In the fall of 20013, work began on a $1.5 million makeover of Municipal Ballpark.....Read More

 

 

The Bismarck Governors American Legion baseball team play its home games at the spacious Bismarck Municipal Ballpark, a city-owned stadium that includes bleacher seating for approx, 3,500.

 

 

In addition to the Bismarck Governors, Reps, and Senators - Bismarck Municipal Ballpark is home to many of the area baseball teams:

Bismarck High School

Bismarck State College

Century High School

University of Mary

St. Mary's Central High School

Bismarck Babe Ruth

 

 

The current Bismarck Municipal Ballpark was built in 1992.

 

 

In the early 1990's, Washington Street, which runs on the east side of the ballpark, needed to be widened.  Unfortunately, the old ballpark took up a lot of the real estate that was needed to widen the street.

 

 

The ballpark was turned around 180 degrees.  Center field was moved to home plate and home plate was moved to center field.  The concrete grandstand was completely demolished.  A new grandstand was built in time for the 1992 season.

 

 

The current ticket booth and entrance to the ballpark were dedicated in memory of Brad Hetland during the 2005 American Legion baseball season. Hetland was a participant in the Bismarck American Legion baseball program with the Scarlets in 1996 and the Governors during the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

 

 

Bismarck Municipal Ballpark underwent a $50,000 face lift in 1971, the most obvious change being a 900-seat concrete grandstand with cover.  The grandstand was completed just in time for Bismarck to host the 1971 North Dakota Class 'A' American Legion baseball tournament.

 

 

The original Bismarck Municipal Stadium was actually a wooden structure that stood where center field is now.  The great wooden grandstand burned to the ground in 1971.

 

 

Bismarck Municipal Ballpark has hosted a variety of semi-pro organizations. Bismarck has had three brief flings with professional baseball. The Bismarck Barons played in the Mon-Dak league, an independent "minor-league" that played throughout Manitoba and the Dakotas, from 1955 through 1957. From 1962 through 1964 and again in 1966 the Bismarck-Mandan Pards were members of the Northern League as a farm club of the Minnesota Twins and Houston Astros. The Prairie League brought pro baseball back to Bismarck in 1995 and 1996 with the Dakota Rattlers.

 

 

Bismarck Municipal Ballpark has also hosted a variety of High School, American Legion, and Babe Ruth baseball district, state and regional tournaments.

 

 

Bismarck Municipal Ballpark has hosted the North Dakota American Legion state tournament in 2010, 1998, 1992, 1980, 1971, 1965, and 1945.

 

 

Bismarck hosted the 1956 and 1962 American Legion World Series. St. Louis (MO) Post 245 defeated New Orleans (LA) Post 345 in 1956 and St. Louis (MO) Post 299 defeated Honolulu (HI) Post 11 in 1962 to win the World Series.

 

 

One of the unique features of the field are the train tracks located just north of the ballpark. Trains passing through the Bismarck-Mandan area are often seen and their blaring horns heard during games.

 

 

View pictures of Bismarck Municipal Ballpark during the flood of April 1952. These pictures were taken from the railroad embankment looking south on Washington Street, just south of what is now Front Avenue. The pictures were submitted to a www.kxnet.com photogallary by Blaine Engelstad from Mandan.

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