Oakland Park Baseball

The more I'm looking into this, the more I realize this is going to take a while to figure out. In the mean time, I think what we'll need to do is basically go out and play like normal, and move to a different field as necessary. We'll keep doing that over the next several games until a more permanent solution is figured out.

(Although, I was also thinking that doing that might not be such a bad permanent solution. We would need to figure out what are the acceptable fields that are relatively close to one another, such as DeFremery & Raimondi. Then, just have a willingness to get up and switch fields as it becomes necessary. It really didn't provide that bad of a delay in the 2/13 game. One thing's for sure, the city/authorities aren't going to come push us off a field---it's only if a valid registered user comes, then we'd have to leave. This strategy obviously eliminates a lot of the paperwork issues.)

Having a valid playing spot has benefits too though.

But, either way, we need to get a better knowledge of the local baseball (and softball) fields. Note: DeFremery is considered a softball field.

What I want to know is...... What do people know about the following fields? Is there a fence? Is it that far from DeFremery/Raimondi? Is is kept up, like is it mowed?

Please post with any information you have about the following fields, because it's going to be a pain in the ass for me to go check all of them. If I could eliminate some based on what people already know about a given field, that would help.

So here's the list:

First the "baseball" fields:
Allendale
Brookfield
Bushrod
Caldecott
Curt Flood
Elmhurst
Golden Gate
Greenman
Lowell
McConnel
Raimondi

Now here's the "softball" fields:
Allendale
Brookfield
Burkhalter
Bushrod
Curt Flood
DeFremery (what's this place like? Just kidding)
Franklin
Garfield
Golden Gate
Greenman
Jefferson Square
Jones - Pinto
Lowell
McConnel
Mosswood

Thanks for any & all information you can provide. To reiterate, until we get a more permanent solution, we'll do like we did on 2/13... We'll start at Raimondi then move to another field as necessary...

So now post that info you have on those fields, thanks!

Bushrod is right by my house... I can post info on it within the next 2 days

Mosswood is at MacArthur and Broadway, and frankly is not what we're looking for. There is no outfield fence, and the field is terribly small. Please remove it from consideration.

I'm guessing people don't wanna come to sf to play? We have a perfect field over here, but i guess too far.

Hey Nick,

Oakland Parks & Rec says Mosswood's address is: 3612 Webster St.


Is that the same Mosswood you're thinking of? I think of Webster being further downtown than where you're referring to. But then again, I didn't check a map. Please clarify.

Webster runs "parallel" to streets like MLK, Broadway, and Telegraph, which, of course, go north all the way to Berkeley... yes, it goes near Nick's place.

(it's actually a "spoke" of the "wheel" centered on downtown Oakland... just look at a map, you'll see what I mean)

[Scott, I'd recommend you get a bike... it definitely helps you get to know a place a lot better than in a car. Plus you can get to work more quickly and not have to pay for parking.]

Mosswood is over by Kaiser hospital. I've been there before (friend lived nearby) and I agree that the field sucks.

Just in case, should I research parks in SF?

BUSHROD SUCKS... My high school homed field (Rickey Henderson should've sprung for a field at the schoolhouse a long time ago).. nice fence in Left... no fence in Center... Right field fence about 1/4 mile away... literally.. outfield potmarked from the soccer (very good diverse Ethiopean/Eritrean, Latino, Caribbean, Caucasian...heck everyone plays) games. Not recommended for our games.

I swung by Golden Gate today on the way home from work. It's workable but not ideal.

It's on San Pablo and 62nd, not too far from San Pablo Park (Berkeley) if we have to move. The field is actually two diamonds which results in the fences being pretty far away from home plate (well over 300 to the corners and probably inching in on 500 to straightaway center). It's a softball field so the basepaths would be the same as Defremery. I noticed that lines were drawn for one of the diamonds but not the other. Also, it would probably be a 20-30 minute walk to the nearest bart station.

oh, and if I get a chance when it's not raining I'll try to check out bushrod tomorrow

Below are links and (approximations) of dimensions of parks that I know of in Da' Town.
These are just optional fields just in case. I like playing at DeFremery and Raimondi. The fields in East Oakland (Greenman, Connell, Curt Flood) are all very heavily used by Little Leauge and Babe Ruth in the summer. Chabot is a nice field but is the home of NOLL. I apologize for the lengths of the links. I was not able to cut them up and keep them live.

BUSHROD (560 59th St., Oakland)
At intersection of Racine and 60th St., near Telegraph. Take Telegraph Ave. to 60th St. Turn left on 60th, go one block to Racine and field entrance.

This is the home baseball field for my old high school Oakland Tech. (Damned Shame).

L- 319
C-406
R-580

http://mapstacker.ousd.k12.ca.us/script ... lick.y=335

GOLDEN GATE (62nd St & San Pablo Ave., Oakland)
Take San Pablo to 63rd, turn East (towards the field), continue to Herzog, turn and drive towards 62nd. There are 2 fields, and we will be using the field that backstops at 62nd and Herzog.

L- 269
C- 394.25
R-207.5

http://mapstacker.ousd.k12.ca.us/script ... NavCmd=Pan

CHABOT (6686 Chabot Road, Oakland)
Rockridge/Claremont section of Oakland. Follow Broadway North to intersection of Hwy. 24. Do not enter highway, go straight under highway to Chabot Rd. Turn right. The field is located adjacent to Chabot Elementary School.

Home of North Oakland Little League (NOLL). Very nice field. Very nice neighborhood. Not accesible by public transportation. USed heavily during little league season.

L-332
C-290
R-249

http://mapstacker.ousd.k12.ca.us/script ... NavCmd=Pan

CALDECOTT (FRONT) & (BACK)
Both fields are located at the North Oakland Sport Center, off Hwy. 24 (1/2 mile west of Caldecott Tunnel) Take Hwy. 24 to Tunnel Road Exit, last exit before tunnel. Exit will bring you back towards Oakland on Broadway. Field will be on your left at stop sign.

Dimensions not available. No public transportation. Nice and big. Last time there. No fences. Nice field

http://mapstacker.ousd.k12.ca.us/script ... lick.y=257

COACHES (898 Moraga Ave. Piedmont)
From Hwy. 13 take Thornhill/Moraga Exit. Take Moraga west down the hill towards Piedmont. Field will be on your right.

In the city of Piedmont... Only driven by it. Well kept. Short porches. Fence. Nice alley.

http://mapstacker.ousd.k12.ca.us/script ... NavCmd=Pan

HOLY NAMES University (Holy Names University, 3500 Mountain Blvd. Oakland)
From Hwy. 13 take Redwood Rd. Exit. Turn left over Freeway to Mountain Blvd. Turn left on Mountain. Be careful not to reenter Freeway. Before you reach the entrance to the college, turn right at Golden Gate Academy, windy up-hill road will end at parking lot adjacent to field.

I went to school here and did not know this field was here. I thought it was a multipurpose soccer type field. I do know that no one uses it that often. Little league may use it. The university does not have a baseball team and Golden Gate Academy does not have a baseball team. It is up the hill from the Fruitvale BART. Next to Highway 13, Next to Safeway. I actually like this choice.

http://mapstacker.ousd.k12.ca.us/script ... 0&MapSize= Large&Photo=ON&NavCmd=Pan

Oakland High School Park Blvd. & MacArthur Blvd.

Rarely used home of Oakland High School. Big field kind of asymetrical. Like the Coliseum where it's a combo football field. There are stands in left and center so that homeruns are like hitting the bleachers in a stadium. Bonus... AM/PM right accross the street for your Gatorade fix.

http://mapstacker.ousd.k12.ca.us/script ... Click.y=57

Franklin Field 11th Ave. & Foothill Blvd.

Field I grew up on. Quiet. Not used as often as it used to be used. Used to be a serious softball field. Very high fences all around like DeFremery.

L- 250
L Alley- 312.5
C- 225
R- 250

http://mapstacker.ousd.k12.ca.us/script ... lick.y=230

I used to pass by Franklin Field a lot and have always wanted to play there. It's awesomely set up and has a great opportunity for HR robs in LC. However, I notice a lot of soccer activity on weekends. Don't know how early we'd need to get there to play. Of all the fields listed, I would vote for Franklin HANDS DOWN!

Man, thanks a bunch to you guys for all the feedback. This will make it so much easier tomorrow. I'm going to spend the day checking out fields, until work at 3:00. I should have a detailed post up tomorrow with some firsthand results. I"ll try to focus on the fields not already described.

By the way, I could totally hit it out to RF at Bushrod. No problem.