Dodd Stadium

Sen. Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium, Jul-1995.

One out to go for the ’Gators ...

• Location: Norwich Industrial Park, Stott Street, Norwich, Conn.
• Opened: 1995
• Home team: Norwich Navigators (1995-2005), Connecticut Defenders (2006-present), Eastern League
• Capacity: 6,275

Rating: 3 baseballs

There is one road in, and it goes through an industrial park. The field can be approached by a long winding road off Conn. Route 2, or by another road that parallels the Connecticut Turnpike (I-395).

Is the drive worth it? Dodd Stadium is nice enough, but I really didn’t see anything here that was unusual or outstanding. The field’s at the top of a hill, so it really doesn’t look out on anything except a few surrounding trees.

Despite this, the field has been visited by ESPN. The main reason was the appearance of New York Yankees pitching prospect Hideki Irabu during the 1997 season.

After eight seasons as a New York Yankees affiliate, the Navigators became a San Francisco Giants farm club in 2003. The Yankees are now associated with the Trenton Thunder.

In 2006, the club changed its name to the Connecticut Defenders, dumping the Gator mascot that had been confusing as there isn't an alligator to be found outside of captivity within hundreds of miles of Norwich Industrial Park.