The Jake

The main entrance to Jacobs Field, Jul-1994.

Some of the main seating areas, taken from left field during batting practice.

The new ballpark fits snugly into Cleveland like no other park could.

• Location: Broadway and Carnegie Street, Cleveland, Ohio
• Opened: 1994 as Jacobs Field
• Additional names: Progressive Field (2008)
• Home team: Cleveland Indians, American League (1994-present)
• Capacity: 43,863

Rating: 4 baseballs

Until three days before the 1994 season opened, the new park was being referred to as Gateway Park. Then Jacobs came through with his own money to back up the naming of the facility, and it became known as Jacobs Field. (For 2008, the park took on a new name, as Jacobs, who no longer owned the Indians, wanted out. The park is now known as Progressive Field, for an auto insurer.)

The new park was hailed for its ability to bring out the best of a city that had gained a rotten reputation over the previous few decades. Visitors to the park get a great look at downtown Cleveland, as well as a clear view to the lake from selected angles in the upper deck.

A lot of people compare Jacobs Field with Camden Yards, but the facilities have very little in common – except for their ability to fit into their cities. The Jake would never work in Baltimore; likewise, Camden Yards couldn’t be made to fit into Cleveland.

The best news of all is that fans have flocked to the Jake to watch their beloved Tribe. Every game from mid-1995 through the 2001 opener was sold out. A rejuvenation of the team helped as well; the club was in the playoffs every season from 1995-99. For 2008, the park took on a new name, as Dick Jacobs, who named the park for himself when he owned the Indians, wanted out. The park is now known as Progressive Field, for an auto insurer.