Sam Lynn Ballpark
Sam Lynn Ballpark, which is also famous as "Historic" Sam Lynn Ballpark is a baseball stadium located in Bakersfield, California. It is said to be the Class-A Advanced California League's oldest ballpark. The ballpark was erected in 1941 for the Bakersfield Badgers. At that time, they were a founder member of the California League for the current season. The current tenant is the Bakersfield Train Robbers of the Pecos League. They are not associated with any Major or Minor League Baseball team at the moment.
Sam Lynn Ballpark is one of just two ballparks in organized professional baseball where the batter faces west, straight into the sun setting. This is a unique feature of the ballpark. The other one is Wahconah Park which is located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. As a result, the Train Robbers begin most games later than any other professional club. It's not uncommon for games to start as late as 7:58 PM from mid-June through mid-August.
Sam Lynn Ballpark was given its name after a previous local Coca-Cola bottling firm owner. He is well known for contributing a large portion of his earnings to local amateur baseball teams.
Since the 1980s, there have been major demands to replace Sam Lynn Ballpark, but real thoughts have only occurred since the development of multiple California League clubs developing world-class facilities. Some of the notable ones include Rancho Cucamonga, Lancaster, Adelanto (High Desert), Lake Elsinore, Stockton, and San Bernardino (Inland Empire).
Both the City of Bakersfield and Kern County were given ideas to create a new facility. Unfortunately, both declined to fund it. After the 1994 season, the then-Major League parent club Los Angeles Dodgers relocated their California League affiliate from Bakersfield to Los Angeles.
The Blaze's new owners revealed plans for a new stadium in the year 2012, with an expected opening date of 2014 for the local public. Unfortunately, the finance for this new ballpark was not finished by the agreed-upon deadline, and control of the club reverted to the previous owner. The California League stated in August 2016 that the Blaze will not be returning for the 2017 season.
The Pecos League's Train Robbers franchise (that is formerly headquartered in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and Topeka, Kansas) announced on December 15, 2016, that they will relocate to Bakersfield and Sam Lynn Ballpark for the 2017 season.