I’m visiting Ainsworth Field, owned by the Erie School District. It needs a lot of repairs, costing millions of dollars. It would be nice to preserve this ballpark. Not only so baseball games could continue to be played here, but also because of the memories that were made here.

The walls and bleachers of Ainsworth Field cannot talk. However, I am still in luck. There is no one better to tell me about the history of this ballpark than Alan Swigonski. He’s Erie’s foremost baseball historian. He tells me that the park was called Athletic Field when it opened in 1914. It got its current name in the 1940’s to honor “Doc” Ainsworth, a beloved director at the Erie YMCA.

“It’s funny because they were calling it Ainsworth Field before it was official. So, they finally broke down and put the name on it,” says Alan.

The most famous story about athletes who played at Ainsworth Field involves the legendary Babe Ruth. “The Bambino” was barnstorming with a group of all-stars. It’s said that he smacked a ball during batting practice that cleared the roof of the old Roosevelt School that used to sit just beyond the center field fence. The fans were in awe.

“Oh yeah,” exclaims Alan. “It would have had to be over 450 feet for sure. Yeah, it’s a blast.”

The list of other baseball legends who played at Ainsworth Field goes on and on. Honus Wagner, Dizzy Dean, Lou Gehrig, Pete Rose, to name a few.

Ainsworth was the home of the Erie Cardinals, the Erie Orioles, and the Erie Sailors from the Class-A, New York-Penn League. Alan says a young John Elway played centerfield at Ainsworth when he played one summer for the Oneonta Yankees. Another future NFL Hall of Famer, John Lynch, pitched for the Erie Sailors before he went on to football glory.

“He was a good pitcher, like John Elway was a really good outfielder,” says Alan. “Lynch could easily have played Major League baseball.”

Alan says one of the most memorable nights at Ainsworth Field was when Bill Murray surprisingly showed up to watch a ballgame in 1991. He was part owner of the Erie Sailors. Alan was not there. It’s a big regret in his life.

“I couldn’t. I was just stuck at work. It was killing me. I was so upset,” Alan tells me with a frustrated smile on his face.

What is Alan’s fondest memory? It was a night in 1981 when he attended a game with a group of co-workers.

“My current wife was part of that group,” he says. “She caught my eye that night.”

Alan says Ainsworth Field also hosted many exhibition games for the old Negro League. Stars such as Josh Gibson and Sam Jethroe played here. The ballpark still hosts games for the Erie Glenwood League. It’s the oldest wooden-bat amateur baseball league in the country.