It was the spring training home of the Philadelphia Phillies for more than a generation… the prototypical “neighborhood ballpark” sandwiched into a residential subdivision just north of downtown Clearwater, Florida. The Phillies vacated Jack Russell after the 2003 season for new digs five miles to the east along US-19.

This past weekend Jack Russell Stadium was finally demolished.

This article in the St. Petersburg Times recaps some of the history and great moments and the great players who graced this field.

Our USRT visit to Jack Russell was in 2003, when we did a whirlwind tour of a number of Grapefruit League ballparks. Parking was $3, every front lawn in the neighborhood was put to use for parking capacity, the streets around the venue were like one big party, the food selection was pretty varied, including the famous Philly cheese steak, and tickets cost $8, $6 and $5. We snagged credentials through the Phillies, and remember well the amazing dessert cart in the media/scout dining room.

In the first base concourse on the fence was a huge mural of the replacement ballpark. “Coming in 2004! Bright House Networks Field!” Our first thought was BOHICA! (Bend Over Here It Comes Again)

Sure enough, an examination of the 2004 Spring Training media guide confirmed what we expected was coming… “Ticket Pricing, $24, $18, $16, $14… Parking $10 general, $15 valet… club members get access to the private Tiki Bar”.

We’re heading down to Tampa Bay next March for an NCAA basketball subregional, and plan a Phillies game at BHNF as part of that journey. Our fervent hope is that the dessert cart made it over to the new ballpark!

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