Pat Thomas Stadium

Pat Thomas Stadium-Buddy Lowe Field
Map
Full nameBuddy Lowe Field at Pat Thomas Stadium
Former namesPat Thomas Stadium (1972–2003)
The Ballpark at Venetian Gardens (1937–1972)
Location240 Ball Park Road
Leesburg, Florida
Coordinates28°48′20″N 81°52′22″W / 28.80546°N 81.87265°W / 28.80546; -81.87265
OwnerCity of Leesburg
CapacityBaseball – 4,000
Field sizeLeft Field: 325ft
Center Field: 375ft
Right Field: 325ft
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Opened1937
Expanded1940
Construction cost$44,000[1] (NOTE: Including a $25,000 expansion in 1940)
Tenants
Rochester Red Wings (AA) Spring training (1937)
Leesburg Gondoliers (FSL) (1937–1938)
Leesburg Anglers (FSL) (1938–1941) (1946)
Philadelphia Phillies Minor League spring training (1946–1968)
Leesburg Pirates (FSL) (1947–1948)
Leesburg Dodgers (FSL) (1949)
Leesburg Packers (FSL) (1950–1952)
Leesburg Lakers (FSL) (1953)
Leesburg Braves (FSL) (1956–1957)
Leesburg Orioles (FSL) (1960–1961)
Leesburg A's (FSL) (1965–1968)
Leesburg Lightning (FCSL) (2007–present)
Lake County Black Bears (FWBL) (2009)

Pat Thomas Stadium-Buddy Lowe Field is a baseball stadium located in Leesburg, Florida. The Stadium has a capacity of about 2,000 people and was a former minor league baseball stadium and current amateur baseball stadium. The park was the first lighted baseball stadium in Florida and home to several minor and major league spring training camps.[2] The stadium is located in the city's Venetian Gardens, on the shore of Lake Harris.[3]

  1. ^ "Pat Thomas Stadium – Buddy Lowe Field Timeline". Leesburg Lightning. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
  2. ^ Ripple, Amy C. (December 22, 2011). "Pat Thomas Stadium/Buddy Lowe Field source of pride for Leesburg officials". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  3. ^ Berrian, Cody (May 30, 2013). "Stadium History:Pat Thomas Stadium". Florida League.com. Retrieved April 14, 2015.