As I was leaving Durkeeville, a little unique community on the Northside of Jacksonville, I traveled past the James Small baseball park established in 1912. While driving, I saw three guys scrambling all around the grounds.  They were young, dressed in orange and black shirts and looked college-age.  With a bit of time on my hands,  I turned back and spoke to the young men. They were students at Edward Waters University and had been practicing baseball on the field. 

Over the years it has had different names, Barrs Field, Myrtle Avenue Ball Park and others, but the one I remember most was Durkee Field. The land had once been owned by Joseph Durkee a former Union officer during the Civil War. Durkee’s son later turned the field over to the President of the Jacksonville Baseball Association, Amander Barrs. Because it was on Myrtle Avenue, it took on the name “Myrtle field” I knew it was historic having the great Hank Aaron and Jackie Robinson play there years past. 

The City of Jacksonville eventually purchased the park for $348,000.  Following a fire that destroyed the original stadium another was built in 1936 which  opened the field up for the Negro league and the Jacksonville Red Caps.  By the 1970’s the field had received little maintenance and had fallen into disrepair. The City Council took on the task to save the park and in 1980 it was renovated and renamed J. P. Small Park in honor of a teacher and band director from the old Stanton School . From then until now many have used the field including Edward College University. 

Vladimir Blanco spoke up first telling me that balls had been “hit out of the park” and they were scrambling to retrieve them.  I asked about their team and all three seemed excited to be a part.  Blanco was a junior and playing at catcher and pitcher.   Joseph Di Cesare was a sophomore from Maracay, Venezuela playing as catcher and J.C. Medina was a graduate assistant and part of the coaching staff. 

I learned that it has a small museum inside and in 2013 was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Drop by if you get a chance. You might meet some real sluggers.

See you tomorrow,

Nan

P.S. I had a photo made of the guys and put a gift card with it. They will think Mama’s in town.

Sources:  Wikipedia, Google AI Overview, National Register of Historic Places, Vaughan Publishing, Nannette V. Ramey