UTICA, N.Y. — Oneida County unveiled its $3 million upgrade to Murnane Field at Donovan Stadium on Tuesday, June 10. Work includes a new synthetic turf field, LED lighting, fencing, safety netting, bullpen, and batting cages.
“These improvements transform Donovan Stadium into an even greater community asset, making Murnane Field much less susceptible to inclement weather and extending the baseball playing season to earlier in the spring and later in the fall,” Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. said in an announcement. “This will result in more play for collegiate, high school, American Legion, and multiple youth baseball leagues; provide stability for PGCBL games; and increase baseball tourism by giving Oneida County a premier venue to host tournaments, special one-off games and camps.”
The Oneida County Department of Public Works managed the project. Clark Companies of Delhi installed turf, fencing, safety netting, bullpen, batting cages, and other site improvements. Northern Pioneer Contractors of Glenfield installed the new energy-efficient LED lighting. CHA Sports of Albany designed the project. Other contractors and vendors used include Chenango Contracting, SportsField Specialties, and Musco Lighting.
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“This is a great day,” Oneida County Board of Legislators Chairman Gerald J. Fiorini, a long-time scholastic baseball coach, said. “This significant upgrade will allow Murnane to host more games and more fans enjoying this venue. This field represents not just a modern place to play ball, but a space where county residents will gather.”
The Utica Blue Sox and Boonville Lumberjacks will play the first game on the new surface on June 11 as part of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL).
Located between Rose Place, Sunset Avenue, and Burrstone Road in Utica, the site that would become Murnane Field at Donovan Stadium was donated by philanthropist Thomas Proctor to the Utica City School District in 1906. Oneida County took ownership of the facility in 1990 and then leased it to the Oneida County Sports Facility Authority in 1992.
Murnane Field at Donovan Stadium was home to professional baseball for several years when Utica was in the New York-Penn League, beginning with an affiliation with the Toronto Blue Jays from 1977 to 1980. The Utica Blue Sox played as an independent member of the New York Penn-League from 1980-1985, winning the league championship in 1983. The team was then affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1986-1988, the Chicago White Sox from 1988-1992, the Boston Red Sox from 1993-1995 and the Florida Marlins from 1996-2001.
The facility has also hosted high-school baseball sectional playoffs and New York State American Legion tournaments over the years.
Currently, it serves as the home venue for the Utica Blue Sox (PGCBL), Mohawk Valley Community College, Thomas R. Proctor High School, and Utica Post 229.
Oneida County has a strong baseball legacy, with many Major League Baseball (MLB) players having come through the Blue Sox organization and several local players having risen to the highest level as well, including Dave Cash, Mark Lemke, Andy VanSlyke, and Chris Jones. Current MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred is also an Oneida County native.
