Historic Hamtramck Stadium
Our Take
One of only about five surviving Negro Leagues ballparks in the entire country sits quietly in a Hamtramck city park — and you can walk right onto the field. Built in 1930 by businessman John Roesink, Hamtramck Stadium was home to the Detroit Stars, and the talent that passed through is staggering: as many as 18 future Hall of Famers, including Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Cool Papa Bell, and the Stars’ own hometown legend, center fielder Norman “Turkey” Stearnes — a left-handed slugger who won seven home-run titles and ranks among the greatest hitters who ever lived. Ty Cobb threw out the first pitch at the Stars’ first game here.
After decades abandoned and nearly forgotten, a volunteer-led restoration reopened the ballpark in 2022, with the field renamed in Stearnes’s honor. Here’s the lovely full-circle detail: the same grounds crew that saved the field at Tiger Stadium adopted this one too. The grandstand’s original steel still stands — go stand on the mound and picture Paige pitching to Gibson.