Legion Park

General Information
Acreage: 27.8

Acquired: 1959

Address: 400 Pitt Street

History & Amenities
Plotted as Driving Park on a city map from 1895, the more widely know historic name for the property is Big Badger Fairgrounds. From 1910 through sometime after World War II, the property was the host of the Big Badger Fair. In 1959 the Platteville Fair Association sold the land to the City of Platteville exclusively for public, recreational, or education purposes. Today the park is the primary sports complex for the community and includes soccer fields, pickleball courts, horseshoe courts, plus ball diamonds, batting cages, and hitting stations.

Keith Tarrell Sports Complex

The Keith Tarrell Sport Complex is located within the perimeters of Legion Park. As mentioned above, the City of Platteville purchased the property from the Platteville Fair Association exclusively for public, recreational, or educational purposes in 1959. At that time, the property became Legion Park. From 1939 through 1991, Keith advocated, fundraised, constructed, updated, and purchased: dugouts, electric score boards, chain link fences, and lights for all fields.

Originally, Hill field was the only field on the property. It was maintained and renovated to match the quality of a semi-professional baseball field by Keith. He often would drag the infield with his car. Hill field is still utilized today for local baseball, softball, and little league games.

Woodward field was constructed in 1972, followed by Chamberlain Field in 1987. After Keith retired as a volunteer, the city constructed Abing field in 1995. Five years later (2000), the city renamed the complex in honor of “Mr. Baseball”, Keith Tarrell for his 50 years of dedication to baseball in Platteville.

Becoming "Mr. Baseball"

In 1939, Keith relocated the “Big Patch Apache’s” to Platteville and renamed them “The Cardinals”. At that time, the Cardinals utilized the Big Badger Fairground’s only field, Hill Field, for practice and games.

Within the first decade, the Cardinals’ success allowed them to achieve semi-professional and amateur status. Which meant the players could be paid to play. In 1947, Tarrell’s efforts were recognized by the baseball district, and he was named District Commissioner of the 5-county area. By 1950, Tarrell & the Cardinals were playing 70 games per season and able to charge .50 cents per game for admission. Cardinal’s games typically averaged an attendance of 400 people.

By 1962, the Cardinals disbanded due to the team’s financial struggles. Low attendance and rising field rental costs were major contributors. Overall costs of travel, payer play, and field rentals were no longer feasible for Terrell and the Cardinals team.

Following the Cardinals’ departure in 1962, Tarrell was signed as a talent scout by the Cincinnati Reds. He worked for the Reds from 1962 through 1974. Often spending much of his time on the road.

In 1974, Keith retired from scouting and started a little league program in Platteville. That little league program has continued to run from 1974 to today. It is now known as the Platteville Youth Diamond Sports program.

In 1980, Keith rebuilt and revised the Cardinals to just amateur status. At that time, the players were no longer being paid to play. Making this move meant that Keith had to fundraise to support the team. So, Keith painted 46 donor ads to line the outfield fence. Like what you see at the complex, today. By 1983, Keith and the Cardinals were back on top as League Champions. That championship game was Keith’s 401^st win and his final game with the Cardinals.

From 1983 through 1991, Keith spent his time helping with church league softball, little league baseball, and anything diamond sport related. His one request when he retired in 1991 was that the fields get left with all home plates facing the concession. That was his original design, which is still how the fields are laid out, today.

Click the Parks Endownment Fund Link below to donate to the Keith Tarrell Sports Complex

Parks Endowment Fund

Complex Amenities

-Five Fields

-Hill Baseball Field

-Chamberlain Baseball Field

-Woodward Softball Field

-Abing Softball Field

-Johnson Field

-Three batting cages

-2 Woodward Field cages

-1 Hill Field cage