Difference between revisions of "Robertson Field at Satow Stadium"

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[[Image:RobertsonField.jpg|Right|thumb|240px|Robertson Field in 2012]]
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[[Image:Columbia baseball.jpg|right|thumb|Andy Coakley Field on 17 May 1939, hosting the America's first televised sporting event.]]
 
[[Image:Columbia baseball.jpg|right|thumb|Andy Coakley Field on 17 May 1939, hosting the America's first televised sporting event.]]
  
'''Robertson Field''', formerly '''Andy Coakley Field,''' is Columbia University's varsity baseball facility at [[Baker Athletics Complex]].  It is named after [[Hal Robertson]] [[SEAS]]'[[Class of 1981|81]], who donated $1 million to the facility. <ref>http://www.gocolumbialions.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9600&ATCLID=1567901</ref>
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[[File:Satow stadium.jpg|right|thumb|The new seating bowl extending up the first base line.]]
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'''Robertson Field at Satow Stadium''', formerly '''Robertson Field,''' formerly '''Andy Coakley Field,''' is Columbia University's varsity baseball facility at [[Baker Athletic Complex]].  It is named after [[Hal Robertson]] [[SEAS]]'[[Class of 1981|81]], who donated $1 million to the facility. <ref>http://www.gocolumbialions.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9600&ATCLID=1567901</ref>
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On [[May 17]], [[1939]], Robertson Field (called Andy Coakley Field back then) played host to the first live television broadcast of an athletics event. A Columbia-[[Princeton]] baseball game was carried by the National Broadcasting Company to the 400 or so sets then capable of receiving its broadcast signal. (Princeton won.) Satisfied with the result, NBC decided to try doing a major league game. Five months later it did, from [[Brooklyn]]'s Ebbets Field.
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Fans universally agree that Robertson Field is one of the most pleasant places to catch a ballgame in [[New York City]]. However, baseball administrators have been known to be extraordinarily, even unreasonably, strict on fans' cheers against enemy teams.
  
On [[May 17]], [[1939]], Robertson Field (called Andy Coakley Field back then) played host to the first live television broadcast of an athletics event. A Columbia-[[Princeton]] baseball game was carried by the National Broadcasting Company to the 400 or so sets then capable of receiving its broadcast signal. Satisfied with the result, NBC decided to try doing a major league game. Five months later it did, from [[Brooklyn]]'s Ebbets Field. (By the way, Princeton won.)
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==Playing Surface==
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In the offseason in 2006-2007, Robertson Field's natural-grass surface with FieldTurf (TM), the same surface as of [[Lawrence A. Wien Stadium]]. The infield dirt has also been covered in turf, too; in its place is a brown infield dirt pattern. Consequently, the only actual dirt areas were the pitching mound, a circular cutout around home plate, and the warning track. Given the weather conditions in the Northeast, the new state-of-the-art FieldTurf (TM) surface allows the Columbia baseball team much greater utilization of the baseball venue at all times of the year. Because the new turf surface drains much more quickly and evenly than a clay infield, the venue is less likely to be considered "unplayable" after poor weather in the New York metropolitan area.
  
Although fans disagree over the the appeal of the all-turf infield (described below), they universally agree that Robertson Field is one of the most pleasant places to catch a ballgame in New York City.  It's a shame that more students don't make games.
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Immediately after the change, [[WKCR]] sportscasters dubbed the new stadium "Abomination Field". They were censored by the administration in 2009.
  
==Abomination Field==
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During the 2010-2011 offseason, the home plate dirt cutout was replaced by turf as well, making the pitching mound the only dirt-covered area on the field.
In the offseason in 2006-2007, the geniuses at Athletics replaced a perfectly good natural-grass surface with FieldTurf (TM), the same surface of [[Lawrence A. Wien Stadium]].  Inexplicably, the infield dirt was covered in turf, too; in its place is a brown turf infield pattern.  Consequently, the only actual dirt areas are the pitching mound, a circular cutout around home plate, and the warning track.  The result is a playing field that looks pretty damn ugly. Why the Columbia administration could not even arrange for dirt cutouts around the bases is beyond me.
 
  
In response, fans have taken to nicknaming it Abomination Field.  WKCR sportscasters used to call it this until they were censored in 2009.
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==Robertson Field at Satow Stadium==
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Further improvements were made on the baseball field prior to the 2011 stadium, with brand new seats, extended seating down the first base line, and a new home dugout being installedA new press box is also being constructed; whether WKCR sportscasters will be able to call games straight from the field level is not yet clear.  (Previously, they had to call the game from hundreds of feet away in the press box in [[Lawrence A. Wien Stadium]])  The improvements were made possible by the donations of [[Philip M. Satow]].
  
====Justifications====
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==Field Dimensions==
Defenders of the turn say that, given the weather conditions in the Northeast, the new state-of-the-art FieldTurf (TM) surface allows the Columbia baseball team much greater utilization of the baseball venue at all times of the year. Because the new turf surface drains much more quickly and evenly than a clay infield, the venue is less likely to be considered "unplayable" after poor weather in the New York metropolitan area.  They seem to have conveniently forgotten that tarps were invented specifically for solving this problem.
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Robertson Field's dimensions are determined by the limitations of its location, in the tradition of the "jewel box" ballparks of early 20th century. Because it is jammed between [[Wien Stadium]] and the [[Hudson River]], it has an odd shape. Center field is flush against the river, preventing it from curving out away from home plate as is normal with baseball fields. Consequently, relatively speaking center field very shallow but the power alleys and foul lines are very deep.
  
Furthermore, they say, Robertson Field is not the only field in America to have an all-turf infield.  Which is a really sound argument, if you think about it hard and long enough.
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Foul territory is virtually nonexistent. Furthermore, the proximity of the field to other structures means almost all seats have some part of the field obstructed from view.
  
==Friendly Atmosphere==
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A metal fence has been erected in center field, to prevent cheap home runs. Balls which hit the fence and bounce back onto the field are considered in play.
Columbia students are banned from making any noise because "it might offend the parents."  First, they are given a warning, and then they are asked to leave. Mysteriously, however, supporters from other schools are never warned, despite being generally ruder and more disrespectful.  Considering the administration's stance, why so few students show up is hardly a mystery.
 
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
[[Category:Athletics]]
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[[Category:Athletics facilities]]
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[[Category:Renamed buildings and facilities]]

Latest revision as of 21:01, 23 April 2013

Robertson Field in 2012
Andy Coakley Field on 17 May 1939, hosting the America's first televised sporting event.
The new seating bowl extending up the first base line.

Robertson Field at Satow Stadium, formerly Robertson Field, formerly Andy Coakley Field, is Columbia University's varsity baseball facility at Baker Athletic Complex. It is named after Hal Robertson SEAS'81, who donated $1 million to the facility. [1]

On May 17, 1939, Robertson Field (called Andy Coakley Field back then) played host to the first live television broadcast of an athletics event. A Columbia-Princeton baseball game was carried by the National Broadcasting Company to the 400 or so sets then capable of receiving its broadcast signal. (Princeton won.) Satisfied with the result, NBC decided to try doing a major league game. Five months later it did, from Brooklyn's Ebbets Field.

Fans universally agree that Robertson Field is one of the most pleasant places to catch a ballgame in New York City. However, baseball administrators have been known to be extraordinarily, even unreasonably, strict on fans' cheers against enemy teams.

Playing Surface

In the offseason in 2006-2007, Robertson Field's natural-grass surface with FieldTurf (TM), the same surface as of Lawrence A. Wien Stadium. The infield dirt has also been covered in turf, too; in its place is a brown infield dirt pattern. Consequently, the only actual dirt areas were the pitching mound, a circular cutout around home plate, and the warning track. Given the weather conditions in the Northeast, the new state-of-the-art FieldTurf (TM) surface allows the Columbia baseball team much greater utilization of the baseball venue at all times of the year. Because the new turf surface drains much more quickly and evenly than a clay infield, the venue is less likely to be considered "unplayable" after poor weather in the New York metropolitan area.

Immediately after the change, WKCR sportscasters dubbed the new stadium "Abomination Field". They were censored by the administration in 2009.

During the 2010-2011 offseason, the home plate dirt cutout was replaced by turf as well, making the pitching mound the only dirt-covered area on the field.

Robertson Field at Satow Stadium

Further improvements were made on the baseball field prior to the 2011 stadium, with brand new seats, extended seating down the first base line, and a new home dugout being installed. A new press box is also being constructed; whether WKCR sportscasters will be able to call games straight from the field level is not yet clear. (Previously, they had to call the game from hundreds of feet away in the press box in Lawrence A. Wien Stadium) The improvements were made possible by the donations of Philip M. Satow.

Field Dimensions

Robertson Field's dimensions are determined by the limitations of its location, in the tradition of the "jewel box" ballparks of early 20th century. Because it is jammed between Wien Stadium and the Hudson River, it has an odd shape. Center field is flush against the river, preventing it from curving out away from home plate as is normal with baseball fields. Consequently, relatively speaking center field very shallow but the power alleys and foul lines are very deep.

Foul territory is virtually nonexistent. Furthermore, the proximity of the field to other structures means almost all seats have some part of the field obstructed from view.

A metal fence has been erected in center field, to prevent cheap home runs. Balls which hit the fence and bounce back onto the field are considered in play.

References