How Baseball Came to Deltaville
The land on which the Deltaville Ballpark sits today was purchased in the 1940’s, where a sandlot ballpark was constructed. The ballpark was originally constructed in 1948 by local farmers, merchants, and watermen of the village. The original 85’ wooden light poles were floated in by local watermen, towed from Norfolk as no roadways existed that were more convenient. The crab pot wire they used in the grandstand continues to separate the spectators from the playing field, much of which is original to the park.
Typical to the post WWII era, baseball parks and fields sprang up in nearly every town and village throughout Virginia, with local teams competing several nights a week for entertainment and bragging rights. In time, friendly baseball rivalries developed between Deltaville and the surrounding community teams in Urbanna and Mathews. The ballpark hosted its first game in June of 1948 and while wooden ballparks have disappeared across the Commonwealth, Deltaville Ballpark has been in continuous use ever sense.
While changes and modern conveniences have taken place at the facility over the decade to meet the expectations of the modern spectator, the facility remains much as it was when originally constructed. At a time when most sports facilities today are interchangeable, the Deltaville Ballpark stands a rare example of post WWII ballpark architecture and a moment in time when a village rooted for their local ball club. To be in the Deltaville Ballpark is to celebrate baseball as it always was, and to discover the simplicity of a style of architecture that provides function as well as grace.
Over the decades, generations of people of all occupations have played at the ballpark. From businessmen, ministers, global CEO’s, decorated military veterans, boat builders, watermen and multiple professional players have all played in the Deltaville Ballpark. Major League Baseball World Series Champions have pitched for the Delta’s. Former Minnesota Twins Pitcher Keith Atherton, a native of nearby Mathews County, as well as former New York Yankee Jim Coates of Lancaster County.
Today, the Deltaville Ballpark continues to serve as a vibrant community treasure while also growing to serve a broader region. In addition to the home team Deltas, the ballpark hosts several youth leagues with teams from over ten counties. Most nights for six months of the year, you may see the ballpark lights on and hear the cheers of the crowds. We are proud to be a place where our communities and families gather to take in a game surrounded by neighbors cheering on our local players.
Our goal is to function as a living museum of baseball, be a reminder of a past era and to meet the needs of those yet to come.