Photos by Dave Cottenie, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.71
Daniel S. Frawley Stadium 801 Shipyard Dr Wilmington, DE 19801
Year Opened: 1993 Capacity: 6,404
Blue Celery in the First State
Minor League Baseball returned to the largest city in the First State in 1993 when the Peninsula Pilots were relocated to a brand new ballpark in Wilmington, Delaware. The team was named the Blue Rocks after the blue granite found along Brandywine Creek. The Blue Rocks initially began in the Carolina League as the Single-A Advanced affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.
The Blue Rocks would be affiliated with the Royals until 2004 and from 2007 to 2020 until the reorganization of Minor League Baseball. In 2021 Wilmington was moved to the South Atlantic League and affiliated with the Washington Nationals. Successful on the field, the Blue Rocks claimed five Carolina League titles.
The home of the Wilmington Blue Rocks is Judy Johnson Field @ Daniel S. Frawley Stadium. Opened in 1993 to coincide with the new team, the stadium is named after the Mayor of Wilmington from 1985 to 1993 Daniel Frawley, who was integral in getting Minor League Baseball back in Wilmington.
The field is named after Judy Johnson, a Negro League star and Hall of Famer who lived in Delaware for almost 75 years. One curiosity of the Blue Rocks experience is the fans' fascination with Mr. Celery, a stalk of celery mascot who emerges to celebrate each Blue Rocks run to the tune of “Song 2” by Blur.
Food & Beverage 3
The culinary experience at Frawley Stadium is decent. The main concession stands offer popcorn, Cracker Jack, peanuts, pretzels, hot dogs, burgers, chicken tenders, and fries. A couple of other note spots include Grotto’s Pizza and the first base side Chickie’s and Pete’s stand. A Philadelphia staple, Chickie’s and Pete’s offers cheesesteaks and their famous Crabfries.
Coca-Cola products are the soft drink of choice at Frawley Stadium. The beer selection in Wilmington is decent and includes Coors Light, Miller Light, Heineken, and Yuengling. Local brewery Wilmington Brew Works also offers a team-branded beer, Woo-Hoo Brew complete with the image of Mr. Celery on the can.
Atmosphere 4
Frawley Stadium has an attractive exterior and looks more modern than its 30-year age. Brown brick with light accents and blue trim make for a smart-looking color scheme. The main entrance behind home plate is up a set of stairs and directly above the ticket window, which would be directly behind home plate. Blue Rocks markings are tastefully added to the exterior and a photo of the 2019 Carolina League Champions highlights many photos in recessed arches on the exterior.
A bronze statue of Judy Johnson with a dedication plaque is a perfect meeting place for fans before the game. Also of note, two dedication plaques for pitcher Vic Willis and umpire Bill McGowan, both born in Wilmington and members of the Baseball Hall of Fame, sit in the flower beds outside the main plaza.
Inside the park, the main concourse is covered yet open. Unfortunately, Frawley Stadium does not offer a 360-degree path around the park. The seating bowl is a split level with an exterior walkway. There are several different seating options. There is bar seating by the Chickie’s and Pete’s along the first base side and the Picnic Pavilion is in leftfield.
The seating bowl does not offer much in the way of shade. Views of the Wilmington skyline and I-95 can be had from the main grandstand. The suite level to either side of the pressbox and behind the main seating bowl is full of blue highlights and has large baseballs and pennants as recognition for the championship teams and the retired numbers of Mike Sweeney, Johnny Damon and Robin Roberts along with Jackie Robinson. A display list of Blue Rocks players who have played in MLB is of note in the concourse.
The game day experience in Wilmington is what one would expect in Minor League Baseball. There are plenty of on-field promotions between innings and promo items thrown into the crowd at times. Rocky Bluewinkle, the Wilmington mascot, interacts with the crowd and participates in the pregame activities. The most unique feature of a Blue Rocks gameday is the presence of Mr. Celery. A secondary mascot for the team has taken on a bit of a life of its own in popularity. The main appearance of Mr. Celery comes after a Blue Rocks run when he comes out of a gate behind the plate and celebrates Blur’s “Song 2.”
Neighborhood 4
Frawley Stadium is located in the Riverfront neighborhood of Wilmington between I-95 and the Christina River. There are a few options for pre or post-game food and drink within walking distance of the ballpark. Some options include Iron Hill Brewery, Big Fish Grill, and Del Pez. Immediately southeast of Frawley Stadium is the Chase Center on Riverfront, which is the city’s event center. Further away, and across the Christina River, is the similarly named Chase Fieldhouse, home of the Delaware Blue Coats, an affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA G-League.
From the exterior of Frawley Stadium, fans can enter the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame. Donations are accepted and there are several terrific displays, including an excellent Judy Johnson display which tells his story in his own words. Other tourist options include Nemours Estate and Hagley Museum. For fans wishing to stay near the ballpark, the Westin Wilmington and Hyatt are just steps away.
Fans 3
In the 2023 season, the Wilmington Blue Rocks averaged over 2,500 fans per game. This ranks 87th in the 120-team MiLB. The Blue Rocks are also 8th in the South Atlantic League out of 12 teams. There is plenty of room for improvement here. At the game being reviewed, fans in attendance were very quiet and reserved. Interest in the game seemed waning.
Access 5
Frawley Stadium is located in the Riverfront neighborhood of Wilmington, east of I-95 and west of the Christina River. The park is encased by Shipyard Dr., Matt Minker Way, Judy Johnson Dr., and Frawley Dr., nice nods to some of the important figures in Wilmington Blue Rocks history.
Getting to the ballpark is very easy with I-95 located very close. There is plenty of parking on site both north and south of the ballpark and the majority of it is free. For fans wishing to take public transit, some buses stop on Judy Johnson Drive. Fans should check out the Delaware Transit Corporation website for fares, maps and schedules. The Amtrack station is also about a mile away. Getting around the ballpark is easy and the washrooms are adequate for the facility.
Return on Investment 4
Blue Rocks tickets start at $13 for General Admission and go up to $15 for a box seat and $18 for field-level box seats. Parking is free and concession prices are what one would expect. The gameday experience in Wilmington is solid and fans will have a good time. In the end, the value of a Blue Rocks game is strong.
Extras 3
An extra mark for the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame and the excellent Judy Johnson display.
An extra mark for the seemingly organic popularity of Mr. Celery, who has permeated much of the Blue Rocks promotion.
An extra mark for the success the Blue Rocks have enjoyed on the field with five league titles, including four in their first eight years.
Final Thoughts
With an excellent acknowledgment of Delaware baseball and sports history, the Wilmington Blue Rocks have put together a good presentation of Minor League Baseball. Judy Johnson Field @ Daniel S. Frawley Stadium is a solid home for the team and offers plenty for fans. The popularity of the Mr. Celery character is curious and seems pretty organic. It is just something that needs to be seen in person to fully understand.
Photo by Paul Baker, Stadium Journey
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