Hunting Ball Fields

[PhantomHunter]

I have never really hunted ball fields before but I found one that looks promising after the snow melts. Is it better to hunt along the baselines or at the outfield positions?

PhantomHunter

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Probably along the first base line and dugouts would be adviseable..Personally where spectators sit and watch is the place to search...Once found a grassy knoll where
they did and filled a pouch although all clad with one sterling ring...Good luck and hope not many detectorists hunt it as very popular places such as these are heavily hunted..Remember baseball was popular before TV and PC's and find an old isolated one and just might grab some silver coins...

 

[Nitro]

But I think it varies really. Most of my finds have come from shortstop areas, I think just because there is more activity in that area generally speaking. I have found rings in the outfield too though, guess it all depends....heck, just hunt it all

 

[woodwizard]

ya need to spend lots of time there as almost all areas should be producers-the playing field ,spectator seating and if there was any check around concession and parking

 

[Rick(ND)]

I find the outfields have been better for me as most everyone has hunted around the bases and base lines plus the infields and forget the outfilds it seems. Now if you know it has never been hit I would start around bases and base line and work to the outfields. We did hit a well worked ballfield that the base line were being dug down a bit and replacing it with new sand and we did well in that area. Most of the rings and better finds I have got come from the outfields.

 

[jim tn]

Outfields seem to be the best spots for me. If a ring gets thrown off ones hand or a chain breaks, they go into the grass and usually lost. The baselines and most of the infield are usually just dirt and when things get lost, get noted quicker. My take and reasoning, anyway. HH jim

 

[dave5710]

An article in one of the treasure magazines a few years back said that the area of the batters box was the best place to find goodies. It didn't make sense to me. I have done better along base lines. Does the field have a pitchers mound and permanent bases? A large park with several ball diamonds that I hunt, has soccer matches in the outfield before and after baseball season. Crowds watch fireworks from lawn chairs in the outfield grass for the 4th. Plus a football game or snowball fight could break out anywhere the neighborhood
kids get together.

Nitro has the best advice I think, hunt it all. Go east-west once and then north-south. If you get lots of stuff, you will probably want to repeat the process. If not wait a year or two and try it again perhaps.

 

[BarberBill]

I try to eventually cover it all. Have found coins in all the areas from time to time.
BB

 

[Old Katz]

I always hunt the out fields and usually find some good stuff. I've tried hunting around the
bases but not with much success. I usually do them last if I have the time. Also look
to see if there are any consession stands where people buy their hot dogs etc. Last year
I found of those and pulled out $17.00 in change over a two day period in an area about
25 X 25. I first did it with my Ace 250. The second day I came back with my MXT and
got what my Ace missed. I made sure I criss crossed the are from several different directions.
Katz

 

[tab-nabit]

Although I don't hunt ball fields on any regular basis, I do better most times where the spectators stand/sit to watch, any concession stands, areas walking to and from, and in a few where the vehicles normally park. Don't forget to and from bathrooms.

 

[tab-nabit]

Maybe that's why I don't do as good around the bases or base line - others hunt them.

 

[pescadore]

I have done better in the outfield as far as jewelry. I usually concentrate on concession stands and walkways for coins. I found an old concession location one time while hunting a field that was no longer used. I was really surprised to find that no one had located it before me and I pulled a few silver coins, wheaties, and lots of clad from an area of probably 10X10. I have also found some fields where the locals get together and play soccer and such that are not part of the Parks system and done very well there. I agree with the others advice and that is hunt it all for the best results.

 

[Keeshond John]

If the ball field has an outfield fence, try along the warning track area right up next to the fence. I've always found many coins here. I think it's from kid's jumping up at the fence for home run fly balls and loosing change on the way down. Uniformed players in organized leagues are not apt to be carrying change, but most play on old fields was done by kids on weekends. They always carried change in their jeans. I know because I was a change-carrying ball-playing kid once, too. Now I hunt those same old fields I played on as a child. I guess you could say I have home field advantage. I always do well at the local baseball yards.

 

[Old Katz]

Yup, don't forget the soccer fields. Lots of clad there and sometimes a ring or two.
Katz

 

[Jay4]

The outfield and firstbase and thirdbase base coaching boxes have been productive for me.

 

[gordygroover]

The areas where the players stretch and warm up are places I like to hit first.
Stretching out means sometimes pockets are more likely to be upside down and often times jackets are tossed onto the grass letting change slide out.
The players usually empty their pockets at the start of the game but before the game have concession stand money to lose.

 

[Keeshond John]

I was once hunting a ball field in my town with another man when he found the only gold coin I've ever seen a detector locate. This guy found the 10 dollar gold piece right in front of the first base player's bench. (no dugouts). I had played pony league ball on that same field 35 years earlier and had run over that very spot a million times as a kid. I would have never guessed a gold coin was just beneath my feet back then.

He found the coin at about 8-10 inches. He also found several musket balls of about .58 caliber. This man told me that the park we were hunting had been a staging area for Civil War soldiers heading south. A railroad line lay right next to the field. It heads south to Boston and north to Maine.

The ball field has been used for baseball since the 20s at least. It still remains a good spot for occasional silver and the odd chunk of lead. So far I have not teased any gold for myself. But I did see some. Very thrilling.

 

[jbow]

I have permission to hunt the local complex, it is a big one. They asked me only to stay off the infields, which makes sense. They hold state LL tournaments there and someone digging holes in a nice dirt infield wouldn't last too long... so use common sense, stay in the grass if it is a nice field.

J

 

[Old Katz]

As for Soccer fields I find most of my stuff on the side lines where people line up to watch the game.
I don't find that much in the cent field, but that could change.
Katz

 

[Keeshond John]

Katz, that's my finding on football fields as well. Right where the teams and all the supporters are. Cheerleaders in back if you're looking for a new navel ring. As for me, I'm full-up of navel rings. I'm looking for something stylish for my big toes this summer with beach weather coming and all.