Winnipeg
Goldeyes

Deformity Field Remembered

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Winnipeg Stadium

Photo of old Deformity Field
Winnipeg Stadium 1997

Home of the Goldeyes 1994-1998 (and 1969)

Winnipeg Stadium was the home of the Goldeyes for all years prior to 1999. These includes a previous incarnation of the Goldeyes in 1969.

Home of the Minor League Single Game Attendance Record -- 22,081 fans

One of the highlights of the Goldeyes time at this location was setting the world record for single game attendance for a minor league game at 22,081, August 28, 1997 (vs. Sioux Falls) breaking a previous record of 20,749 (August 29, 1995, vs. St. Paul). The team managed to draw over 10,000 fan several other times at here as well including inaugural opening night crowd of 14,764 (June 6, 1994, vs. Duluth).

These pages describe the seating, field and directions for the park during its last run from 1998. Needless to say, all are much happier with the new "Fish Bowl" though there won't be any world records set there.

Photo of playing field
"Deformity Field" 1997 (Note football hash marks and yard markers)

Field Details

Field Dimensions
Left Left
Center		 Center Right
Center		 Right
300 325 395 390 345

Dugouts & Bullpens

  • Goldeyes' were on the first base side (under the stands)
  • Home bullpen was out beyond right field (and nearly invisible)
  • Opponents on third base side half-way down into the concrete
  • The visitors bullpen is in the "no man's land in the end zone"
  • The visitors bullpen doesn't drain well. In '94, after a torrential hailstorm Saints' pitcher Steve Morales made the front page here by swimming laps in it.

Fences & Field

  • Fences were approx. 10' high around outfield
  • A 30' net extended the field of play (trying to compensate for the short porch)

Webmaster's game assessment

Left center made "Texas leaguers" think of homers since it is so invitingly close and is the origin of the nickname "Deformity Field." Astroturf gives bounce to the balls. In short, good pitching is what got the Goldeyes to the pennant in '94 & '96 --this field could be dangerous.

Field orientation had pitcher pitching northwest. Like Thunder Bay, we are very north, and the sun sets later because of it. Because of the high stands the sun field in left gets hit twice (once above and once below the stands behind home plate).

Photo of third base area and stands
Third Base Line with Visitor Dugout (1994)

Deformity Field: As a baseball stadium this would make a good football end zone

[While it was home to the Goldeyes...] If some teams need repairs to their stadiums, they could take heart: the mighty Goldeyes place needed a new stadium... period. There us very little that could be done with all the steel and concrete that would make sense when the Bombers come in between games (even if you tried).

At least if your team had lots of right handed hitting than the Goldeyes you could watch even the weakest batter reach for the fences.

By the way, did I mention the Astroturf?

Deformity Field was the only park with the stuff. As the pictures suggest, the painting from the football games covered the field. Imagine fielders backing up "to the 30, the 40, ..."

It was the only field that would get squeegeed to dry it out (which I saw after surviving a particularly heavy hail storm at the park).

In short: Deformity Field, good riddance.