Photos by Gregory Koch and Richard Smith, Stadium Journey
Stadium Info FANFARE Score: 2.86
John B. Schuerholz Park 7500 Osler Dr Towson, MD 21252
Year Opened: 2001
Capacity: 500
Towson Tigers at Schuerholz Park
Towson University is the second-largest public university in the State of Maryland. Located just north of Baltimore, it is home to approximately 21,000 students, of which 18,000 are undergraduates.
In 2014, the Towson football team played for the Football Championship Subdivision National Championship, falling short to North Dakota State. The basketball team has also had scattered success over the years, most notably in the early 1990s under coach Terry Truax, with guards Kurk Lee and Devin Boyd in the old East Coast Conference. The Truax-led teams made it to two straight NCAA tournaments in 1990 and 1991.
Towson is also known for their impressive gymnastics program. They have been the 1968 AIAW Division II National Champions, 1995 and 1998 USA Gymnastics NIT Champions, 3-time Calloway Invitational Champions, 15-time ECAC Champions, and 2007 USA Gymnastics National Champions.
Baseball has had some success over the years. But recently it has come close to being axed by the university. Only some last-minute donations and an agreement with the state kept the program alive.
John B. Schuerholz Park is named after the 1962 graduate of what was then Towson State College. You may know the Baltimore native more as the former General Manager and President of the Atlanta Braves.
Food & Beverage 2
There is a simple concession stand located at the base of Schuerholz Park. The menu is not very deep, but the value is decent. Fans can always bring their outside food as no one will stop them.
Atmosphere 3
Baseball was played on this site before 2001. But the creation of Schuerholz Park made it official. The simple bleacher-laden grandstand extends between the dugouts, and behind the home plate area.
Many fans also like to sit on the hill next to nearby Burdick Hall. You have a great view of the field from there and will not be obstructed by netting.
There is also another unique place to watch a game. Towson University has beefed up the walking path towards the West Village part of the campus. West Village is where many residence halls exist, so there has been a need to make this path safer, including a wide footbridge across busy Osler Drive. The eastern end of this bridge sits right next to Schuerholz Park and it offers a raised platform to watch baseball games.
There is a PA system and announcements and music are played. Free roster sheets are given out at the stadium. Former Orioles player Billy Hunter was at one time the Tiger's head coach and brought many game-day traditions over from the Baltimore club, so expect to experience some recognizable themes and music at the game.
The stadium also sits right at the corner of Towsontown Boulevard and Osler Drive. The main view past the outfield wall is the traffic at that intersection. Luckily the general view is not all that unattractive as there are plenty of green trees there as well.
Neighborhood 3
There is nothing right by the stadium, except for the University Union.
Towson is a semi-urban environment with a large shopping mall and numerous restaurants in the area. Try the Charles Village Pub in the heart of downtown Towson for good food and drinks. Some other great options are Glory Days Grill and Sushi Hana.
Baltimore is also a quick drive away. Check out the Federal Hill neighborhood, south of the Inner Harbor. There are a few fun restaurants and bars here.
Fans 2
Fans at Schuerholz Park tend to primarily be family or friends of the players. What this means is that weekend and later afternoon games will be busier than early afternoon weekday games. In weekday games you will more likely get students stopping in and watching a game on their way to class or back to the dorm.
It also means you will see an inconsistent level of fan interaction. The fans who do attend care about the game and are very knowledgeable.
Access 4
Towson is located right off the Baltimore Beltway/I-695. The only negative is that Towson is a maze of roads getting to the Osler and Towsontown Boulevard location of the baseball field.
There are a couple of large parking garages nearby, with the Union Garage right behind the stadium.
Parking is plentiful, but expect an issue on weekday games.
Return on Investment 4
The price, free, is certainly reasonable. And you will probably not have to pay for parking. So, the value is certainly good.
The team plays Division I baseball in a very strong athletic conference (Coastal Athletic Association or CAA) so there is an opportunity to see some very strong baseball talent at a low cost.
Extras 2
There are free programs at the stadium.
There are no other extras at the stadium, but one should walk around the campus of Towson University and see the ever-growing campus. Just don’t forget the older parts of campus, especially the hidden outdoor gem called the Glen. Once hidden after many years of neglect, this wonderful outdoor area has picnic groves and interesting spaces for exploration.
Final Thoughts
John B. Schuerholz Park is a pretty simple baseball stadium. But the low cost of attendance at a game with a good level of talent means that this baseball stadium is a good value for the fan.