McCurdy Field - Saint John's Vikings

Photos by Richard Smith, Stadium Journey

Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.00

McCurdy Field South Jefferson Street and Scholl's Lane Frederick, Maryland, 21703

Saint John's Vikings website

McCurdy Field website

Year Opened: 1924 Capacity: 2,500

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Historic McCurdy Field

Saint John's Catholic Prep, situated in Buckeystown, Maryland, just south of Frederick, maintains a long history dating back to its founding in 1829 by Father John McElroy. Operating as the oldest Catholic high school in Maryland, the institution upholds a strict Jesuit educational tradition.

The school supports a robust athletics program, with the boys' varsity teams competing in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) and the girls' varsity teams participating in the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (IAAM).

The Saint John's Catholic Prep Vikings baseball team plays its home games at McCurdy Field, within the city of Frederick. The original McCurdy Field opened in 1924, taking its name from Dr. Ira J. McCurdy, who organized the funding for the project. Following the condemnation of the site's original wooden grandstand, the city constructed a new concrete and steel grandstand that opened in 1974.

McCurdy Field hosted minor league baseball for the Frederick Keys, Philadelphia Athletics spring training, and various semi-pro football leagues. Today, this historic, multi-purpose venue serves as the home field for the Vikings, Babe Ruth League baseball, and the Francis Scott Key Post 11 American Legion baseball team.

One of the most famous games during that one season (1989), the Frederick Keys played at McCurdy was the hotly anticipated first game by Orioles pitching prospect Ben McDonald, with a standing-room-only crowd in attendance. Currently, the field houses high school football and local baseball. McDonald is now an announcer for the Orioles on TV and radio.

Food & Beverage 0

McCurdy Field features a permanent concession stand structure located on the stadium grounds. However, this stand does not open for Saint John's Catholic Prep high school baseball games.

Atmosphere 3

The atmosphere at McCurdy Field relies entirely on the mechanics of the game and the physical structure of the 1974 rebuild. The concrete and steel grandstand features a wide metal roof that provides ample shade for the spectators and echoes the sounds of the game across the seating bowl.

A press box sits directly on top of the grandstand roof. The public address system operates at a distinctly loud volume. Because the stadium accommodates high school football, there are small aluminum bleachers sitting past the outfield fence, distinctly separate from the main baseball seating.

Neighborhood 3

The stadium is located in a residential neighborhood. So you will need to drive to find anything else. Luckily, shopping, lodging, and restaurants are abundant at nearby Francis Scott Key Mall and its surrounding area.

Downtown Frederick may offer the best choices. The surprising renaissance of downtown Frederick means that there is an ever-growing selection of restaurants and shopping in the area.

The Roy Rogers fast-food chain is slowly disappearing from the region, where it was once ubiquitous. But the chain is still thriving around Frederick. You must stop in and have a Double-R-Burger, Gold Rush Chicken sandwich, or Roast Beef sandwich. Just don't forget to use the Fixin's Bar and get a holster of fries. A location is near the stadium at 301 Ballenger Center Drive.

Frederick also features historical and recreational sites such as the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and the Carroll Creek Park linear walkway.

Fans 3

The fan base attending Saint John's Catholic Prep baseball games at McCurdy Field consists almost entirely of family members and close friends of the student-athletes.

The total crowd size remains very small for these regular-season matchups, resulting in plenty of open seating throughout the metal-roofed grandstand.

Access 3

Accessing McCurdy Field presents specific logistical considerations for visitors driving to the game. The stadium is located along South Jefferson Street, a primary roadway in Frederick.

The venue features a small dedicated parking lot for attendees, as well as the athletes themselves. Any available parking spaces in this lot will likely sit squarely in foul ball territory, exposing parked vehicles to potential damage during the course of the baseball game.

Due to the limited capacity and the high risk of foul balls, fans must parallel park their vehicles on the residential side streets in the nearby neighborhood.

Return on Investment 5

Attending a Saint John's Catholic Prep Vikings baseball game at McCurdy Field requires absolutely no admission fee. With free parking and no food to buy, the return on investment is pretty strong.

Extras 4

Francis Scott Key is buried down the street. The lawyer and poet wrote the lyrics to the United States National Anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner."

The placement of a press box situated squarely on the roof of the grandstand serves as a highly unique architectural feature.

Historically, the original McCurdy Field hosted an exhibition game for the National Football League's Boston Redskins in 1937.

There is a really interesting mural over the entrance dedicated to a local bus driver. Check the nearby plaque for the whole story.

Final Thoughts

McCurdy Field provides a straightforward setting for Saint John's Catholic Prep baseball. The multi-purpose footprint, distinct roof-top press box, and historic roots offer a fun baseball viewing experience.