Here we go Detectives... MYSTERY BALLPARK #3

[Digitalballparks]

Congratulations again to William Kaufman of York PA for figuring out Ballpark #1
and Elfin98 for figuring out ballpark #2 and Pinstripes for his forensics in proving that this was a closed case.

Okay my crack team of detectives. This ballpark had all the colorings and similar structure when I first saw it of Gant Stadium in Zanesville. It however is definately not that stadium. I have no idea what it is. You're about to tell me. Good luck guys. I am doing this right away here because you did such an amazing job on the last one.

[Digitalballparks]

two more shots...

[atdy17]

Please try to post smaller pics.

[Calif_Eagle]

I havent found a picture yet, but there is a Pic Pac Grocery store in Frankfort Ky. I see another sign for Jewel or Newel Coal Co. but havent yet found a web site for it. Still looking but thinking this is an Appalachian League ballpark by the terrain and advertising.

[go_leafs_go02]

I am getting Idaho, around Twin Falls potentially, or up towards Boise.

Landscape definitely could fit in that category. - First Federal Bank Ad matches up with a bank branch in Idaho.

Although Kentucky is a good fit too with the Pic-Pac. as mentioned.

[Calif_Eagle]

I havent found a picture yet, but there is a Pic Pac Grocery store in Frankfort Ky. I see another sign for Jewel or Newel Coal Co. but havent yet found a web site for it. Still looking but thinking this is an Appalachian League ballpark by the terrain and advertising.

With the close proximity of a high school, with an adjacent HS Football Stadium, this might not even be a professional park at all. But... I am thinking it's in Eastern Ky or Western Va. or even West Va. the state, so far... When were these photos taken?

[go_leafs_go02]

http://www.ffsbky.com/site/about_locations.html

First Federal Savings bank found in and around Louisville.

Somewhere in metro Louisville area.

Narrowed it down. It's in Frankfort, Kentucky.

[efin98]

The setup looks a lot like Fitton Field in Worcester, MA before the state elevated the highway beyond leftfield

[Calif_Eagle]

This is a HS ballpark in a town that has a "First Federal Savings" (or in the case of the bank, may have had one what with the S&L crisis of some years back, not to mention the present banking crisis. I have found many states to have banks or S & L's with this name, including both Kentucky & neighboring Virginia.) It has or had a Chevy dealer. The Chevy dealer looks like "Cox Motor". It could be C & ? Motor. Couldnt find one in Ky or Va. Did find one in Florida, but the terrain is wrong, this ballpark is not in flat as a pancake FL. We have a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet. It has a Mack Truck dealer and or parts-repair center.


It is in close proximity to what appears to be Jewel Coal Co. (possibly Newel Coal.) I find references to a Jewel Coal as doing business, or having done so, in W. Va and Va. I find no web site for a Jewel Coal or a Newel Coal. I would think "Jewel Coal" bought their advertising sign in a spirit of philanthropy towards the town, not because they still have a lot of coal burning furnaces there, but anything is possible. Find Jewel Coal's offices and you probably find this High School and its field.


It has signs for what appears to be a gas station affiliated with what was once Standard Oil of Illinois (or Indiana) . The Oval red white & blue trademark by which S.O. of ILL (Ind.?) once marketed gasoline under both the American & Standard brands is present on the sign.
EDIT: In playing with computer resolution & doing some other tricks, I now believe this sign to be a trademark of the Ashland Oil Company of Ashland Ky, a gasoline marketer in Ky & adjacent states. When they updated their trademark signs in Ohio, they went to something that looked somewhat like the Standard & American signs previously mentioned.


It has a sign for Pic - Pac, I have found a chain of such groceries doing business in Central and Eastern Ky. I also found such a store in Wytheville Va. I dont know if that store is affiliated with the Ky chain or not. I cant find a corporate site for Pic Pac supermarkets, it may only be a purchasing and marketing co-operative of independently owned grocery stores, like IGA, but why no web site?


The one thing that intrigues me is one sign appears to be for a Penske Truck Rental business. The leaning appearance of the white letters, set on a blue background, looks sort of like the general shape of the Penske trademark as seen on his modern day Hertz rental trucks.


It has another sign, next to the one for the Standard or American gas station, that *may* be the old trademark of the Gulf Oil company, and the sign that appeared above their gas stations. Im not certain that this is the orange and blue sign Gulf used to use though. Image is too blurred to be sure. EDIT: In looking more closely at this sign I believe it to be the Orange Globe with a big blue "76" in the middle of it... a Union 76 station that appears to be advertising 24 hour service.


I think the pieces are here to solve this... I will keep going over it.

[Bernard Shakey]

I would agree with the esteemed Eagle of California, purveyor of wax cup Genny Screamers at Cleveland stadium, although the photos are screaming southern Ohio at me. We know it's not Zanesville, and Cambridge can be ruled out too.

[majorleads]

I'm pretty sure it's Paul G. Fyffe Field at Johnson Central High School in Paintsville Kentucky. LINK (http://flhistory.0catch.com/KentuckyRifles.htm)
The buildings, football field, the background with trees and the dirt lines extending from the batters box to the dugout (or stands) all match up.


http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/9108/kentuckyballparks1.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kentuckyballparks1.jpg)

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6820/kyb.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kyb.jpg)


http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/7489/kyb1.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kyb1.jpg)

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6293/kyb2.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kyb2.jpg)

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/5602/kyb3.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kyb3.jpg)

[go_leafs_go02]

yep..i'd confirm thats it.

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=37.821372~-82.818063&style=h&lvl=16&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=38577116&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&where1=paintsville%2C%20kentuck&encType=1

[Calif_Eagle]

Congrats to Majorleads... I think you found it. I felt it was in Eastern Ky mainly because of the Jewel Coal sign but never could narrow it down more than that. At one point I thought one of the signs said "Bardstown" which is more Central, but none of the pix of parks and ballparks I found matched up. WTG ! :clapping

[majorleads]

Congrats to Majorleads... I think you found it. I felt it was in Eastern Ky mainly because of the Jewel Coal sign but never could narrow it down more than that. At one point I thought one of the signs said "Bardstown" which is more Central, but none of the pix of parks and ballparks I found matched up. WTG ! :clapping

Thanks! Probably could not have figured this one out had you not mentioned Kentucky as a possibility. So much thanks should go to you. When I first looked at it I thought upstate NY or PA.

[Calif_Eagle]

Thanks! Probably could not have figured this one out had you not mentioned Kentucky as a possibility. So much thanks should go to you. When I first looked at it I thought upstate NY or PA.

The link that you posted had the history of Pikeville and Paintsville in the Appalachian League as well as in the Frontier League. With such small capacities I cant see how they ever expected to make it in the Frontier, when that web site shows it had cities all over the Midwest and East. Cant possibly see how they lasted even 2 years. The travel costs must have eaten them alive with such small gates at home.

Both cities were in the Appalachian League in the late 70's and or mid 80's. I have this info available to me in my 2 copies of the Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, the 1992 and the latest edition. So... I am figuratively kicking myself right now as I was *THIS* close, and didnt get it. Paintsville actually fleetingly shot through my mind earlier today, and I should have followed up on that. I recall reading in the Sporting News in the mid 70's that a Paintsville contingent attended the winter meetings in about 1974 or so to try and land a team in the Appy League. They also ran some fairly large advertisments in the Sporting News about that same time asking MLB teams and or minor league club operators to come give Paintsville a look.

Remembering all that, and not getting it is more than a bit frustrating lol Anyway, both of these I participated in were a lot of fun and challenging.... Bring On The Next One ! :)


EDIT: Oh by the way.... thanx to Majorleads for graciously extending partial credit to me... I didnt even know about the Frontier League, that is; I didnt know that it had Paintsville (or Pikesville) as a member. Recall reading awhile back it was an indy league, but had a lot of financial problems, that was all I could have told you before reviewing the interesting link above. Once more, WTG Majorleads and I'm ready to try on the next one ! :)

[majorleads]

The link that you posted had the history of Pikeville and Paintsville in the Appalachian League as well as in the Frontier League. With such small capacities I cant see how they ever expected to make it in the Frontier, when that web site shows it had cities all over the Midwest and East. Cant possibly see how they lasted even 2 years. The travel costs must have eaten them alive with such small gates at home.

Both cities were in the Appalachian League in the late 70's and or mid 80's. I have this info available to me in my 2 copies of the Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, the 1992 and the latest edition. So... I am figuratively kicking myself right now as I was *THIS* close, and didnt get it. Paintsville actually fleetingly shot through my mind earlier today, and I should have followed up on that. I recall reading in the Sporting News in the mid 70's that a Paintsville contingent attended the winter meetings in about 1974 or so to try and land a team in the Appy League. They also ran some fairly large advertisments in the Sporting News about that same time asking MLB teams and or minor league club operators to come give Paintsville a look.

Remembering all that, and not getting it is more than a bit frustrating lol Anyway, both of these I participated in were a lot of fun and challenging.... Bring On The Next One ! :)


EDIT: Oh by the way.... thanx to Majorleads for graciously extending partial credit to me... I didnt even know about the Frontier League, that is; I didnt know that it had Paintsville (or Pikesville) as a member. Recall reading awhile back it was an indy league, but had a lot of financial problems, that was all I could have told you before reviewing the interesting link above. Once more, WTG Majorleads and I'm ready to try on the next one ! :)

You are definitely a good ballpark detective! :clapping I love trying to figure this stuff out too as I LOVE old baseball fields and stadiums, especially ones in out of the way places in little towns.

Found this interesting picture of what our ballpark has now become. :cry: Seems like Johnson Central High must have received their stimulus check. :laugh

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2508/jchs1.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jchs1.jpg)


Edit:
Here is the LINK (http://admin.schoolmatters.com/SMResourceHandler/resourcehandler.res?rtype=photo&phid=20329683) to the original picture. It's huge and you can see that the only thing still remaining from the baseball field are the light towers.

[Calif_Eagle]

You are definitely a good ballpark detective! :clapping I love trying to figure this stuff out too as I LOVE old baseball fields and stadiums, especially ones in out of the way places in little towns.

Found this interesting picture of what our ballpark has now become. :cry: Seems like Johnson Central High must have received their stimulus check. :laugh

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/2508/jchs1.jpg (http://img19.imageshack.us/my.php?image=jchs1.jpg)

Looks like new stands are coming for the football team, and a whole new ball park is on the way for the baseball and possibly softball teams... judging on that clearing this park will have luxury boxes and a food court lol Maybe the Marlins will move to Paintsville..... :laugh

[Digitalballparks]

Thanks! Probably could not have figured this one out had you not mentioned Kentucky as a possibility. So much thanks should go to you. When I first looked at it I thought upstate NY or PA.

You guys on this board are like a bunch of rabid dogs... i just throw a ballpark in and you disect to shreads... amazing work. Calif_Eagle taking apart every possible bit of information :atthepc allowing Majorleads to get an hunch and go with it and sure enough... :party:

I just can't even believe...

Well done people... and thanks Majorleads for also figuring out that the ballpark is now demolished. That means that these photographs that I have are going up as is, and I won't be visiting Kentucky in person to photograph the ballpark myself. Well done Majorleads... An impressive display in record time!

Eric
President
www.digitalballparks.com

And now for something completely different... um... i mean... the same... ballpark #4...

[RichardK]

Was going to say Frank Horn Field in Inez kentucky but Nvm :)

[Lucas718]

Pic-Pac was a dead giveaway for me. My uncle owned a few stores in eastern Kentucky.

[efin98]

You guys have better eyes than me, I couldn't go by just the signs on the walls without needed a movie theatre screen projecting the image!

[JC Daly]

Ya'll are pretty good @ this, lol. I'm amazed how quickly these are figured out! Although I am surprised Byron Browne hasn't made an appearance yet, lol

http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=83417