Sicks’ Stadium opened on June 15, 1938, in Seattle’s Rainier Valley as the home of the Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League. Named after Emil Sick, the Rainier Brewing Company owner who financed its construction, the ballpark originally seated around 11,000 fans and became the heart of Seattle’s minor-league baseball culture for three decades.
In 1969 the stadium briefly stepped onto the national stage when the expansion Seattle Pilots became the city’s first American League franchise. Frantic off-season renovations pushed capacity to roughly 25,420 by mid-season, but aging infrastructure, inadequate plumbing, and obstructed sightlines never measured up to major-league standards. The Pilots lasted just one season before filing for bankruptcy and relocating to Milwaukee to become the Brewers. Seattle would eventually return to the American League in 1977 with the expansion Mariners, but by then Sicks’ Stadium had long since returned to minor-league duty — hosting its final professional game on September 1, 1976 — before being demolished in February 1979.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: 2700 Rainier Ave S, Rainier Valley, Seattle, WA
- Opened: June 15, 1938
- Demolished: February 1979
- Peak Capacity: 25,420 (June 1969)
- Teams: Seattle Rainiers (PCL, 1938–1968); Seattle Pilots (MLB, 1969)
- Field Dimensions: 305 ft (L) · 420 ft (C) · 309 ft (R)
- Named After: Emil Sick, Rainier Brewing Company owner
- Notable Concert: Elvis Presley performed September 1, 1957
A Minor-League Gem Pressed into Major-League Duty
When the American League awarded Seattle an expansion franchise in October 1967, the league itself acknowledged that Sicks’ Stadium was not adequate as a permanent major-league venue. Renovations began ahead of the 1969 season, adding seats along the foul lines and in temporary bleacher sections, but construction lagged well behind schedule. On Opening Day, April 11, 1969, scaffolding still dotted the outfield and many new seats had yet to be installed.
Life inside the ballpark reflected its minor-league origins. Visiting players reportedly showered at their hotels because of chronically low water pressure, and when crowds exceeded 10,000 the plumbing strained to keep pace. Despite these shortcomings, Sicks’ Stadium drew enthusiastic crowds throughout that lone Pilots season — a bittersweet chapter in Seattle baseball history that ended with the franchise filing for bankruptcy after just one year.
Legacy: From Diamond to Hardware Store
After the Pilots relocated to Milwaukee before the 1970 season, Sicks’ Stadium returned to minor-league baseball, hosting the Seattle Rainiers of the Northwest League through 1976. The last professional game was played there on September 1, 1976. Three years later, in February 1979, the stadium was torn down.
The site at 2700 Rainier Avenue South became an Eagle Hardware & Garden store in 1992, later converted to a Lowe’s home improvement store in 1999 — which still occupies the grounds today. A replica home plate embedded in the parking lot marks the spot where major-league dreams briefly came to Seattle. The stadium also witnessed a remarkable piece of rock-and-roll history: Elvis Presley performed there on September 1, 1957, with a then-teenage Jimi Hendrix reportedly in attendance.
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Sicks’ Stadium FAQs
Which major-league team played at Sicks’ Stadium?
The Seattle Pilots, an American League expansion team, played their only MLB season at Sicks’ Stadium in 1969 before relocating to Milwaukee and becoming the Brewers.
When was Sicks’ Stadium demolished?
Sicks’ Stadium was demolished in February 1979, roughly three years after the last professional baseball game was played there on September 1, 1976.
What stands on the site of Sicks’ Stadium today?
A Lowe’s home improvement store at 2700 Rainier Avenue South in Seattle’s Rainier Valley occupies the former ballpark site. A replica home plate in the parking lot commemorates the stadium’s location.
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Photo by Louie Cepeda on Pexels.