Photos by David Welch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.00
St Louis Field 284 Hill Street Biddeford, ME 04005
St Louis Field – Sebago Slammin’ Salmon
At first glance, St. Louis Field appears to be a nondescript high school baseball field, which it is, but it also has a rich history as the former home of professional baseball teams such as the Biddeford Clamdiggers in the late 1800s, and the Biddeford Orphans in the early 1900s. St. Louis Field is a source of deep historical roots and local pride in the southern Maine town of Biddeford, for decades serving as a gathering place for locals to cheer on high school teams, and also used to celebrate the city’s Franco-American heritage at the annual La Kermesse Festival.
St. Louis Field has also routinely been used by the Greater Northeast Collegiate Baseball League (GNCBL), as part of its rotation of sites for summer collegiate baseball over the years. The 2024 GNCBL season saw a big transition in its operations, as the league was purchased and reorganized from a nomadic style of teams playing at different sites around southern Maine to designated home teams playing at six different fields. One team, the Sebago Slammin’ Salmon, splits its season between St. Louis Field and Mahaney Diamond on the campus of St. Joseph’s College in Standish, Maine, home of the Monks.
Food & Beverage 0
No concession stand is open at St. Louis Field, but fans are welcome to bring their food and beverages.
Atmosphere 1
St. Louis Field is the most basic facility used in the GNCBL, consisting of three sets of aluminum bleachers and a pair of small, cedar-shingled dugouts. The field overlooks a second baseball diamond, a wide-open multi-use field, and surrounding houses.
There is no scoreboard in use at St. Louis Field, which can make it challenging to keep track of the inning and score. Most fans bring their tailgating chairs to find the best vantage point, or to set up in the few shaded areas available.
Neighborhood 3
St. Louis Field is a neighborhood field as much as any field can be. Single and multi-family homes line the streets just outside the field, while an elementary school sits just beyond the left field line. The nearby streets are so close that the backstop netting has been extended up nearly 20 feet to protect passing vehicles. However, it is not uncommon for foul balls to still find their way into neighboring yards.
The field is just over a mile from Biddeford’s Main Street and the Biddeford textile mill, which has been converted into shops and restaurants. About half a mile further, across the Saco River bridge, is Biddeford’s sister city Saco, which boasts its own charming Main Street full of shops and locally owned restaurants. There you will find Rapid Rays, a 1950s-style restaurant, specializing in burgers, hot dogs, lobster rolls, and the Quebec classic comfort food, poutine (French fries topped with cheese curds and covered in gravy).
If looking to make the day a doubleheader, the Old Orchard Beach Bugs (in the same league) play just 15 minutes away at The Ballpark.
Fans 1
Crowds are modest here, typically capping at around 50 spectators per game. The fans are generally supportive of the teams and only criticize umpires on egregiously questionable calls. There does not seem to be a large local following, however, which in part may be due to Sebago splitting its season between two sites.
Access 3
Biddeford is conveniently located off I-95, which connects most of Maine’s major cities and is also accessible via Route 1, which runs more along the Maine coast. Traffic can get backed up at the 5-Points intersection, so taking the back route through the industrial park might save time if you are using I-95 to get to Biddeford.
Amtrak’s Nor’easter line does have a Biddeford/Saco stop just a mile-and-a-half from St. Louis Field – while this is an option to get to the field, it probably isn’t the most practical choice.
There is parking across the street from the ballpark at the neighboring elementary school, leaving a short walk to the diamond.
Return on Investment 5
There doesn’t appear to be a charge for admittance, and parking is free at the elementary school across the street from the third base side of the field. A handful of teams in the league do charge between $5 to $6 for admission, so if by chance an admission fee is charged, it should be relatively modest.
Extras 1
There is not much at St. Louis Field by way of extras that will add to the experience, but for families who might bring younger children to a game, there is a wide-open field beyond the ball field where kids can play if watching the game might be too much.
Final Thoughts
St. Louis Field does not come with many amenities to make the experience of taking in a baseball game here a memorable experience, but it does bring the game back to its most basic of roots; 9 players on each side, 90-foot basepaths, and a mound 60 feet-6 inches from home. It has everything needed for collegiate players who are just looking to get in more reps to improve their skills, and for fans, it is a great reminder of the simplicity of the game that is America’s pastime.
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