When you step into the Cleburne Railroaders stadium, you’ll get all the nostalgia that comes with entering a ballpark: the smell of popcorn, the excitement of the fans, the music, the mascots getting everyone ready for the game, and the baseball diamond shining under the lights. What you won’t see is an overcrowded stadium, nosebleed seats, and parents wondering what to do with kids who might not want to stay seated for nine innings. “Some fans say coming to a game is like taking a nine-inning vacation,” says Railroader President and Co-Owner John Junker.
There’s a rich history behind the Cleburne Railroaders, and it all started in the early 1900s. The team won the Texas League Championship in 1906 and won the Texas-Oaklahoma Championship in 1911; the banners still hang in the Classic Club, the sports grill located on the second level. One of their earliest players was Tris Speaker, considered to be one of the greatest center fielders of all time. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1937 after moving to the major leagues, and after retirement, he had a long and successful career as an MLB coach.
Although the team left the area for some years, the Mayor and leadership of Cleburne had the vision to bring them back; 2017 was the inaugural season that ushered in a new era for the Cleburne Railroaders. With seats for 3,000, the community-built stadium allows fans to watch a baseball game in a very intimate setting. “When a fan comes in, they’re going to watch high-level baseball. A lot of our players have either played major ball or are on the way up. In the past season or two, six players signed with major league teams. What makes our games even more special is the crowd energy and fan experiences.” says Junker.
What type of fan experiences? The list is long and exciting. Think in-between inning games like tractor races, limbo contests, sing-a-longs and even blow-up musical chairs. Kevin the Konductor gets the crowd going, and Spike and Dandy, the original mascots, engage with the fans. There are themed nights like Friday night fireworks, Saturday night tunes, and Teammate Thursdays. Autographs are given out before and after the game. On certain nights, kids can run the bases, and there’s even a full basketball court sponsored by the Dallas Mavericks. Located behind the right field, kids can head for the court, and parents can still see them from anywhere in the ballpark. Even better, the entire field is protected by nets, all the way to the foul poles, so kids can run and play on the court or berms while parents kick back and enjoy the game. Fans are given Home Depot buckets so they can join the “Bucket Brigade.” With tons of engagement from players and mascots and enthusiastic broadcasters, the Cleburne Railroaders claim to have the rowdiest fans in the league, which not only brings up the energy for everyone in attendance but the players as well.
There are season ticket holders, but there are plenty of first-timers attending too, and that’s a big reason why the organization tries to do something different every night. “We treat every night like opening night. We’re huge on making first impressions,” says Junker.
The food makes a game even more exciting. Not only can you choose from standard fare like hotdogs, popcorn, pizza and snow cones, but be sure to look for the specialty booths. That’s where you’ll find cotton candy and a selection of sweets, and in the specialty booth sponsored by La Maderna, you’ll find street tacos, the Triple Play (a pork sandwich), brisket or jalapeno mac ‘n’ cheese, elote, tamales, quesadillas and more. In the suites on the second floor, and at the Classic Club, you’ll find things like shrimp kabobs and tenderloin.
From all the entertainment to the great seats and unique food options, a Cleburne Railroaders game is a truly unforgettable summertime experience for the whole family. You’ll get to enjoy America’s pastime without the crowds, and you’ll be a part of something that brings the whole community together. See the schedule and buy tickets at ilovebaseball.com.