Joranko Field

Albion College baseball came back to the campus in the 1960's after spending several years in and around the Albion community. In 1970, the College settled on the northeast corner of Alumni Field as the on-campus home for Briton baseball. Albion formally opened the facility with a 3-1 victory over Michigan State, a contest featuring a Duncan Beagle one-hitter against the Spartans.

In 1995, the baseball facility was formally named Frank Joranko Field, in honor of retiring baseball coach and Briton alum (1952) Frank Joranko. A three-sport standout (baseball, basketball and football), Joranko participated in an era which some refer to as a "golden age" for the College, both in athletics and academics. Some of Joranko's Albion teammates include current NCAA Executive Director Cedric Dempsey; former Cleveland, Ohio, city councilman Arnold Pinckney; retired Eastern Michigan University President Dr. John Porter; retired NYNEX CEO Bill Ferguson; and Dow Corning Chairman Emeritus John Ludington. Joranko is Albion's second Most Valuable Player selection for football in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, and is the only member of the Albion College Athletic Hall of Fame to be inducted twice, as an athlete and later, as an administrator and coach.

Work on revamping Joranko Field began in earnest in the fall of 1998. By the time of the home opener involving Albion and Concordia College of Ann Arbor in March of 1999, most of the new features of the field were in place. The fencing going from the dugouts to the foul poles in left and right field went up in time for the Adrian series in April.

The major changes to Joranko Field begin behind home plate. Aluminum bleacher seating for up to 200 persons sits behind a new backstop which stretches from dugout to dugout. Atop the bleachers is a press box which accomodates up to eight persons. The facility is the operational home to workers handling scoring, scoreboard and public address duties, as well as radio-tv and media needs. The box can handle up to three radio stations, and has both phone and data transmission capabilities.

The dugouts were expanded, complete with new seating and storage for equipment. In addition, an equipment storage room was added to the third base dugout. Eight-foot high fencing extends from the dugouts to the foul poles in left and right field. Behind the first base (visitors) dugout is an enclosed batting cage which allows both teams extensive hitting practice prior to games.

After graduation, Joranko was a teacher and coach in northern Ohio and the Detroit area prior to returning to Albion College in 1973. Joranko served as athletic director from 1974 to 1992; was head football coach from 1973 to 1982; and directed Albion's baseball efforts from 1973 to 1995. Joranko-coached teams won better than 350 contests, over 300 in baseball alone; captured 11 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships, nine in baseball and two in football; and directed teams to three NCAA Division III playoff events, football in 1977 and baseball in 1979 and 1982. When the College and the City of Battle Creek joined as hosts for the NCAA Division III Baseball Championship from 1990 to 1994, Joranko served as tournament director.

After retirement, Joranko and his wife, Joyce, moved north to Lansing where the couple currently reside.

A main feature of the revamped Joranko Field is the seating and press box. In the past, main seating was located to the outfield side of first base, and an area for working media was non-existent. The bleachers can accomodate up to 200 persons, and are placed in such a fashion that fans can continue a favorite spring pastime -- bringing the lawn chairs and blankets for seating around the dugouts and behind the backstop areas on the first and third base sides. The press box includes working areas for official scoring, scoreboard and public address duties, and can accomodate up to three radio stations doing live play-by-play. The box also has data transmission capabilities.

Both home and visiting dugouts were expanded. In the past, equipment such as bats, balls and helmets were stored outside the dugouts, much of the time in the field of play. Now, storage is contained inside the dugout. In addition, workers attached an additional storage room on the south end of the third base dugout (shown here) where rakes, drags, field liners, tarps and other items are stored.

An MIAA mandate that pregame batting practice on the field not be allowed has led to the installation of hitting cages on site, for use by both teams. Albion's is located on the first base side, behind the visitors' dugout. The facility takes up part of the area which formerly contained the main bleachers for fans. The cage is also used extensively for additional hitting and pitching work when Albion practices outside in the spring.

Helping to give Joranko Field its "new look" is eight-foot high fencing that extends from the dugouts to the foul poles in the left and right field corners. Prior to installation, Joranko Field had a wide open feel, with only painted lines indicating out of play areas. The diagonal mapping of the fences has cut the foul territory area considered in play in half. It's also resulted in moving the warmup areas for pitchers -- known as the "bullpens" -- inside the field down the left and right field lines. The warmup mounds remain in foul territory, but are within six feet of the foul lines.

Remaining intact is the field itself, although new sod is installed in front of home plate and along the first and third baselines. Already known as having the best natural drainage system of any collegiate baseball field in Michigan, the changes to Joranko Field help make the home of Briton Baseball one of the best college fields for fan and player alike, regardless of division, in the state.

Updated January 05, 2004 by Albion College Sports Information.