MUSIC - chain lightnin' by .38 special

Dunn Tire Park - still standing War Memorial Stadium - demolished (1989) Wiley sports pavilion now on the site Offerman Stadium - demolished (1960) site is now a high school

Location - Dunn tire park, 275 Washington St., Buffalo New York -- Bounded by Swan St., Exchange St.

Location - War Memorial Stadium, Jefferson St., Best St., Dodge St., Masten Ave.

Location - Offermann Stadium, E. Ferry St., Masten Ave., Michigan Ave., Woodlawn Ave.

Just a note, most of the photos for War Memorial Stadium were found on the Internet. It was torn down before I could visit.

Western New York, specifically Buffalo, has a long and storied minor league history. Beginning in 1884 at the corner of Richmond Avenue and Summer Street was Olympic park. The International league began play in Buffalo in 1889 and used Buffalo Baseball park from 1889-1923. It was in 1924 that the Bison's began play at Offerman stadium. They were there thru the 1960 season. After that, the team moved to War memorial stadium where they stayed until 1987. Dunn tire park, or Pilot field as it was know then, came into play for the 1988 season.

Dunn tire park is located in downtown Buffalo at the corner of Washington and Swan streets. It is a stones throw across the Thomas E. Dewey expressway from the old Aud. After years of playing in outdated and downright awful War memorial stadium, the Bison's moved into their modern home in 1988. From 1988 thru the 1994 season, the Bison's were the triple A team for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Since 1995, they have been the top farm team for the Cleveland Indians. Many of the Indians best players have played in Buffalo. For the most part, Buffalo has been a Triple A city in both the International league (1998 thru the present) and the old defunct American Association (1985 thru 1997). The American Association folded after the 1997 season after nearly 100 years as triple A. Ironically, the Bison's were the last American Association league champion in 1997. All in all, Buffalo has captured 10 league titles, the last one coming in 2004.

The facility was known as Pilot field (for pilot air freight) from 1988 thru 1994. But after a default on naming rights payments, the park was simply called the downtown ballpark for a year. In 1995 North Americare Park was the name. This lasted thru the 1988 season. In 1989 Dunn tire got the naming rights and retain it to this day. A footnote, The Bison's were the first team in minor league history to draw over 1 million fans during their first season at the park.

The Bison's have had their share of hall of famers. Starting with the grand old man Connie Mack, thru Lou Boudreau, Johnny Bench, Jim Bunning and Ferguson Jenkins, just to name a few. Modern day players who have played in Buffalo are Victor Martinez, Moises Alou, Coco Crisp, Magglio Ordonez, Jim Thome, Richie Sexon, Grady Sizemore and Tim Wakefield.

Buffalo deserved a modern park for baseball and they got it. Ironically one of the most popular events held at the park is not baseball, BUT the National Buffalo wing festival every Labor Day weekend. The Buffalo wing was invented at the Anchor bar in Buffalo.

War Memorial stadium, or the rockpile as locals called it, was a WPA project built in 1937. Originally known as Roesch Memorial stadium the name was changed to Grover Cleveland stadium later in the 1937 season. Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th President of the United States and the Governor of New York. The name changed again in 1938 to Civic stadium, which remained until 1960 when it was renamed for the last time to War Memorial Stadium. The stadium was located at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Best Street, about a 10 minute drive from downtown Buffalo.

The stadiums main tenants were the baseball Bison's, who played here from 1961 thru the 1987 season, and the upstart Buffalo Bills of the old AFL. The Bills used the rockpile from 1960 thru the 1972 season before fleeing to Rich stadium in suburban Orchard Park. During their stay here, the Bills won the AFL titles in both 1965 and 1965. The area surrounding the stadium was iffy at best during the 60's, 70's and 80's. In their first season here (1961) the Bison's won the league title. After the Bison's left in 87, the old rockpile was demolished. The Johnnie B. Wiley Amateur Athletic sports pavilion now occupies the site. So kids of today can run on the field that OJ, and many of the stars of the AFL used. I wonder if the kids realize what was there before?

Most people would know the old Rockpile from its claim to fame. The Robert Redford movie the Natural was filmed inside the park. Now that is just a distant memory.

The third park here is Offerman Stadium. One of the first homes for Buffalo baseball. Offerman was located at Woodlawn Avenue and Michigan Avenue (later called Harriet Tubman Way). In fact, Offerman was about 10 blocks north of War Memorial stadium. The Bison's won 6 league titles here, the last one being in 1957. It was a cozy little park with small dimensions. Left field was 321 feet away and the power alleys were 345 feet away. Right field was a cozy 297 feet. Several sluggers took full advantage of the hitters dimensions. Luke Easter took advantage the most. During the 50's he led the International league in home runs, despite his advanced age of 40. In 1960, Offerman stadium was put to rest. The final game on September 17, 1960, saw the hated Toronto Maple Leafs (no not the hockey team) defeat the Bison's 5-3. With that, Offerman stadium was closed and eventually demolished in 1964. Woodlawn junior high school now occupies the site. In 2008, the site where Offerman stood will become the new home for the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts school.