CarShield Field


CarShield Field, formerly T.R. Hughes Ballpark, is a stadium in O'Fallon, Missouri. It is primarily used for baseball, and was the home field of the River City Rascals Frontier League baseball team, until the team ceased operations at the end of the 2019 season. Beginning in 2020 season, it became the home field for the O'Fallon Hoots of the Prospect League. CarShield Field became the host of the entire six–team 2020 CarShield Collegiate League upon the cancellation of the 2020 Prospect League season due to Covid-19. CarShield Field is home to a local high school baseball team, The Christian O'Fallon Eagles. It opened in 1999 with seating for 3,500 people, plus areas for 1,650 additional fans on lawn and outfield bleacher areas.

History

The ballpark hosted a number of special events in addition to Rascals home games. On October 13–14, 2007 the ballpark was the site of the longest baseball game in recorded history. A group of 40 players from the Men's Senior Baseball League of St. Louis played for 39 hours 29 minutes and 25 seconds. They played 92 innings and the score was 119–81 as the team representing the St. Louis Browns beat the team representing the St. Louis Stars. The record was reset in October 9–11, 2009 when the two teams played a 48-hour game, with the Browns defeating the Cardinals 180–140. Again, a new record was set when two teams played over 48½ hours, headed towards 60 hours from July 3–5, 2012. On August 13, 2009, the stadium was the site of a home run derby between first baseman Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals and basketball star Shaquille O'Neal for Shaq's reality television series, "Shaq Vs." in front of a capacity crowd. CarShield Field has hosted the Missouri State High School Activities Association baseball championships since 2013 and will remain the home of the event through 2019. Also, the stadium hosted the 2015 Rams Coach Jeff FIsher Celebrity Softball Game in front of a crowd of over 3,000.
For the 2020 baseeball season, the Prospect League ceased play due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the O'Fallon Hoots played host to a six-team league at CarShield Field, with each team playing 30 game seasons and 7 inning games. The CarShield Collegiate League began play on July 1, 2020 with limited tickets.