Meritus Field boasts nearly 4,000 seats for baseball lovers to fill. Courtesy photo

HAGERSTOWN, Md. — Professional baseball has resurfaced in Hagerstown. If the current standings in the independent Atlantic League continue on through the Sept. 15 closing of the 2024 season, the local Flying Boxcars should be hoping the axiom, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” holds a space in everybody’s mind.

Hagerstown was in last place in the five-team North Division standings with a 16-31 record in games through June 16.

The need to “grow fonder,” is because there hasn’t been any professional baseball in nearby Hagerstown for several years. The city tore down aged Municipal Stadium on Memorial Boulevard when Major League Baseball “shrank” the number of cities it wanted supporting minor league teams. Hagerstown was on that list (as was Frederick) and professional baseball went missing for several summers in western Maryland.

The city petitioned the state for money to buy land in the downtown area and build a new ballpark that could possibly attract a new team.

The Atlantic League is an independent entity. None of the 10 teams has any affiliation with Major League Baseball.

The city of Hagerstown sold the naming rights to its newly-built stadium. And the nearly 4,000-seat place is called Meritus Field, as it occupies a space at the juncture of Baltimore Street and Summit Avenue.

The ball yard is a cash-free facility and only accepts credit cards. There are a number of creature comforts afforded the fans for their $12 general admission tickets. These creature comforts include a kids play area, chairback seats everywhere, a bar, a pub house, on-field games and hi-jinx between innings, Stryker the fighter pilot mascot roaming the stands and the artificial turf field that can take the bite out of any light, scattered showers.

Parking is a work in progress and a knowledge of the area should be as valued and necessary as any baseball history a prospective fan has with him.

The Atlantic League has a few players who have appeared in a Major League game, but none have a working contract with any big league team.

In the North Division in addition to the Flying Boxcars are the Lancaster Barnstormers, York Revolution, Long Island Ducks and Staten Island Ferryhawks. South Division teams are the High Point Rockers, Lexington (Ky.) Counter Clocks, Gastonia Honey Hunters, Charleston (WV) Dirty Birds and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.

The league schedules no games on Mondays and the regular season carries all the way through Sept. 15.

Concessions — always of interest to children and adults alike in a ball park setting — show some imagination, what with crab cake sandwiches, brisket nachos, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken tenders, various pizza offerings and soft serve ice cream. The usual baseball hot dogs, hamburgers and beer can help the casual fan enjoy the sultry evening along Baltimore Street.

After walking from a parking garage or other lot somewhat close to the ball park, the fans enter the place through the main gate in centerfield. The playing surface is actually above the outfield entrance, but not any problem for those used to hoofing it to a baseball stadium.

Baseball is back in Hagerstown. A useful new ball yard helps make its return a hope for the yesteryear times when the Baltimore Orioles sent players rehabilitating from in-season injuries to town to retool their skills.

Attendance has been steady and a real positive — especially for players only a few people know and a team whose winning ways have yet to be seen.