Ballparkwatch - Siebert Field, Minnesota Gophers

Year Opened	1971
Capacity	1,000
Dimensions	330L, 380C, 330R
Last Visit	April 2003
Web Site	www.gophersports.com
Online Broadcasts	Yes
Online Ticket Sales	No
Phone	612/624-2868
Conference	Big Ten
Surface	Grass
Address/Directions	516 15th Av. SE., Minneapolis. The stadium is located on the edge of the University of Minnesota's main campus. The address is a bit of a misnomer: while the stadium's address is on 15th Av. SE., the stadium is actually down the block from the intersection of 5th St. SE. and 15th Av. SE.
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Named for long-time University of Minnesota baseball coach Dick Siebert, Siebert Field is known for having one of the best playing surfaces in the Big Ten and the entire Upper Midwest. Many Gopher notables spent their college careers playing at Siebert Field, including Hall of Famers Paul Molitor and Dave Winfield.

The stadium is basic, to say the least. There are no backed seats in the stadium, as everything is bleacher seating. There are two main seating areas: a covered grandstand and bleachers down the first-base line. It's pleasant enough, and on a warm spring Minnesota day, it's a great place to soak up some sun -- just don't expect anything more than that.

Sadly, this is not a facility that's been adequately maintained by the university, apart from the playing surface. There were originally bleachers on both sides of the grandstand, but the left-field bleachers were taken out in 1999 because they were unstable and did not meet code.

The stadium was originally known as Bierman Field, named for Bernie Bierman, the legendary football coach at the University of Minnesota. That changed in 1979, when the stadium was renamed in honor of Richard (Dick) Walther Siebert, a St. Paul native who played baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals and Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics (where he was an All-Star in 1943). He was named head baseball coach at the University of Minnesota in 1947; his teams won three NCAA baseball championships and many Big Ten titles.

Siebert Field was also home to an independent pro team, the Minneapolis Loons of the Prairie League, which was coached by former Gopher great Greg Olson. Several former Gophers played for the Loons, including Kerry Ligtenberg, who parlayed success with the Loons into a contract offer from the Atlanta Braves. Since Ligtenberg was under contract to the Loons, the Braves "traded" six dozen baseballs and two dozen bats for the rights to Ligtenberg.

Siebert Field probably won't be long for this world in its current configuration, as Gophers coach John Anderson and several Gopher alumni have been raising funds for a new baseball facility to be built on the current Siebert Field site. These plans are currently on hold due to a building moratorium on the university campus, pending an upcoming facilities plan.

There's a single concession stand in the grandstand featuring popcorn, hot dogs, pop, candy, and the like.

There's no parking lot adjacent to the stadium, so you'll need to park on the street. If there's a decent crowd at the game, you may end up walking quite a ways to the game.

Siebert Field is within walking distance of Dinkytown, one of the two commercial areas abutting the University campus. Dinkytown is only five square blocks, but it contains several good restaurants. Shuang Cheng
(1320 4th St. SE.) is one of the best seafood restaurants in Minneapolis: prepared Cantonese style, the nightly specials feature seafood specialties like yellowfish and walleye steamed in black bean sauce. The Loring Pasta Bar (327 14th Av. SE.) packs them in with a sensual design and decent food. Vescio's Italian Restaurant (406 14th Av. SE.) is a classic neighborhood Italian restaurant, with homemade ravioli and a decor out of 1962. And for one of the best burgers in town, try Annie's Parlour (313 14th Av. SE.).