Zim, Maddon reflect on an old ballpark

ROGER MOONEY
rmooney@bradenton.com

WINER HAVEN – Don Zimmer spun tales of Ted Williams and Joe Maddon waxed poetically about Chain O’Lakes Park, which for the past 16 years, was the spring home of the Cleveland Indians.

The park opened in 1966 and was home to the Red Sox until they left for Fort Myers in 1993.

Thursday was the final spring game at the ballpark. The Indians are moving to Goodyear, Ariz., next spring.

“I’m looking at this place and it’s the essence of spring training,” Maddon said before the Rays 9-7, 10-inning victory.

Winter Haven is the smallest city in Florida to have a spring training venue, and over the years the fans have built a connection to the ballplayers, and the players to the city.

Zimmer, who managed the Red Sox from 1976 to 1980, remembers Williams, who was a spring training instructor. The fans would lineup down the right field line to get autographs from the players as they moved to and from the clubhouse.

“But when Ted Williams walked by everyone grew quiet,” Zimmer said.

Zimmer once took Williams to diner at an out-of-the-way steakhouse and recalled how the room fell silent when they were led to a table in the back.

“No one said a word as they ate,” Zimmer said. “They all wanted to hear what Ted Williams had to say.”

Senior citizens walk the bases after every Indians home game in the spring. It’s called the “Senior Stroll.” After Thursday’s game, everyone was allowed to walk the bases – young and old.

Fathers took pictures of their sons standing on the pitcher’s mound. Fans had their picture taken at home plate, in the dugouts and next to the Indians logo behind home plate.

The Winter Haven police stood by patiently, allowing fans to take their time leaving the ballpark so they could enjoy every last minute in a stadium that will no longer play host to a major league baseball game.

“It’s been such a big part of their lives,” Maddon said. “That’s kind of the sad part about it. It’s like the passing of a good old friend. It’s very unique place. It’s quaint. It’s the essence of spring training.”

Plans for the stadium and the surrounding complex are still sketchy. If could become a park, condos or a shopping mall.

“I really wish they wouldn’t tear this place down,” Maddon said. “I look at it and my first thought is that I really wish they would preserve it for the youth, high school teams, tournaments in the summer time. Keep the place. They always tear the cool old places down. At some point, let’s find away to keep them.”