By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

Editor’s note: This is the second story in a four-part series profiling minor league baseball squads in the state. This week’s focus is on the Lansing Lugnuts. Next, we’ll take a look at the West Michigan Whitecaps. For other stories in this series follow the Summer Happenings link.

LANSING — They grow up so fast.

Before you know it, they’re teenagers.

But unlike most teenagers, Oldsmobile Park, home of the Lansing Lugnuts since it was built 13 years ago, has aged with grace and caused very few, if any, problems for those who look after it.

“When you see it, you’re kind of amazed that it’s even that old because it’s a really nice park,” catcher Matt Liuzza said. “It looks brand-new; they did a great job.”

The Lugnuts’ home is situated in downtown Lansing, nestled along Michigan Avenue just out of reach of the Michigan Capitol building’s shadow.

“They’ve built all these new stadiums, and this one’s still right up there with all of them,” Lugnuts manager Clayton McCullough said. “We’ve got a beautiful park here.”

Nearly $5 million of renovations have gone into the park over the last three years.

The stadium has an eye-catching brick exterior, with statues and fountains dotting the surrounding landscape. The field is set down below ground level, and chairs and bleachers stretch all the way down both base lines. A lawn seating area towers over the outfield.

“Oldsmobile Park is very unique; I like how it kind of canyons in,” Liuzza said.

“I think that’s something special. It’s a very nice park — top three in the league in my opinion. It’s fun to play in, the fans are right up on you — they’re pretty close to you. When you’re in an atmosphere like that, it’s very fun to play.”

FANtastic support
Lugnuts fans don’t just use their close proximity to sit back and enjoy the view; they strongly support the team while it battles its Class A Midwest League opponents.

“Our crowd gets behind us real well,” Liuzza said. “We have a really, really strong backing.”

The park, one of the largest among Class A teams in the country, can seat a little more than 11,000 people.

“We draw higher than seven of the 30 teams at the level higher than us,” Lugnuts General Manager Pat Day said. “And we are 11th out of 60 single A teams. It’s not bad for being 13 years old.”

The Lugnuts, an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, have seen attendance increase seven percent over the past two years — something Day attributes to the organization’s dedication to “quality and affordable family entertainment.”

“It’s all about the experience of the fans,” Day said. “And at a super-duper affordable price, which people just can’t beat.”

Most single-game tickets are in the $7-$9 price range. Parking is available in various nearby lots, usually costing $5.

Whether it’s a pre-game autograph session, post-game fireworks show, various promotions or simply the antics of mascot Big Lug, McCullough credited the front office staff with coming up with creative things for the fans to keep them entertained.

“As far as the places we’ve gone in this league, it’s right up there at the top as far as a fan-friendly environment to watch a game.”

Play ball
While there may be plenty of extracurricular things and events, the main draw at Oldsmobile Park has always been the Lugnuts, and they normally don’t disappoint.

“People certainly not only want to come for the ballpark and the amenities, but they like to see a winning team,” McCullough said.

The Lugnuts, who won the Midwest League Championship in 1997 and 2003, have already clinched a spot in this year’s playoffs after finishing in first place at the end of the first half of this season.

The Lugnuts’ roster is full of talented prospects, including many high draft picks.
“We’ve got a lot of young kids who are exciting young players,” McCullough said.

“These guys are trying to get to that point in their careers where they’re knocking on the door and trying to establish themselves as major league players.

“Who knows what they’re going to become in three or four years, but there’s quite a few that have a chance that you want to keep an eye on.”

Final pitch
Steve Brown, a self-described “big baseball fan” was out patrolling the bleachers in left field before the Lugnuts’ June 24 game. With his glove at the ready, he was scouting out a good place to catch a foul ball.

He drove up from Jackson that day on a whim to take in a game on the sunny late afternoon in Lansing.

“It’s a beautiful night and it’s inexpensive. It’s just fun to watch,” he said. “It’s just a good time for not a lot of money.”

You can reach Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1040.