Photos by Gregory Koch, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 4.43
Shirley Povich Field 10600 Westlake Dr Rockville, MD 20852
Year Opened: 1999 Capacity: 710
Train Time
Located in Bethesda, Maryland, in the D.C. suburbs, Shirley Povich Field is home to the Bethesda Big Train of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League (CRCBL). The CRCBL consists of eight teams from across the DC Metro area, and the Big Train is by far the most successful team in the league, winning or sharing all but one championship since 2016 as well as three in a row from 2009-2011.
Povich Field is named after longtime local sports columnist Shirley Povich, who covered baseball for over 50 years and was one of the last living reporters to have covered Babe Ruth. He began his career with the Washington Post in 1923, and although he officially retired in 1973, he never stopped covering the game. His last column was published in 1998, one day after his death.
Food & Beverage 4
There are several concession options at Shirley Povich Field, all from local vendors. A hot dog truck is located down the third baseline. Fans can buy hot dogs with just ketchup or mustard for $5 or can purchase specialty hot dogs for $8.
There are several specialty options to choose from, or fans can customize their own from up to 12 toppings. Combos are available to lower the price - two classic dogs, a bag of chips, and a drink cost $12, or if you want specialty hot dogs instead, the combo costs $18. You can get the kids' combo, with one hot dog, chips, and a drink for $8.
The main stand is located behind home plate and has several more options. Cheese pizza is $5 a slice, while pepperoni pizza is $6. The pizza is from the local restaurant Gregorio's Trattoria and is much better than most ballpark pizza. At least for this area, it is very good pizza in general, even by regular rather than ballpark standards. Chick-fil-A sandwiches cost $6.60, or you can get eight nuggets from Chick-fil-A for the same prize. A pulled pork sandwich with cole slaw is $8, while a cheeseburger or Beyond burger with lettuce and tomato will cost you $9.
Several snacks are available as well. Candy or Big League Chew costs $3, as do chips, Cracker Jack, and popcorn. Blow pops are two for a dollar, and a giant soft pretzel (and we do mean giant) costs $6. Fries are $5, and you can get a side of cheese sauce for $3.
Bottled water will cost $3, while Powerade, lemonade, sweet tea, and assorted Coca-Cola products will cost $4. A Kona Ice truck is also located down the first base line selling its wares.
Atmosphere 5
While most CRCBL stadiums are very basic, Shirley Povich Field could easily be a minor league stadium if not for the small size. Other than a few bleachers down the right-field line, all seats are chairbacks and have an excellent view of the action. The stands only go about five rows up, so every seat will get you close to the action. A scoreboard in left-centerfield shows the linescore and count as well as the time and temperature. The only major downside of the stadium layout is that the sun sets in centerfield and will be in your eyes for the first few innings.
As for the gameday experience, that is also comparable to the minor leagues. There is often pregame music on the concourse and there will typically be multiple first pitches by special guests. Once the game starts, the experience is every bit what you would see at a higher level. Between innings, there will be contests on the field or promos over the PA system. There is a costumed mascot named Homer, who is a dog and can be seen roaming the crowd during the game.
The Big Train strive to create a community feel to games, and they have certainly succeeded at their mission. There are giveaways in almost every home game and there are often pregame performances on the concourse. Check the schedule for specific nights, but the Big Train has featured a mariachi band on Latin Baseball Night, a group of dragon dancers to honor Montgomery County's sister cities, and more.
Photo by Maggie Laird, Bethesda Big Train
Neighborhood 4
Shirley Povich Field is located in Cabin John Park, which is operated by Montgomery County. There is an ice rink and some recreational fields located near the stadium, all part of the park. A shopping center is located across the street which includes a Five Guys, a taco place, and several other shops. There are several hotels on Democracy Boulevard a couple of miles from the stadium, and Cabin John Park also has a campground for those visitors to the area looking to stay in a more natural environment.
The Cabin John Village shopping center is about a mile and a half away and has many shops and restaurants. Gregorio's Trattoria, which also tells their pizza at the ballpark, is an Italian restaurant located here. The Grove (a standard bar and grill) and The Pretzel Bakery (which sells freshly made soft pretzels and related items like pretzel hot dogs and calzones) are worth checking out as well.
Washington, D.C. is a short Metro ride away and features various museums, monuments, and other sites, although you will need to drive to a nearby station and park first. Whether it’s visiting the Smithsonian or taking a walk along the National Mall, there is something to do for everyone in our nation’s capital, and most of it is free.
Fans 5
The Big Train consistently ranks at the top of the Cal Ripken League in attendance, and it isn’t even close. The Big Train average over 500 fans per game, which may not seem like much, but it puts the stadium near capacity and all the other teams struggle to draw even half that. The crowd is a mix of longtime fans, young families, and everyone in between. It is truly the community affair that the team's founders envisioned.
Fans are knowledgeable about the Big Train and passionate. Most of them stay for the whole game even as the hour gets late and the score isn’t particularly close. A lot of them can be seen wearing their own Big Train gear. Games here are often family affairs with lots of small children in attendance, but you get some older people as well, many of whom have been following the team since its inception in 1999.
Access 3
Shirley Povich Field is located just off I-270 and I-495. Take the exit for Democracy Boulevard, follow it to Westlake Drive, and the entrance to Cabin John Park will be up ahead on your left. From there, head past the ice rink, and the stadium will be up ahead. There are several other baseball fields in the complex used for recreational purposes, but Shirley Povich Field will be very clearly signed.
Due to the large complex, there is more than enough parking available. However, the parking lot can be a tight fit and make exiting after the game difficult, especially if people are trying to enter the lot as well to go elsewhere in the park. You may have to park a short distance away, but you will find a space. Unfortunately, Shirley Povich Field is not easily accessible via the D.C. Metro. Restrooms are small but sufficient for the crowd in most cases. The men’s restroom can be hard to find as it is hidden off in the corner and not, as one would expect, across from the women’s restroom.
Return on Investment 5
Tickets are just $12 per game. While this is on the high end for the Cal Ripken League, the experience at a Big Train game is far superior to the other teams, so it is well worth it. Concession prices are higher than other teams in the league, but it is better than most ballpark food and is less expensive than at most professional stadiums. Overall, a Big Train game is an excellent value whether you are a solo traveler or visiting with the whole family.
Extras 5
Look for the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Hall of Fame down the first-base line. Extensive Big Train programs are available in the stadium. There are also banners honoring Shirley Povich and Walter “Big Train” Johnson behind home plate and a plaque honoring Povich by the entrance.
Be sure to check out the Shirley and Walter Plaza to the left of the main concession stand, featuring a statue of Shirley Povich interviewing Walter Johnson. It is a popular photo opportunity to take your picture with the statue.
Down the first baseline past the Picnic Pavilion, there is a kids' play area featuring a moon bounce and chalk for children to draw on the ground with.
Although we can only award five stars in this category, there is a sixth extra worthy of mention. Down the first baseline, there is signage that displays Big Train players who have made the major leagues, the date of their debut, and arrows pointing to their major league ballpark along with the distance from Bethesda.
Final Thoughts
The Big Train have certainly succeeded in creating a top-notch community baseball experience in Bethesda. On a warm summer night (or the occasional 10 AM Sunday game), baseball fans in Montgomery County will certainly want to make the trip to Shirley Povich Field. It is baseball fun for seasoned fans, young families, and everyone in between.