By Fox23.com News Staff
TULSA, Okla. — The 100-year-old backstop at Tulsa’s Lacy Park is being restored after straight-line winds damaged the structure last March.
The Tulsa Rumblers said the antique backstop dates to the early 20th century and was used by the T-Town Clows, a pioneering semipro baseball team during the segregated era.
The downed backstop forced the Tulsa Rumblers and Tulsa City Jesters ballclubs to move their games to Reed Park last season.
Oklahoma baseball historian and Tulsa Community College professor Jake Cornwell confirmed the metal piping and chain link used to build the backstop was some of the original material used in its early construction.
“Some of the pipe that came down broke in half. You could see inside the material and confirm it was actually oilfield pipe that was reused as a backstop,” said Cornwell. “Through old photos, I was able to date the fence all the way back to when the field was previously Lincoln Park, when the T-Town Clowns played there.”
Initially, the potential for repair was uncertain due to the age of the backstop.
With so much history involved, Tulsa Rumblers leadership consulted local engineer Ron Jantz with Wallace Design Collective. Their assessment, confirmed by the City of Tulsa, showed the structure could be reinstalled while maintaining player and spectator safety.
Local fencing contractor Frank Smalls of Bevel Commercial Services, hired by the City Parks Department, is managing the installation, bringing the structure back to its previous prominence, Tulsa Rumblers said.
“The sunset, the returned hope of playing at Lacy again and the beginning of a new season are just pure magic,” said Dan McLintock, member of the Tulsa Rumblers. “We are so thankful to the City of Tulsa for stepping up and restoring this historical monument, and making it game worthy once again. I can’t wait to run back on that field and pay homage to all those who played here before us.”
Opening Day at Lacy Park will be in early April.
The ballfield is located at 2134 North Madison Place. You can find the schedule, and more announcements for Tulsa Rumblers 2026 season, by clicking here.
