Alexian Field

Walking up to Alexian Field, Jul-2001.

The stadium structure and seating bowl are somewhat conventional.

Outfield dimensions and grass cuts parallel those of Wrigley Field, 25 miles away.

• Location: Springinsguth Road at Elgin-O’Hare Turnpike, Schaumburg, Ill.
• Opened: 1999
• Home team: Schaumburg Flyers, Northern League (1999-present)
• Capacity: 6,000 (approx.)

Chronological Tour: Stop 204

Rating: 3 baseballs

That’s why they start their Sunday afternoon games at 1:20, the same time as the Chicago Cubs. That’s also why the dimensions of the outfield are identical to those at Wrigley Field, although they don’t have brick walls covered with ivy here.

Instead, Alexian Field (the naming sponsor is Alexian Brothers Health System, a local chain of hospitals) is your typical late-1990s minor-league park, with a concession concourse from which you can watch the game. In another bow to traditionalism, the main scoreboard features post-up numbers, although the bull’s eyes for balls, strikes, and outs are very difficult to see, especially during the day.

The club is called the Flyers because the park is only a mile from Schaumburg Airport, a general aviation facility. O’Hare International is ten miles east.