ports McKechnie Voted as One of Top Minor League Ballparks in U.S.

BRADENTON — In a poll by BallparkDigest.com, Bradenton's McKechnie Field was chosen by voters as the fourth greatest Minor League ballpark in the country.

Compiled from tens of thousands of fan votes, the poll picked Wilmington, Delaware's Frawley Stadium (home of the Blue Rocks) as the number one Minor League ballpark. Clearwater's Bright House Field, home of the Threshers, came in second, while Hammond Stadium, home of the Fort Myers Miracle, also made it to voters' "final four" bracket in the voting series.

A $7.5 million renovation project for McKechnie was completed in 2013. First opening in 1923, the Pittsburgh Pirates have called it their Spring Training home since 1969, and the Marauders theirs since 2010, when they left Sarasota's Ed Smith stadium.