| There’s something moving about stepping into Hinchliffe Stadium. This is one of the few surviving Negro League ballparks in the country, a place where legends like Josh Gibson, Monte Irvin, and Larry Doby once took the field. After sitting abandoned for decades, the stadium has been restored with care—preserving its Art Deco charm, original medallions, flagpoles, and façade—while incorporating a museum, senior housing, and a parking garage. Seeing an important piece of baseball and African-American history brought back from the brink is truly inspiring.
The setting adds to its historical significance. Hinchliffe sits right next to Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park, where the Passaic River tumbles over one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. From certain spots in the stadium, you can even catch glimpses of the falls—a reminder of the deep industrial and cultural heritage of the city.
Baseball returned to Hinchliffe in 2023 when the New Jersey Jackals, an independent Frontier League team, moved here from Yogi Berra Stadium on the campus of Montclair State University. Unfortunately, while the history and scenery are rich, the ballpark itself is not particularly well-suited for modern baseball. The seating bowl is far larger than needed, and during my 2024 visit the crowd was very small, leaving the place feeling hollow. The seating consists entirely of metal bleachers with no backs, which quickly become uncomfortable. Compounding the problem, the seats are set back a considerable distance from the playing field—likely a holdover from its multi-purpose, non-baseball origins—so there’s little of the intimacy fans expect today.
Concessions are limited to mostly basic ballpark fare—hot dogs, pretzels, burgers, and soft drinks—at relatively high prices considering the no-frills offerings. For fans hoping for a wider range of food or something reflecting local flavor, the only option is empanadas. The souvenir “store” is simply a trailer parked outside the main gate, stocked with a modest selection of team apparel and merchandise.
One of the highlights of the restoration is the on-site museum dedicated to the Negro Leagues. Unfortunately, it was closed on the day of my visit, which was disappointing—I had been looking forward to exploring the exhibits and learning more about the stadium’s rich past in detail.
While the restoration deserves praise, Hinchliffe’s sheer size and layout make it feel more like a monument than a functional home for a ballclub. The atmosphere suffers when thousands of empty seats surround the action, and the wide track between the stands and the diamond reinforces the sense of separation. It’s not the kind of place where you feel close to the game.
Still, there’s undeniable value in what has been accomplished here. Bringing back an abandoned Negro League ballpark and giving it a new life is no small feat, and for anyone interested in baseball history, civil rights, or urban preservation, a visit is worth it. Just go for the story and the setting—rather than for the pure baseball experience.
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