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Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field
1000 Main Street, Stratford, Connecticut 06615
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Stratford, CT, has affectionately been referred to as the 'Softball Capital of the World,' primarily because of the ultra-successful women's fastpitch softball team, the Stratford Brakettes, who have called the town home since 1947.
Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field has been the home of the Brakettes since 1988, when they moved from iconic Raybestos Memorial Field in the center of town to their current location on South Main Street. Built in 1966 on the site of a former golf driving range, it was first known as Avco Lycoming Field, where the industrial powerhouse Lycoming slow pitch team made headlines. Throughout the years, as the defense-plant changed names, so did the field, to Textron Lycoming Field and AlliedSignal Field.
In 1997, one year after the Town of Stratford purchased the property, the field was renamed in honor of Frank A. DeLuca, the well-liked former Director of Employee and Community Services at AlliedSignal Field who also is a National ASA Hall of Fame men's slow pitch inductee in Oklahoma City.
Thanks to the Town of Stratford and State of Connecticut, the renovations to the facility in 2000 transformed DeLuca Field into a state-of-the-art venue. Regular-season seating capacity is 2,100. The section behind home plate features six rows of club seating and seven rows of bleacher-style seating with back rests. The sections of first and third base lines are regular style bleachers, while there are three additional sections located down the right field line.
Lights, a concession stand located directly behind home plate, restrooms and a 300-car parking lot were added. In 2001 Honeywell donated the adjacent 5-acre lot for parking and there is another lot at the former factory which can hold an additional 700 cars for big events.
In the spring of 2020 the Town completed work on a renovation project which included installation of a new backstop, a regraded infield that removed a huge lip, new dugouts and fencing. In 2023 stadium lighting was replaced by a new LED system, and a new scoreboard installed later in the year. Future plans call for a permanent 220 foot fence, and the bleachers to receive a facelift.
The Brakettes previously played at Raybestos Memorial Field for 41 years. No other team has won as many national ASA titles (28) nor world championships (3) and no other team has had more players (24) inducted into the ASA National Hall of Fame.
The ballpark includes:
- Regulation softball field with a 300 foot permanent outfield fence and a 220 foot temporary fence
- 1800 seating capacity with 150 stadium seats, 225 bench seats with back rests and 1425 bleacher seats as well as seating for the mobility impaired
- Lighting system on field and in parking lot
- Restrooms and Concession stand
- Umpire locker room
- Press Box with sound system and Internet access
- New electronic scoreboard
- Parking lots for 500 cars with additional parking for large events
- Irrigation / sprinkler system
- Souvenir stand
- New drainage system
Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field Policies
Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field is a no-smoking facility.
Alcoholic beverages are not served nor are they permitted within the confines of the field or parking lot.
Tailgating (grills, etc.) in the DeLuca Field parking lots is not permitted.
The ticket booth and gate to the field will be open 60 minutes before the scheduled starting time.
Fans are asked to please return all foul balls to the Brakettes ball chaser during the game. The Brakettes donate all used game balls to the various girl's youth leagues throughout the state.
If you have any questions or need assistance during our games, please contact any of the DeLuca Field employees at the ballpark.
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Directions to DeLuca Field
From New York and Points South:
Take 95 to exit 30 Lordship Boulevard. At bottom of exit continue straight thru traffic light-- continue straight until you cant go anymore (approximately 1-1 1/4 miles- Dunkin Donuts on left). Take a left at the light, go straight and DeLuca Field is on right.
From New Haven and Points North:
Take 95 to exit 31 South Avenue. At bottom of exit take a left, continue straight to traffic light. At light take a right onto Main Street and continue straight. Go through two traffic lights, DeLuca Field will be just past the lights on your left. |
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