Runkle-Miller Field - Portland Rockets
- Marc Viquez
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
Photos by Marc Viquez, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 3.14
Runkle-Miller Field 515 Blaine Pike Portland, IN 47371
Year Opened: 1959 Capacity: 500
Taking off with the Portland Rockets
The Portland Rockets are an amateur baseball team in Indiana. They have called Runkle-Miller Field home since they began operations in 1959. Since that time, they have seen amateur baseball teams come and go in the county, but they have remained a constant fixture in town each summer.
The stadium gets its name from Ray Miller, who in 1972 took over the Rockets in Western Indiana and turned the franchise around both financially and on the diamond. Dick Runkle was the founder of the team when it was in the Eastern Indiana Baseball League.
Today, the team competes in the Fort Wayne Red Carrington League and in the Heartland Baseball League. The team plays around 20 home games from May to late July, concluding with an annual appearance in the National Amateur Baseball Federation World Series.
The Rockets captured an EIBL championship in 1960, finished fourth in the World Baseball Congress tournament in 2012, and finished first in the Carrington League in 2025. Today, players of all ages have the opportunity to hone their skills with the ball club, with many traveling over an hour away.
Food & Beverage 3
There is a small concession building cleverly called "The Lunching Pad", serving hot dogs, burgers, and nachos. Hot dogs and burgers can be topped with a meat sauce and cheese. Cans of Coke are available, and a couple of tables are set up for enjoying your meal. It is a cash-only concession stand. Candy and popcorn is also available, but the stand is cash only.
Atmosphere 3
Runkle-Miller Field is as small-town baseball as it comes in this part of Indiana. The stadium is not fancy; it does not include a traditional grandstand behind home plate, but it provides enough areas to enjoy the game during the summer months.
Several aluminum bleachers are set up behind the backstop and down both base lines. Fans might not even need a seat, since many will watch from lawn chairs, their own cars in the outfield, or from their golf carts. The community is known for its golf carts that its residents drive to and from the game.
Rocky makes an appearance during the game. Photo by Marc Viquez.
The focal point of the ballpark is the press box that is above the home dugout. It proudly states “Home of the Rockets” and is home to the team’s radio announcer (who provides updates from out-of-town scores). The outfield fence is decorated with local ads and one sign that dares any hitter to hit a bullseye in left field. A standard scoreboard is in right field.
Rocky is the team’s mascot, and he makes his way through the game shaking hands and posing for photos. Many fans are willing to talk about the team and share a story or two. Visitors can pick how they want to enjoy their Portland Rockets experience.
Neighborhood 2
The stadium is less than a mile from downtown Portland, and just north of downtown are a few restaurants recommended by fans. They include the Greazy Pickle for sandwiches, wings, and beer. The tenderloin and pizza burger were among the favorites. There are local establishments called Norm’s Place II, Richards Restaurants, and Bizzy Dips Bakery that offer home-cooked meals and service. The regional chain Wings and Rings has a location in town that serves wings in various sauces and other pub fare.
Fans 4
The fans have supported the Rockets since 1959, a tradition that should continue in the foreseeable future. There are nights when the stadium is packed, and many can tell you stories about their first game many decades ago. For an amateur baseball team, the Rockets couldn’t ask for a better group of fans.
Access 4
The stadium is easy to access by car and is located an hour south of Fort Wayne and two hours from Indianapolis. There is a parking lot behind the right field corner of the stadium, and many fans will drive their golf carts from home into the stadium.
Fans take their golf carts to the game. Photo by Marc Viquez.
Return on Investment 3
The Rockets do not charge admission to games, and concession items are no more than $3.25 for a burger. Fans are also allowed to bring in their own food and beverages, and you'll find many of them bringing in a bag or cooler. The team sells merchandise that includes t-shirts for $15, hoodies for $20, and baseball caps for $30. Portland, Indiana, is a little bit out of the way for some, but it makes for an interesting day at the ballpark that is worth the drive on Indiana's winding state roads.
Extras 3
The Rockets earn a point for having their very own mascot. His name is Rocky and can be seen at various games posing for photos with fans. The second point is for the team mural in downtown Portland. The third point is for the various ways the fans enjoy the game from their seats, a parked car in the outfield, or from their golf carts.
Final Thoughts
Runkle-Miller Field is a nice reminder that amateur baseball is alive in certain parts of the country. The gameday atmosphere is pleasant, easygoing, and laid back. It is a ballpark worth searching for during the summer.
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Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com
