Charles Scaggs Field - Meridian Blues

Photos by Matt Colville, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.43

Charles Scaggs Field College Dr Meridian, MS 39307

Meridian Blues website

Charles Scaggs Field website

Year Opened: 1980s

Capacity: 1,200

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Back to the Blues in the Queen City

For the first time in nearly 30 years, professional baseball has returned to Meridian.

Earlier this year, the Meridian Blues were announced as an expansion team in the Mid-America League, a six-team independent wooden-bat summer baseball league that features a mix of current college players and former professionals continuing their careers. The Blues play at Scaggs Field on the campus of Meridian Community College, bringing professional baseball back to a city with a far deeper baseball history than many people probably realize.

The Blues nickname fits Meridian perfectly. The name was selected from more than 600 submissions and honors Meridian native and singer Jimmie Rodgers, “The Singing Brakeman,” along with the city’s deep roots in Blues music and railroad culture.

Long before the Blues arrived, Meridian had already lived through several eras of professional baseball. Teams such as the Meridian Peps and Meridian Millers once played at historic Buckwalter Stadium during the Cotton States League era of the 1940s and 1950s. The Peps were affiliated at various times with organizations like the St. Louis Browns, Brooklyn Dodgers, and Cleveland Indians, while the Millers captured back-to-back Cotton States League championships in 1952 and 1953.

After the Cotton States League eventually folded, professional baseball disappeared from Meridian until the independent Meridian Brakemen briefly returned in 1996 and 1997. The Brakemen also played at Scaggs Field before the short-lived Big South League folded after two seasons. Now, nearly three decades later, baseball is back once again in the Queen City.

Food & Beverage   4

The food setup at Scaggs Field feels much more like a Mississippi community festival than a traditional baseball game.

Instead of relying entirely on standard concession stands, the Meridian Blues lean heavily into local vendors and food trucks spread throughout the concourse. Walking around the stadium, fans can grab funnel cakes, corn dogs, loaded fries, lemonade, smoothies, and even mini pancakes. The setup gives the ballpark a relaxed summer fair atmosphere instead of the usual “grab a hot dog and head back to your seat” experience.

One of the more unique vendors here is Boards & Batter, which serves mini pancakes with toppings like strawberry cheesecake, banana crunch, and fruity cereal combinations. It is not something you expect to find at a small summer league baseball game, but it perfectly fits the personality of the Blues experience.

The permanent concession stand inside the stadium remains affordable and traditional. Hamburgers are $5, cheeseburgers $5.50, hot dogs $3, sausage dogs $4, fries $4, and nachos $4. Beer prices are also refreshingly reasonable, with domestic beers around $5 and canned cocktails roughly $6.

What stood out most, though, was how social the food areas felt throughout the night. Fans lingered around picnic tables and food trucks, talking baseball while kids played catch nearby. Nobody seemed overly rushed. In an era where people often spend entire games staring down at their phones, Scaggs Field feels refreshingly old-school.

Atmosphere   4

Scaggs Field sits in the middle of Meridian Community College’s campus, sitting tucked under the towering hills and pine trees that overlook the ballpark – the actual facility is much nicer than many people probably expect from a first-year independent summer baseball team. Meridian Community College has clearly invested heavily in the complex over the years, and it shows immediately once you walk inside.

What really makes the stadium stand out, however, is the unique seating layout spread throughout the ballpark. Beyond left field sits the berm seating area underneath pine trees, where fans can literally pull their cars into the parking lot overlooking the field, sit at picnic tables or park benches, and casually watch the game overlooking the field. It gives parts of the stadium an old-school community baseball feel that you rarely see anymore.

Down the first base line sits traditional bleacher seating that probably holds between 300 and 500 fans, while behind home plate is covered chairback seating protected by an awning for another few hundred spectators. The elevated seating keeps fans close to the action, no matter where they sit.

The coolest feature, though, may be the lawn chair seating down the third base line. More than 30 giant plastic lawn chairs, the kind you would normally see at a beach or backyard cookout, overlook the field and give the stadium a perfect summertime atmosphere. It sounds simple, but it honestly works incredibly well for this level of baseball.

Then there is the bullpen seating, which may be one of the more unique setups I have seen at any ballpark. Fans can literally walk onto the field to access seats located directly inside the bullpen area, sitting only a few feet away from pitchers warming up, and casually talking with the players during the game.

In center field sits a large LED videoboard donated by the Dickerson family, connected to former MCC Eagle and MLB All-Star Corey Dickerson, who was instrumental in adding the videoboard to Scaggs Field. Dickerson played at MCC in 2009 and 2010, earned NJCAA All-American honors, and was drafted by the Rockies in 2010; Dickerson went on to become a 2017 MLB All-Star. Beyond right field, you’ll see the MCC soccer stadium, while behind left field are some hills with MCC sculpted into them, as well as the aforementioned berm seating/picnic seating on top of the hill overlooking the field.

One of the coolest features overall is how open this ballpark feels. Fans can move around easily between the seating bowl, food truck areas, picnic tables, and concourse while still staying connected to the game. There are spots all around the venue where people stand around talking baseball while innings unfold in the background, creating a much more social atmosphere than a traditional stadium setup.

The field itself also looks sharp. The turf infield paired with the natural grass outfield gives the park a clean, modern look, while the green-and-white Meridian Community College branding still reminds you this is ultimately a junior college baseball facility at heart. The ‘Meridian’ script behind home plate also adds some personality.

Neighborhood   2

The immediate neighborhood surrounding Scaggs Field is probably the weakest part of the Meridian Blues experience. The ballpark sits on the campus of Meridian Community College, and outside of the college itself, there is not much directly around the facility besides older residential streets and a handful of businesses. The area feels quiet and a little worn down in spots, with limited walkable entertainment immediately outside the gates.

Possibly the only major dining option near the stadium is The Rustler, a longtime Meridian steakhouse located roughly half a mile west of Scaggs Field - this is probably the best pregame dinner option near campus.

The good news for Meridian Blues fans is that downtown Meridian sits only about three miles east of the ballpark, and honestly, that is where visitors should spend most of their time before or after the game; downtown Meridian has quietly become one of Mississippi’s more underrated historic downtown districts. The centerpiece is Weidmann's, the legendary restaurant that first opened in 1870 and remains one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in Mississippi. Nearby, the restored Threefoot Hotel now features a rooftop bar overlooking the city skyline.

For nightlife, Don P’s Bar gives downtown more personality than many people probably expect from Meridian, while Brewhaus Brewtique and Threefoot Brewing provide additional local beer options. History lovers may enjoy Highland Park, home to the historic Dentzel Carousel built around 1909, while the Mississippi Walk of Fame scattered throughout downtown honors names such as Morgan Freeman, Elvis Presley, Jimmy Buffett, and Jim Henson.

Meridian also carries a little weird Mississippi folklore with it – at nearby Rose Hill Cemetery sits the grave of the “Gypsy Queen,” one of the city’s best-known local legends, while Stuckey’s Bridge south of town has been surrounded by ghost stories for generations.

For shopping, Bonita Lakes Mall remains Meridian’s primary retail center, though like many malls, it feels quieter now than it once did. Outdoor travelers may find the area more interesting than expected as well: about 15 miles south of town sits Dunn’s Falls, home to a scenic waterfall and restored 1850s grist mill, while Clarkco State Park offers camping, fishing, hiking trails, and wooded scenery typical of Mississippi’s piney woods region.

The area directly surrounding Scaggs Field may not offer much, but Meridian overall has far more character, history, and hidden gems than many visitors probably expect when they first come to the Queen City.

Fans   4

The Meridian Blues inaugural season already appears to be a major success with local fans. Scaggs Field officially has around 1,200 seats, but during opening week, the crowds honestly feel larger than that. Between the berm seating, lawn chairs, standing-room areas, and constant movement throughout the concourse, this ballpark carries the energy of a much bigger event.

The Blues also do a strong job keeping families engaged throughout the night. The time between innings features dance contests, sing-alongs, crowd games, and mascot appearances from Mojo, the team’s fox mascot, dressed in Blues-style attire, complete with a top hat.

During my last visit, several players casually walked over to sign autographs and interact with kids leaning over the railings during innings, adding to the laid-back and personal atmosphere. You also see a lot of families, long-time baseball fans, and residents simply happy to have baseball back in Meridian again.

In a town without a ton of summer entertainment options, the Meridian Blues already feel like a great fit for the community.

Access   3

The stadium sits on the campus of Meridian Community College just off Interstate 20, making it accessible from most parts of Meridian within about 10 to 15 minutes. Meridian sits kind of secluded in East Mississippi, in a triangle about 90 miles east of Jackson and 90 miles northeast of Hattiesburg, but it’s a straight shot up I-59 from Hattiesburg and I-20 from Jackson. Once you arrive on campus, parking is free and plentiful in the surrounding lots around Scaggs Field.

I think the coolest part of the ballpark's setup is that if you enter MCC from the north entrance, you can actually park along the berm and general admission areas overlooking the field, and casually watch the game from your vehicle.

Because the stadium only holds around 1,200 fans, traffic never becomes overwhelming, even with crowds that have felt larger than normal during the Blues inaugural season. Fans can usually park within a short walk of the entrance and get inside quickly without much hassle.

One minor downside is that the signage around campus could probably be better for first-time visitors unfamiliar with Meridian Community College. Since the ballpark sits tucked behind parts of campus and away from the main road, it can feel slightly hidden when you first arrive.

Still, the smaller size of the venue works in its favor. Once inside, everything feels close together, with the concessions, seating, berm areas, and restrooms all within easy walking distance. The relaxed setup also fits the overall small-town summer baseball atmosphere the Meridian Blues are trying to create.

Return on Investment   4

The Meridian Blues offer one of the better values you will probably find anywhere in summer baseball.

Tickets range from roughly $8 to $15, depending on seat location, while parking remains free and concessions stay reasonably priced. Even with some early confusion surrounding the different seating sections during their inaugural season, the overall value remains extremely strong.

General admission tickets provide access to the berm seating area beyond left field, while reserved bleacher seating along the first base line offers probably the best traditional baseball view for the price. However, the third base terrace seating with its oversized lawn chairs may honestly be the most fun option in the stadium, perfectly matching the relaxed summer atmosphere found here.

Chairback seating behind home plate provides the best overall view, while the bullpen seating offers one of the more unique experiences you will find at any ballpark. Fans sitting there can watch pitchers warm up just a few feet away, while casually interacting with the players during the game.

For families, the value becomes even better; a full summer evening of baseball, food, and entertainment here costs less than many families would spend at most ballparks.

Extras   3

One extra for Meridian Blues manager Mickey Callaway, who previously managed the New York Mets from 2018 through 2019, and brings more than two decades of Major League coaching experience to Meridian.

Another bonus is Meridian’s deep baseball history itself – just a few miles away from Scaggs Field sits abandoned Buckwalter Stadium, which last hosted baseball in 1955. Overgrown and hidden among the trees, that old stadium has become something of a legend among baseball history enthusiasts, as well as fans of abandoned ballparks.

What ultimately makes Scaggs Field memorable, however, is how naturally the atmosphere comes together – kids chase foul balls underneath the pine trees, while families spread out on picnic benches beyond left field. Fans also casually wander between food trucks and lawn-chair seating, while baseball unfolds in the background. As the sun goes down and the stadium lights come on through the trees, Scaggs Field begins to feel less like a modern sports venue and more like the kind of small-town summer baseball setting that movies try to re-create.