Old Baseball Field

[HistoryFinder89]

Hey I was thinking about detecting this old Baseball Field. I seen it on an old map. And it was there I think at least in the late 50's. But Then I seen a map from the 20's and it didn't look like it was there. Well at least if it was around in the late 50's, there could be a small chance of silver coins. Anyway I was wondering if it is safe to detect. I'm still new to this hobby. It now has grass covering it but you can still see the outline of where it was. It's next to like swings and it's like a Town Recreation area. The grass is well cut. So I was wondering is it okay to detect? What do you think? What would you do? Thanks

[gtoast99]

Sounds like a great place to try. As for permission, check out the GIS mapping service on your county website (most have this), and find the field on the map. This should let you see who owns it. Some "town" fields and even schools are actually private land, so double checking is always good. If it's public land, make sure the county doesn't have a no-dig ordinance, and if the field is in a city/town limits make sure to check the ordinances for that as well. If that checks out, you should be in the clear, and I certainly think that warrants a trip out! HH and good luck!

[dan]

Go here:

http://thetreasurecorner.com

And listen to these shows:

#038 When a Policeman Approaches
#039 Park Permission

Good luck!

[Trapper]

Get permission and then hunt it. I've done well at baseball fields...infields, outfields and sidelines. All places that used to attract people and are now largely forgotten have great potential

[HistoryFinder89]

Yeah but where do I go for that permission? It's not like an old house where I just knock on the door and ask who owns it or for permission. It's an old ballfieild in a Town Recreation type area. So do I go ask the Town Hall or something?

[Lightningjack]

Originally Posted by BHRookie89

Yeah but where do I go for that permission? It's not like an old house where I just knock on the door and ask who owns it or for permission. It's an old ballfieild in a Town Recreation type area. So do I go ask the Town Hall or something?

If you have a local parks & recreations department ask them, if not call your city hall or police department..I've been hunting a 1950's baseball field and have found a few silver coins & wheats..Try to find out where the infield & dug outs where and hit those areas hard..Good luck..

[HistoryFinder89]

Okay first first of all I would like to thank all of you for getting back to me and giving me some advice and information. I found out though my local County map that under Owner 1 it says the Town. And under property description it says vacant comm. Once again thanks a lot for all your help. And if I hunt it, I'll let you guys know what I found. Thanks

[RickO]

Good research.... I just ask the local police, and they are happy to give the information. I do get the name of the officer I ask - usually at the station. Appearing in person lends some credibility, at least it seems to be better than a voice over the phone. HH RickO

[HistoryFinder89]

I got permission. And I'll probably detect it later this week so I'll let you guys know what I find. Again thanks a lot for the help.

[HistoryFinder89]

Well I detected for serveral hours. I didn't find much old stuff. I wonder why????? If the field is at least about 50 years old, how come I couldn't find much? I found some clad though maybe a few dollors worth. How come I can't find much from the field's early days?

[Bearharold]

Sounds like maybe you have had some help from other people detecting there sometime in the past . But sounds like someone had the same idea you did . Also could be deep enough you wasn't picking it up hard to tell why .


Harold

[dan]

Originally Posted by BHRookie89

How come I can't find much from the field's early days?

Because the odds are good that it has been thoroughly detected already.

Metal detectors have been in relatively heavy use since the 1960s, and in the 1980s when the price of gold and silver skyrocketed, the sales of detectors also skyrocketed. Guys have stories of filling buckets with silver coins back then.

Even though the detectors weren't as sophisticated then as they are now, they had plenty enough depth in all-metal mode to do a good job of cleaning out most of the good stuff in parks and schoolyards.

So I'd say your ballpark has been hit pretty hard in the past, and what you're finding has been lost since then.

All the more reason for hunting private yards that have never seen a detector.

[Lightningjack]

Originally Posted by BHRookie89

Well I detected for serveral hours. I didn't find much old stuff. I wonder why????? If the field is at least about 50 years old, how come I couldn't find much? I found some clad though maybe a few dollors worth. How come I can't find much from the field's early days?

Where you out in the middle of the field or on the side lines..I walk a big square on the outer areas until I find the hot spots "infield, benches, dugout areas"..There all gone now, but the coins are still there..I picked up very few coins out in the middle of the field.. Hope this helps..