THE LIST: It's Not Too Late For Local Baseball at Cheney Stadium

Baseball, warm weather, good eats, and good times.

Sounds like a winning combination to us. Better yet, you don't need to make the long trek to Seattle to enjoy the sport and all that comes with it.

Tacoma's Cheney Stadium offers that and more to local sports fans. This stadium offers the whole package of fun.

So, this week, The List takes on something unique and puts a spin on our usual fare. We are talking all things Cheney Stadium and have lots of shots of the ball park inside and out for your viewing pleasure.

Before we start, let's get a little history lesson.

Local businessmen, Ben Cheney and Clay Huntington had a dream back in the late 1950's. They wanted to bring baseball to Tacoma. The men worked tirelessly for three years, and in 1960, the San Francisco Giants agreed to move their Triple A club to these parts. However, the city had to have a stadium to house the team and they had to move  fast to get in on the start of the season.

And when we say fast, we mean FAST.

The dream accelerated at lightning speed and literally three months and two weeks later, a stadium was built, just in time to honor the agreement.

Over the years, players, teams, management, vendors, and fans changed. However, the stadium hardly changed at all. Sure, there were renovations here and there, but they were small at best.

So, in recent years, it was apparent that the structure took a bit of a beating and needed a major overhaul.

And it happened. 2010 marked the year were massive renovations took place while still maintaining the great views and homey atmosphere of years past.

Want to check it out?

Let's explore why this is a cool place to visit, besides being brand spankin' new:

1. Baseball. South Sounders love baseball. The Rainiers are a decent ball club to watch (we know, we can hear some of you Mariners fans grumbling in the background about that team's season). Check out the website with the link above to the see teams stats from last year and this year.

And who knows, you may even catch some Mariners in their midst.

2. Local. While Safeco Field is a gem in it's own right, it's a trek for us locals. Cheney is only minutes away from home, it's easier to park, and the traffic isn't as bad. 

3. More Affordable. Taking a family to the Mariners game isn't cheap. You have to pay for your tickets, food, transportation, and the like and it adds up pretty quick. Tickets at Cheney are more affordable with lots of special packages, promotions, and family nights. Check out the link to see all of your options. You save on gas and time, too.

4. Friday Night Fireworks! That's right, fireworks folks. An extended firework show happens post game time on Friday nights and these shows are just terrific. Check out the website for more details on this long standing and exciting summer tradition.

5. Family Fun. Cheney Stadium has families in mind. Special family nights offer tickets, food, drink, souveniors and other goodies for a great price. Check out the schedule here to see the upcoming deals.

6. Community Spirit. Local businesses in our own backyard are a big part of the stadium and local baseball. Additionally, the ball park and team work hand and hand with the community to help those in need. Check out the Kid's Night Out program here as just one example of community spirit.

Sound like fun? You are not too late. Some games are remaining. No time? No worries. Spring time will creep up on us before you know it and you'll get your chance.