Vermonters have been playing and watching baseball at Burlington's Centennial Field since 1906. Generations of fans have come to the park to see hometown kids, colligiate athletes, minor league heroes, and major league stars perform on the local diamond.

At various times in its history, Centennial Field has been a center of noisy activity, attracting large crowds and inciting a passionate loyalty to the home team. At other times, the old ballyard has been silent and neglected, a vacant lot awaiting rebirth as interest in the game rises again.

Centennial is certainly lacking in modern conveniences. But this little ballpark has something else that cannot just be built into a new structure: it has history, character, and a long baseball heritage. There are ghosts down on that diamond, ghosts of Vermont's baseball past.

What is minor league baseball's oldest ballpark? Answering that question is not as simple as it may appear.