Benjamin Hill's Baseball Traveler newsletter highlights a visit to the Spokane Indians, showcasing the team's unique traditions and ballpark charm at Avista Stadium. The feature explores the venue's history and gameday experiences, including a narrow 3-2 victory over the Hillsboro Hops. Fans are encouraged to add this Minor League gem to their bucket list.
Avista Stadium, home of the Spokane Indians, opened in 1958 as the Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate during Major League Baseball's westward expansion. Originally Fairgrounds Recreational Park, it has undergone improvements to meet MLB standards while retaining throwback elements like a rooftop press box, rudimentary scoreboard, and concrete skyboxes. The concourse fronts the seating bowl, offering a distinctive layout.
The Indians were the Dodgers' affiliate through 1971, boasting star-studded teams such as the 1970 squad managed by Tommy Lasorda, which included Steve Garvey, Bobby Valentine, Charlie Hough, Bill Russell, Davey Lopes, and Doyle Alexander. In 1983, they joined the Northwest League, becoming the Colorado Rockies' High-A affiliate in 2021.
Spokane's name derives from the local tribe, with professional baseball dating to the 1890s and most teams adopting the Indians moniker. A 2006 partnership with the Spokane Tribe incorporated Salish language into logos and jerseys.
During Hill's visit, he led the staff's "Wow!" rallying cry, rolled hot dogs for the "Dollar in Your Dogs" promotion featuring $2000 in vouchers, and suited up as mascot KC, unveiled in 2022 to honor the KC-135 Stratotanker in collaboration with Fairchild Air Force Base. An unopened safe from a 2013 renovation remains a mystery, with senior vice president Otto Klein once speculating it could hold "Jimmy Hoffa. Tommy Lasorda's black book. A million dollars in cash. Fun stuff, whatever you can dream of."
Mascots include Otto the Spokaneasaurus (1993) and Ribby the Redband Trout (2017), part of the Redband Rally to honor tribal food sources. Hill danced as a minnow during Ribby's sixth-inning appearance.
Concessions featured Tanker Nachos in a batting helmet and the Bavarian Burger with muenster cheese and fancy mustard, sampled by designated eater Andy Wodka. Other highlights include the "Wake Up Call" coffee bus and Coors Light Caboose train car seating. The team's Zero Waste campaign includes a Compost Corner for sorting garbage, compost, and recycling.
Amid these activities, the Indians defeated the Hillsboro Hops 3-2, followed by kids running the bases.