Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.57
McManus Family Field at Carlo Crispino Stadium 8102 Lasalle Rd Towson, MD 21286
Year Opened: 2008
Capacity: 300
Panthers Pride
The Maryland Collegiate Baseball League is a summer collegiate league with players from many colleges but mostly from regional colleges and universities, such as Towson, Maryland, Penn State, UMBC, and Mount St Mary's.
The Panthers play at Carlo Crispino Stadium at Calvert Hall College High School. The school is a Catholic high school for boys, located in Towson, Maryland, and was started in 1845. Famous alumni include filmmaker John Waters, A-Team actor Dwight Shultz, and ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
The field itself is named for the McManus family. Carlo Crispino was a former Calvert Hall player, and Phillies minor-leaguer, who donated money for the new stadium to be opened in 2008. The stadium has been named by the National Baseball Coaches Association as its field of the year at least twice.
Food & Beverage 0
A small permanent stand is located down the first baseline but does not seem open for Panthers games.
Atmosphere 3
The stadium is small and compact. This means that the fan noise will be pretty high even with a small crowd. It is also covered making visiting on hot, sunny days a pleasure. There is also a nice picnic area down the right field line.
Just be careful entering the stadium as there is no net right as you come up the steps. If one was not paying attention as a player is batting it could end badly.
Neighborhood 4
The ballpark is located in the busy Towson area of Baltimore County. Towson University and Goucher College are located nearby.
Across the street from the field is a large big-box retail shopping center with various options. Gino's at 8600 Lasalle Road is also very close by. This local legend has some good burgers and chicken options. Try the Gino's Giant.
If you wish to venture further, you are in luck as Towson is a semi-urban environment with a very large shopping mall and numerous restaurants in the area. Try the Charles Village Pub in the heart of downtown Towson for good food and drinks.
Fans 2
The crowds are similar to a northeastern college baseball stadium. The fans consist of mostly family and friends of the players on both teams. The Maryland Collegiate Baseball League gets players from colleges throughout the area so that you may have some nice variety in terms of fans at the ballpark.
Access 4
Towson is the county seat of Baltimore County and always seems to be in the center of everything. It is at the crossroads of the busy Baltimore Beltway, Jones Falls Expressway, and Harrisburg Expressway. I-95 is also relatively close by.
Calvert Hall College High School is also easy to find at the busy intersection of Putty Hill Avenue and Goucher Boulevard. There should be plenty of free parking in the school's lots. If you use the lots off of Lasalle Road, near the baseball stadium, watch out for the signs designating foul territory.
Return on Investment 4
Games are free, and so is the parking. The level of college ball on display makes this a great value for fans.
Extras 1
Walk the grounds of Calvert Hall to see how they abide by their mission of making their students "men of intellect, men of faith, and men of integrity."
Final Thoughts
A strong level of baseball for free makes a visit to a Putty Hill Panthers game a good way to spend a few innings.
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