montpelier Recreation Field] at waymarking.com with support from the depression-era Federal Government, featuring a 1,200 seat capacity grandstand (which is still in use today) and bleachers down the firstbase and thirdbase lines.[http://thevermontmountaineers.com/bballinvermont.htm Baseball in Vermont] at the vermontmountaineers.com In the first decade of its existence, starting from 1941, it was home to the Montpelier Senators and, later the Twin City Trojans.

During this time the Robin Roberts played at Rec Field for the Twin City Trojans. He remembers his time at the Rec Field fondly: "It was a great experience ... you can't imagine a guy that age having a better summer then we had in Vermont."[http://thevermontmountaineers.com/robinroberts.htm Robin Roberts] at thevermontmountaineers.com "We were really good then. I won 17 straight starts that year in Vermont."{{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120913194304/http://www.thenorthfieldnews.com/news/2009/0730/sports/036.html Robin Roberts and the Mountaineers]}} by Bill Doyle at thenorthfieldnews.com In 1976 he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.[http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/detail.jsp?playerId=121283 Robin Roberts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813205210/http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/detail.jsp?playerId=121283 |date=2009-08-13 }} at baseballhalloffame.org

When the league folded in 1952 Rec Field endured a half-century without a professional tenant. This ended in 2003 when the New England Collegiate Baseball League voted to award a franchise to a local Montpelier baseball group.[http://www.dufresnegroup.com/baseballmont.html Vermont Baseball] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504165549/http://www.dufresnegroup.com/baseballmont.html |date=2011-05-04 }} at dufresnegroup.com Since then the Rec Field has been the home of the Vermont Mountaineers, enjoying high attendances and success on the field, with the Mountaineers reaching the post-season numerous times, winning the NECBL championship in 2006, 2007, and 2015. The Mountaineers are consistently one of the best teams in the NECBL, and set the record for wins in a season in 2022 with 32 wins. The Mountaineers reached the NECBL Finals in that year, before falling to the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks. The Vermont Mountaineers have produced over 50 Major League players, including A.J. Polluck, Tyler Rogers, Nick Martinez, and Stephen Strasburg.

• 1941-1952 – Montpelier Senators of the Second Northern League.
• 1941-1952 – Twin City Trojans of the Second Northern League.
• 2003–present – Vermont Mountaineers of the NECBL.

In their inaugural season the Mountaineers enjoyed the highest average attendance in the league and have consistently been near the top of the league in this category since.[http://www.necbl.com/2003webstats/confstat.HTM NECBL team statistics archive] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020091350/http://www.necbl.com/2003webstats/confstat.HTM |date=2007-10-20 }} at necbl.com, URL accessed December 21, 2008{{cite web|title=2010 NECBL Season - Attendance|url=http://necbl.bbstats.pointstreak.com/attendance.html?leagueid=204&seasonid=330|work=NECBL.com|accessdate=15 February 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323013237/http://necbl.bbstats.pointstreak.com/attendance.html?leagueid=204&seasonid=330|url-status=live|archivedate=2012-03-23}}{{cite web|title=2011 NECBL Season - Attendance|url=http://necbl.bbstats.pointstreak.com/attendance.html?leagueid=204&seasonid=510|work=NECBL.com|accessdate=15 February 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526140101/http://necbl.bbstats.pointstreak.com/attendance.html?leagueid=204&seasonid=510|url-status=live|archivedate=2012-05-26}}

File:Montpelier Recreation Field Grandstand.JPG on August 4, 2012.]]

• Robin Roberts Night, July 21, 2003. Robin took the mound at the Rec Field for the first time since 1947, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch in front of nearly 3,000 fans.
• The 2004 NECBL All-Star Game drew 4,127 spectators to Montpelier Recreation Field, a then-NECBL record for highest All-Star Game attendance.[http://www.necbl.com/2008Update/allstars2004.htm All-Star Game 2004] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509074307/http://www.necbl.com/2008Update/allstars2004.htm |date=2008-05-09 }} at necbl.com
• The 2012 NECBL All-Star Game was played at the venue on July 22, 2012.{{cite web|title=All-Star Game Itinerary|url=http://www.necbl.com/view/necbl/league/all-star-game-itinerary|work=NECBL.com|accessdate=4 March 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307073529/http://www.necbl.com/view/necbl/league/all-star-game-itinerary|url-status=dead|archivedate=2012-03-07}}{{cite web|title=Mountaineers Power West to 11-6 All-Star Game Win|url=http://www.thevermontmountaineers.com/media/news/mountaineers_power_west_to_116_allstar_game_win.html|work=TheVermontMountaineers.com|accessdate=8 August 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042627/http://www.thevermontmountaineers.com/media/news/mountaineers_power_west_to_116_allstar_game_win.html|archivedate=2016-03-04|url-status=dead|date=22 July 2012}}

File:Montpelier Recreation Field Press Box.JPG

File:Montpelier Recreation Field Center Field.JPG

File:Montpelier Recreation Field Outfield.JPG

• [http://thevermontmountaineers.com Vermont Mountaineers website]
• [http://www.necbl.com NECBL website]
• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20060715164852/http://www.digitalballparks.com/NECBL/Montpellier.html Montpelier Recreation Field photo gallery at digitalballparks.com]}}

{{reflist}}

{{NECBL Ballparks}}

Category:Sports venues in Vermont

Category:New England Collegiate Baseball League ballparks

Category:Works Progress Administration in Vermont

Category:Buildings and structures in Montpelier, Vermont

Category:Baseball venues in Vermont

Category:1940 establishments in Vermont

Category:Sports venues completed in 1940