PCL Travel: Cheney Stadium -- Tacoma, WA

The oldest ballpark in the Pacific Coast League is Cheney Stadium in Tacoma. It was built in 1960 when minor league baseball returned to Tacoma for the first time in 55 years. It's undergone renovations in 1992, 1998, 1999 and 2011. Yet it still retains some of its unique history.

For example, the light towers are originals from old Seals Stadium in San Francisco. Bigger bonus: the light towers actually still work. Without getting out a tape measure, I want to say the lights are the lowest in the PCL.

Another unique aspect to Cheney Stadium is that it shares property with Henry Foss High. The team has an agreement with the high school for sharing the parking lots on game days. During the last two days, the high school's lacrosse team was practicing at the same time. It looks like the soccer, track and field, and football teams also use that field in the distance.

The stadium was named after Ben Cheney, a local businessman who was instrumental in brining minor league baseball back to Tacoma. The original ballpark was completed in just 42 working days, after the San Francisco Giants moved their triple-A team to Phoenix. Cheney still gets to watch every game from a prime location.

This is the view from directly behind plate. Pretty good, huh? Unfortunately, this is not the view from the broadcast booth. This is the view for a hospitality area for a group of fans.

The broadcast booths are along the third-base line, at an odd angle. I have to lean my head out the window to see the left-field line. It's not ideal, but not too bad for a four-game series or eight games a year. If nothing else, it gives me a handy excuse whenever I make a mistake.

The next photo shows the approximate view. Notice the light hitting the trees in the distance. A light mist had fallen for a couple innings, then gave way and the sun shining on the trees was beautiful on Tuesday night.

The dimensions are interesting. It's only 325 down the lines, so if you pull the ball, there's the opportunity for home runs. However, it's a whopping 425 feet to straightaway center field, there's a 35-foot high fence that's in play, and the power alleys are very deep too.

Anytime you've been playing in a ballpark since 1960, you're about to have a lot of famous alums. That's definitely the case at Cheney Stadium.

There's been two Most Valuable Players: Jason Giambi (Tacoma in 1994, A's in 2000) and Alex Rodriguez (Tacoma in 1995, Rangers in 2003 and 2005, Yankees in 2007). There's been three Rookies of the Year: Jose Canseco (Tacoma 1985, A's 1986), Mark McGwire (Tacoma 1986, A's 1987) and Walt Weiss (Tacoma 1987, A's 1988).

There's been two Cy Young award winners: Gaylord Perry (Tacoma in 1961-62, Indians in 1972) and Felix Hernandez (Tacoma in 2005, Mariners in 2010). There's also two Hall of Famers: Perry (inducted in 1991) and Juan Marichal (inducted in 1983). The famous pitchers are displayed along the concourse.

Of course, no trip to Tacoma is complete without a requisite shot of the tarp covering the field because it's raining.

Then the sun shines, and it's absolutely glorious.

Then it rains the next day. Again. Then the sun comes back out, the tarp gets rolled back up, and we play baseball again. That's baseball in April in Tacoma.