“Tucked away” hardly does it justice. Meiklejohn Stadium is nestled in a truly unique urban setting. It is on the University of Pennsylvania campus. Welcome to Meiklejohn Stadium, home of the Penn Quakers baseball team.
Since 2000, this ballpark has been the Quakers’ stomping ground. But it has been known by a couple of different names. Originally, it was called Murphy Field. This honored Mike Murphy, a former Penn track coach. In 2006, the stadium was renamed Meiklejohn Stadium. This was to recognize William Meiklejohn, a Wharton School graduate. He and his wife Louise donated $10 million. This generous gift helped renovate the baseball field. The renovations included a brand-new scoreboard. In 2023, it was formally changed to Tommy Lasorda Field at Meiklejohn Stadium.
Meiklejohn Stadium sits in the River Fields Complex. Several other Penn athletic facilities surround it. A power plant looms nearby. The Schuylkill Expressway roars. Train tracks rumble close behind home plate. Despite all this, Meiklejohn Stadium offers a great game day experience.
Imagine this: the right field foul line is kept tight by a large power plant. It has two rising cooling tanks and a fence. The CSX railroad tracks run behind home plate. They are still in use today. I-76 runs parallel to the outfield wall. You can see exit 41 from home plate. River Field Drive is close to the third base side. There are only a couple of rows of seats there.
Meiklejohn Stadium opened on March 23, 2000. The Quakers celebrated with a 13–12 victory. Their opponents were St. Joseph’s University. The ballpark was officially dedicated on April 15, 2000. Former Penn baseball player Doug Glanville threw out the first pitch.
Before Meiklejohn Stadium, Penn baseball played at several other locations. From 1875 to 1895, their home games were at University Grounds. This was a multi-purpose athletic field. It was located at 37th and Spruce streets. Later, Franklin Field served as the home field. This lasted from 1895 to 1939. The baseball diamond was in the south corner. River Field became the team’s home in 1940. Bower Field was the home field right before Meiklejohn.
The ballpark has a capacity of 856. The field has a grass surface. The dimensions were reported to be 289 feet to the left field foul pole. 317 feet to the right field foul pole and 385 feet to dead center field. The distance from home plate to the backstop is 38 feet.
One interesting quirk is that Meiklejohn Stadium does not have lights. All games take place during the day. So, plan accordingly. Despite its urban setting, Meiklejohn Stadium provides a unique charm. The white crushed stones underfoot create a distinct visual environment. The passionate public address announcer gets the crowd going.
As you leave Meiklejohn Stadium, remember the games, the cheers, and the history. It is a testament to the enduring spirit of baseball at the University of Pennsylvania.