Calfee Park was built in 1935 by the WPA work force, and named after the Town of Pulaski Mayor of the time, Ernest W. Calfee. The original structures still standing are the covered stands and the rock ticket gate at the north end. Over the years, the park has been used for horse shows, fairs, concerts, exhibitions, and of course, athletic events.
Although initially intended for horse shows, civic events and high school sports, the park became identified almost exclusively with minor league baseball. Beginning with the Pulaski Counts in 1936, Calfee Park became the home for several major league farm teams associated with the Appalachian League. The teams represented over the years include: the Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners. Calfee Park is currently home to its newest franchise, the Pulaski Yankees of the New York Yankees farm system.
Calfee has also been host to high school and college baseball games and tournaments, and prior to consolidation of the Dublin and Pulaski High Schools, was the home football and baseball field for the Pulaski Yankees. The park is used for recreation league football and baseball, and continues to be a focal point in the community, hosting other large Town gatherings and events.
Following a major renovation in 1999, and due largely to its community value and significance, Calfee Park was named to the National and State Historic Landmarks Register, and after the 1999 season, was named the Appalachian League Facility of the Year. This unique ballpark has been featured and pictured in Sports Illustrated, National Geographic, Life and Virginia Living magazines.
In 2014, Calfee Park was sold to the Shelor Motor Mile Group, which began an extensive program of remodeling and building new facilities to meet minor league baseball standards, while leaving the historical elements of the park intact. The park received a new umpire/visiting team locker facility, a reconstructed home team locker room, a new concession stand, and a new press box with additional seating and overflow parking. Perhaps the biggest new feature added was the jumbotron, allowing fans to see game-related information during ball games.
Further renovations were completed on the park in 2019. This round of innovations was quite substantial, adding 350 new seats along the third baseline, including 30 ADA-accessible seats. 11 new boxes were also added. A new concourse was also added behind the existing third base side of the park, along with an integrated sunshade canopy. A three-tired party deck was also added in left field, providing great views of the ballgames for fans. Finally, the former souvenir trailer was replaced with a walk-in souvenir store in the same location.
Although the Minor League Baseball season was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pulaski Yankees and Calfee Park have ensured a jam packed schedule of events throughout the summer so that fans of baseball can still enjoy themselves while practicing social distancing responsibly. Check out the schedule of events here.
For more info about the Pulaski Yankees, click here or check out their Facebook page for up to date information on changes or additions to event schedules.