Down along the Tradewater River, nestled in amongst the passion flowers, there stands a modest monument to baseball's past. It's played host to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds. It's even said that Honus Wagner played here.
They stayed at the nearby New Century Hotel, a resort in the spa town of Dawson Springs. They played at Riverside Park, where the Pirates even held their Spring Training for a few years. There was even a local team, the Tradewater Pirates, based here for a while.
The original structure was lost to a flood, but the new stadium has all the charm you'd expect from an old grandstand. It's all wooden, from the pillars to the seats, and solid as a rock. You can almost taste the Cracker Jack as you stand overlooking the field.
My mind goes a little wild thinking about the potential of such a place. It's a little slice of baseball lore, tucked into rural Kentucky. A true hidden gem.
Hopkins County Tourist and Convention Commission
Original source can be found here.
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