Chain of Lakes Park, Winter Haven FL- Former Cleveland Indians Spring Training Home - Revisited 2011

After attending the Tampa Bay Rays Fan Fest on Feb 19, 2011, my scenic drive home from Tampa took me through Winter Haven, so I paid a quick visit to the Cleveland Indians former Spring Training home from 1993-2008.

Most everything is the same, but with much less Wahoo emblazoning fixtures and equipment. One can walk out on the formerly Hallowed Ground and sit in the dugout where likes of Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Mike Hargrove, Eddie Murray and hundreds of other "family members" who wore Chief Wahoo or the Script "I" once platooned. On previous visits since the move to Arizona, the old player parking lot was even open to drive in and one could walk up the steps of the Major League Clubhouse, but on this day that gate was locked.

Spring Training has an entirely different feel now, as I was one of the lucky fans onloy had to drive from Orlando for as many games as I could get off from work to attend, to chase countless autographs, and to relax under the Florida sun I seem to take for granted due to work. For those who enjoyed a Sweet 16 years of Erie Warrior Baseball on the shores of Lake Lulu, I present a quick drive from the practice fields to the entrance of Chain of Lakes Park.

Worth noting, the tribute mural by the old Team Shop is still there and features the late, great, Bob Feller. RIP Rapid Robert. GO TRIBE!

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Cleveland
• Indians
• Spring
• Training
• Winter
• Haven
• Goodyear
• Arizona
• Tribe
• Florida
• Baseball
• Stadium
• Tour
• Bob
• Feller
• Lake
• Lulu
• Chain
• of
• Lakes
• Park

[bmongo18]

Did the fields look good? I do the maintaining on the complex and you came right before Russmat. And the gate was locked cause kids was getting in the batting cages.

[ElKabong75]

@bmongo18 The field looked pretty good that day. Still well kept field, although the spiders must have opened a Holiday Inn in the seats judging by how many webs we all over. I'd watch where I sat if choosing to go back for anything!

Odd to walk around what was once "sacred grounds." Even odder to know guys were practicing on the other fields around the state and this so-familiar place was quiet. Haven't 100% gotten over that, as it was years of fun.

[abnerabreu1989]

Watching that field again brings me a lot of good memories. Haha, I loved to play in winter haven...