Ray Winder Field
Travelers game against the Tulsa Drillers in August 2006.
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| Former names | Traveler Field (1932-1966) |
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| Location | 400 Broadway Street Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 |
| Coordinates | 34°44′43″N 92°19′39″W / 34.74528°N 92.32750°WCoordinates: 34°44′43″N 92°19′39″W / 34.74528°N 92.32750°W |
| Owner | City of Little Rock |
| Operator | Arkansas Travelers Baseball, Inc. |
| Capacity | 6,083 |
| Field size | Left Field: 330 feet Center Field: 390 feet Right Field: 345 feet |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1931 |
| Opened | April 13, 1932 |
| Closed | September 3, 2006 |
| Demolished | 2012 |
| Construction cost | $100,000 ($1.76 million in 2017 dollars) |
| Architect | Thompson, Sanders & Ginocchio |
| General contractor | McGregor & Pickett |
| Tenants | |
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Little Rock Travelers (SA) (1932–1961) Arkansas Travelers (TL) (1963–2006) |
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Ray Winder Field was a baseball park in Little Rock, Arkansas. The ballpark sat with home plate in roughly the north-northwest corner of the property. The former boundaries of the park were Interstate 630 (south, right field); Jonesboro Drive (west, right field corner); South Monroe Street (west, first base stands); buildings on driveway extended from Ray Winder Drive (north, third base stands); buildings bordering South Palm Street (east, right field). The field was in operation for around 74 years.
The ballpark was constructed during 1931, as a new home field for the Little Rock Travelers, later to become the Arkansas Travelers, minor league baseball team. The Travelers vacated Kavanaugh Field, near Little Rock Central High School, and opened their 1932 season on April 13 at the newly completed ballpark, which was initially called Travelers Field for the team name.
On August 26, 1966, Traveler Field was renamed Ray Winder Field, after Raymond Winder, who was involved with the business end of The Travelers for some sixty years. Winder started as a ticket seller in 1915, was named as the Arkansas Traveler business manager in 1931, and became part owner in 1944. The Traveler franchise was moved to Shreveport following the 1958 season, leaving Little Rock without a baseball club for the first time since 1914. Traveler Field sat empty during the 1959 season while efforts continued to return minor league baseball to Little Rock. After a public stock drive raised funds to purchase a bankrupt New Orleans franchise, the Travelers were resurrected in Little Rock for the 1960 season. Ray Winder was again asked to manage the day to day details of rebuilding the club.
In 1976, Bill Valentine, a former American League umpire, was chosen as general manager for the Travelers. Valentine was general manager until 2007, 31 years. He remained executive vice president for two more seasons, before retiring in March 2009.
Faced with an aging ballpark and limited funds, Valentine began to promote the historic nature of Ray Winder Field. Through his efforts the ballpark gained recognition as one of the oldest active parks in minor league baseball, and he encouraged fans traveled to Little Rock to experience the nostalgia and sample the baseball history represented by Ray Winder Field. He promoted the home of the Arkansas Travelers as "A great place to see old-time baseball, wholesome entertainment aimed squarely at the family market."
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