{{Short description|Baseball stadium at the University of Maryland}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox venue | name = Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium | image = Shipley Field.jpg | image_size = 300px | caption = Shipley Field, as viewed from Byrd Stadium, October 2013 | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 13 | pushpin_map = Maryland#USA | pushpin_relief = yes | fullname = Shipley Field at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium | former_names = Shipley Field (1956–2009) | address = 4122 Fieldhouse Drive | city = College Park, Maryland | coordinates = {{coord|38|59|21|N|76|56|39|W|type:landmark|display=it}} | owner = University of Maryland, College Park | operator = University of Maryland, College Park | type = Stadium | event = Baseball | capacity = 2,500 | dimensions = {{ubl | LF: {{convert|320|ft|1|abbr=on}} | CF: {{convert|385|ft|1|abbr=on}} | RF: {{convert|325|ft|1|abbr=on}}}} | surface = FieldTurf | scoreboard = Digital | built = 1953–54 | opened = {{Start date|1954 |04|03}} <!-- April 3, 1954 --> | renovated = 2004, 2015 | cost = $40,000 (1954); $150,000 (2004) | tenants = {{ubl | Maryland Terrapins baseball (NCAA) 1954–present | Bowie Baysox (EL) 1994 | College Park Bombers (CRSCBL) 2009}} | website = {{Official website|https://umterps.com/sports/2018/6/18/bob-turtle-smith-stadium.aspx}} }}
'''Shipley Field at Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium''' is a baseball stadium in College Park, Maryland. It has served as the home field of the Maryland Terrapins baseball team at the University of Maryland since 1954. Shipley Field was formerly the home of the College Park Bombers of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ripkensrcollegebaseball.org/published/directions/index.html |title=Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Ballparks |website=ripkenscollegebaseball.org |access-date=October 24, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227035233/http://www.ripkensrcollegebaseball.org/published/directions/index.html |archive-date=February 27, 2010}}</ref> and was also used as a baseball venue by the Bowie Baysox during the 1994 season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-02-24-1994055015-story.html |title=Baysox eye home away from home |work=The Baltimore Sun |date=February 24, 1994 |first=Kent |last=Baker |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516214607/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-02-24-1994055015-story.html |archive-date=May 16, 2021}}</ref> The major league Washington Senators held a practice at Shipley Field on April 8, 1968, when their Opening Day game was postponed in the aftermath of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Allen |first1=Scott |title=Fifty years ago, Nats' Opening Day was postponed after assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2018/03/29/fifty-years-ago-nats-opening-day-was-postponed-after-assassination-of-martin-luther-king-jr/ |access-date=March 29, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |department=D.C. Sports Bog |date=March 29, 2018 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330002817/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dc-sports-bog/wp/2018/03/29/fifty-years-ago-nats-opening-day-was-postponed-after-assassination-of-martin-luther-king-jr/ |archive-date=March 30, 2018}}</ref>
The stadium holds 2,500 people and opened on April 3, 1954.<ref name="umterps180618" /> It was dedicated as Shipley Field to former Maryland baseball coach Burton Shipley on March 28, 1956.<ref name="umterps180618">{{cite web |title=Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium |url=https://umterps.com/sports/2018/6/18/bob-turtle-smith-stadium.aspx |website=University of Maryland Athletics |publisher=University of Maryland |access-date=June 22, 2020 |language=en |date=June 18, 2018}}</ref> On May 8, 2010, it was re-dedicated as Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium.<ref name="umterps180618" />
In 2004, a new artificial turf replaced an older turf installation in the stadium's infield, and improvements were made to the under field drainage system.<ref>{{cite web |title=Colleges & Universities - University of Maryland; College Park, Maryland |url=http://lloydengineers.com/portfolio/colleges-a-universities/25-colleges-a-universities/25-university-of-maryland-college-park-maryland |website=Lloyd Civil & Sports Engineering |access-date=September 11, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831222739/http://lloydengineers.com/portfolio/colleges-a-universities/25-colleges-a-universities/25-university-of-maryland-college-park-maryland |archive-date=August 31, 2015}}</ref> After the 2015 season, the artificial turf infield and bermuda grass outfield were replaced with a FieldTurf surface; new drainage was installed underneath; a home team closed off bullpen was created in left field foul territory; both bullpens received FieldTurf surfaces; and the outfield wall was moved father out.<ref name="umterps180618" />
Between the 2026 and 2027 baseball seasons, the ballpark's dimensions will be adjusted in an effort to help Maryland's pitchers. The center field fence will be moved back 32 feet, from 385 feet to 417 feet. The 325-foot right-field fence will be moved back, while the 320-foot left-field wall will be shortened, but those new distances have not been announced.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lyons |first1=Taylor |title=Maryland baseball to change home ballpark's outfield dimensions |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/maryland-baseball-change-home-ballpark-182800179.html |access-date=May 19, 2026 |work=The Baltimore Sun |via=Yahoo Sports |date=May 18, 2026}}</ref>
==See also== * List of NCAA Division I baseball venues
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{cite web |url=https://umterps.com/sports/2018/6/18/bob-turtle-smith-stadium.aspx |title=Bob "Turtle" Smith Stadium |website=University of Maryland Athletics |language=en}}
{{Big Ten Conference baseball venue navbox}} {{Maryland Terrapins baseball navbox}} {{University of Maryland, College Park}} {{Maryland NCAA Division I college baseball venue navbox}}
Category:College baseball venues in Maryland Category:Soccer venues in Maryland Category:Rugby union stadiums in the United States Category:Maryland Terrapins baseball Category:Maryland Terrapins sports venues Category:1954 establishments in Maryland Category:Sports venues completed in 1954 Category:University and college buildings and structures completed in 1954
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