Dickey-Stephens Park – North Little Rock, Arkansas

Note: This is part of Matt Nelson's Ballparks of the Midwest series.

Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock, Arkansas is a fine AA park with a nice view across the river of downtown Little Rock, and with a classic baseball atmosphere, mostly due to one man.

That man is Trey the Organist. Trey Trimble is only in his twenties but has been at the Dickey-Stephens keys for a few years now. These days it's relatively rare to find a live organist at the ballpark. It's even more rare to find that organist is positioned right on the main concourse. That's right, at the home of the Arkansas Travelers (AA - Texas League - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim), you can hang out with the organist while he's playing. Trey's spot is right behind home plate and is the most unique feature of this stadium.

North Little Rock is a railroad town with a considerable Union Pacific presence. So, the design of the ballpark fits a railroad theme with the stadium clock tower and railroad-themed concession stand names.

Multiple people told me that the bar down in the right field corner, the Hook Slide Corner Bar, is a busy place. I believed them, but until I saw how packed it was on the night of my visit to see the home of the Travs, I had no idea. People weren't kidding when they told me it was the most popular bar in town. Serious.

The hyphenated, non corporate name of the ballpark was created by Warren Stephens, an area businessman who bought and then donated the land that the ballpark sits on. The Dickeys are brothers Bill and George, former big league players and natives of Arkansas. The Stephens are Jack (father of Warren) and Witt.

Dickey-Stephens Park is a stadium with a nice exterior design, a great skyline view, and a talented man at the organ keys who sets the gameday atmosphere...right there on the main concourse for all to enjoy.