Smokey Joe Wood Field
 

I was traveling this week through Western Colorado, and just as I often do, I stopped to photograph a small town baseball field. To my surprise, the one in Ouray, Colorado, is named after Smokey Joe Wood, and even has an image of his T205 on a plaque next to it.

Smokey Joe, it turns out, grew up in Ouray, discovered baseball there, and served as the local team's batboy and mascot. He even got to play in a few games.

The ballpark is blessed with the glorious San Juan Mountains as a backdrop, just like the town. It's also located just steps away from Ouray's famous hot springs pool.

It's discoveries like this that make traveling along America's backroads in the summer so much fun.

interesting that it’s named “Smokey” joe wood field because most of the references to him and his cards during his career were “Smoky” not “Smokey.”

Thanks Chris! That is amazing. I love traveling and seeing stuff like this!

Member of the 1920 Champion Cleveland Indians!

Not a T205 though, A T202 end panel

Ouray is Amazing!
 

Ouray is an amazing place. I spent a couple of weeks there earlier this summer and just love it as a town.

I did not see the baseball field, so thank you for pointing it out for the next trip.

There's a nice oblique aerial photo of Ouray taken in 1901 posted on Shorpy. https://www.shorpy.com/node/7448?size=_original#caption (The original file blows up real nice like). The ball field looks to be in more or less the same place. That would have been Joe Wood's Field of Dreams. Can't explain the telegraph poles and shed in right field.

The mayor of Ouray for 6 years during the late 1980's and early 1990's was C.W. McCall. He is best known for his #1 song 'Convoy'. He also wrote a song called 'Pine Tar Wars' which referenced the George Brett incident.

Wow, that is stunning

Love Ouray, and always stop to admire that ballfield whenever I hit the hot springs pool - which is delightful!! Actually, headed there later this month.