American football stadium
Bengal Field is an outdoor athletic stadium in Lewiston, Idaho . Opened 91 years ago in 1934 as a multi-sport athletic field,[ 2] [ 3] it is currently the football stadium for Lewiston High School , formerly located a few blocks to the northwest. The natural grass field runs conventionally north-south, with the main grandstand on the west sideline. The elevation of the field is approximately 860 feet (260 m) above sea level .
It was formerly a minor league baseball park , the home field of the Lewiston Broncs from 1952 through 1974.[ 4] [ 5] The Broncs were in the Western International League (WIL) for the first three seasons and the Northwest League (NWL) for the following two decades, which changed to short-season play in 1966.
Bengal Field also hosted the Lewiston Indians for two seasons, one in the Class B WIL in 1937,[ 6] [ 7] and in the Class C Pioneer League in 1939.[ 8] [ 9] [ 10] [ 11] The first night game at the park was the opening game in 1937 on April 27.[ 6] [ 12] The WIL franchise moved northwest to Bellingham for the 1938 season,[ 13] [ 14] and the Pioneer League team was moved to Idaho Falls in eastern Idaho in 1940, closer to the rest of the league.[ 15]
The baseball diamond at Bengal Field had an unorthodox southwest alignment,[ 16] [ 17] with the setting sun in right field; the recommended orientation (home plate to center field) is east-northeast.[ 18] Owned by the school district ,[ 19] the ballpark was also the home field for high school and American Legion baseball. It hosted the American Legion World Series in 1973.[ 20]
It transitioned into a football-only venue in the 1980s.[ 17] [ 21] [ 22] The LHS Bengals last played baseball there in 1983,[ 23] and used two venues in 1984, Harris Field at Lewis–Clark State College and Clearwater Park (46°25′23″N 116°59′46″W / 46.423°N 116.996°W / 46.423; -116.996 ), on the north bank of the Clearwater River .[ 21] They now play at Dwight Church Field (46°22′48″N 116°57′43″W / 46.38°N 116.962°W / 46.38; -116.962 ) in the southeast end of the city, about two miles (3 km) east of the Lewiston–Nez Perce County Airport ,[ 24] while American Legion baseball is played at Harris Field. Church (1925–94), LHS class of 1943, was the longtime head coach of the high school and Legion baseball programs.[ 25] [ 26] [ 27] [ 28] [ 29]
References
^ Shannon, Bill; Kalinsky, George (1975). The Ballparks . New York: Hawthorn Books, Inc. p. 270. ISBN 0-8015-0490-2 .
^ a b "Will dedicate athletic field" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . Washington. November 9, 1934. p. 3.
^ a b "Armistice parade today marks opening ceremony at new Lewiston field" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. November 12, 1934. p. 6.
^ "Broncs bring pro baseball back to Lewiston tonight" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. April 22, 1952. p. 8.
^ "Brenner pitches Lewiston to 5-2 win over Braves" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. April 23, 1952. p. 2.
^ a b "Lewiston to see first game under the lights tonight when Indians meet Spokane Hawks" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. April 27, 1937. p. 8.
^ "Spokane Hawks trim Lewiston" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. April 28, 1937. p. 13.
^ "Lewiston ball club in first home game" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . Washington. May 5, 1939. p. 5.
^ "Join us in celebrating" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. (advertisement). May 5, 1939. p. 8.
^ "Undefeated Lewiston team will meet Boise Pilots tonight" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. May 5, 1939. p. 10.
^ "Mel Marlowe whitewashes Indians as Salt Lake City takes series" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. September 1, 1939. p. 8.
^ "New W.I. League opens tonight" . Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. April 27, 1937. p. 13.
^ "Bellingham will get baseball franchise despite torrid protests from Lewiston fans" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . Washington. December 23, 1937. p. 14.
^ "New Class C loop is considered by Lewiston" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . Spokane. January 5, 1938. p. 16.
^ "Sam Collins' burial today; dies at 72" . Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. March 21, 1960. p. 10.
^ "Danforth wins 20th game" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. September 3, 1961. p. 8.
^ a b Ramsdell, Paul (January 25, 1982). "School board hearing next hurdle for new football field" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 2B.
^ "Objectives of the Game – rule 1.04" . Major League Baseball. Retrieved November 19, 2015 .
^ "Broncs will play at Bengal Field" . Spokane Daily Chronicle . Washington. December 11, 1964. p. 22.
^ "Legion opener today" . Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. August 30, 1973. p. 24.
^ a b Sahlberg, Bert (April 15, 1984). "Home isn't what it used to be" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 1C.
^ Browitt, Jim (June 9, 1994). "The names, and game, have changed" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 1C.
^ Ramsdell, Paul (May 15, 1983). "Bengals sweep by Vikings to win northern Idaho title" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 1B.
^ Riggs, Dick (August 5, 2010). "Lewiston has rich Legion history" . Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. Retrieved November 19, 2015 .
^ "Church tries hand at forecasting" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. November 9, 1984. p. 4B.
^ "Church stepping down" . Spokane Chronicle . Washington. Associated Press. June 1, 1989. p. C1.
^ "Services for Church today in Lewiston" . Spokesman-Review . Spokane, Washington. July 19, 1994. p. C3.
^ Robinson, Jeff (July 15, 1994). "Men like him only come around once in awhile [sic]" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 1B.
^ Sahlberg, Bert (July 20, 1994). "Saying farewell to a legend" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Idaho. p. 1B.
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