From the Dugout to Dayton: Our Family’s Ballpark Story
Minor league baseball is where Corey Thrush grew up, played ball, and still spends his summer nights. Before he helped run the family company, his playing days took him to ballparks from Alaska to Arizona.
Today the Thrush & Son name lights up the scoreboard in downtown Dayton. This is our ode to minor league baseball: how the levels work, why our home team is special, and how to make the most of a night at the ballpark.
Run the Bases: The Levels of Minor League Baseball
Since 2021, each of the 30 major league clubs has four full-season minor league baseball affiliates, 120 teams in all. Tap a base to move the runner and see what each level means. The runner starts on second, where Dayton plays.
Single-A
Where most pro careers start. Players are often fresh from the draft or international signing, learning to play every day.
High-A
Dayton’s level. The Dayton Dragons are the Reds’ High-A affiliate in the Midwest League, so the players you watch downtown are two steps from the big leagues.
Double-A
Often called the real test. Pitchers have command, hitters have plans, and top prospects jump fast.
Triple-A
The last stop before “The Show.” Triple-A rosters mix rising prospects with veterans waiting for the call to the majors.
Minor league baseball rosters change constantly. Players move up, down, and sometimes back up again in a single season. Rehabbing big leaguers drop in too, which is part of the fun: you never know who’ll be warming up in the bullpen.
Why Dayton Is a Minor League Baseball Town
The Dayton Dragons arrived in 2000, and the city never let them go. Their downtown ballpark opened on April 23, 2000, as Fifth Third Field and was renamed Day Air Ballpark in 2020.
MiLB.com covered the record night, when the Dragons passed the Portland Trail Blazers’ 814 straight sellouts. WHIO reported the streak at 1,459 games in 2023. For minor league baseball, crowds like that are rare, and they say a lot about this community.
Four Ballparks That Shaped a Ballplayer
Corey played minor league baseball in dozens of ballparks before trading his glove for a clipboard. These four still come up whenever someone asks about his playing days. Each one taught him something different: patience under a sun that wouldn’t set, focus in 100-degree heat, and respect for the players who came before.
Growden Memorial Park
Fairbanks, AlaskaHome of the Alaska Goldpanners since 1960 and the Midnight Sun Game, played near the summer solstice with no lights since 1906. Dave Winfield and Tom Seaver both wore Goldpanners uniforms.
Desert Sun Stadium
Yuma, ArizonaSpring training home of the San Diego Padres from 1970 through 1993. Desert heat, desert sky, and every pitch felt it.
Danville Stadium
Danville, IllinoisBuilt in 1946, with selected scenes from the 1992 movie The Babe filmed there. It looks like baseball history because it is.
Fifth Third Field
Dayton, OhioCorey played a high school all-star game here before it was home to his favorite team. Today it’s Day Air Ballpark, and he still calls it his favorite seat in town.
I have experienced this stadium many times as a fan, since I am from the Dayton area. From the first pitch, you can feel the excitement in the air. You see the joy on everyone’s faces as they get to experience a professional baseball game with the hopes of seeing the next big name in professional baseball.
Corey Thrush, on Dayton’s ballpark
5 Easy Wins at a Minor League Baseball Game
Big-league games get the TV time. Minor league baseball gets the memories, and Dayton proves it every summer. Here’s why a night at the ballpark beats the couch.
- 1
Seats close to the action
Smaller ballparks put you near the field, close enough to hear the dugout chatter and the pop of the catcher’s mitt.
- 2
Family-friendly prices
Tickets, parking, and food usually cost a fraction of a big-league game, which makes a weeknight outing easy to say yes to.
- 3
Tomorrow’s stars, tonight
More than 150 Dragons have reached the majors, including Joey Votto, Johnny Cueto, Jay Bruce, and Elly De La Cruz.
- 4
Between-inning fun
Mascot races, T-shirt launches, and kids running the bases after the game. The show never stops between pitches.
- 5
A whole town in one place
Neighbors, coworkers, and old teammates all end up in the same rows. That’s the real home field advantage.
Your Game-Day Checklist
Planning a minor league baseball night with the family? Check off each item as you pack, and watch the count climb.
Hosting the game at home instead? Our game-day entertaining ideas and family gathering tips work just as well for a summer cookout before first pitch. Fire up the grill, set out the peanuts, and put the radio broadcast on the patio speaker so nobody misses a pitch.
A covered patio or pergola with a TV wall turns any summer night into a watch party, rain or shine, and keeps the radio crowd and the TV crowd under one roof.
Rooted in Dayton, Like Our Ballclub
Wilbur Thrush founded Thrush & Son in 1960. W. Allen Thrush owns the company today, and Corey Thrush is the third generation. More than 31,000 Miami Valley homeowners have trusted us, from our Brookville headquarters and offices in Troy and Lebanon. Read the story in 65 Years Strong.
Baseball taught Corey that wins come from showing up every day and doing the small things right. That’s how our crews approach every roof, siding job, and window install. See the project gallery, our Best of Dayton story, and homeowner reviews. And yes, BooBoo is a fan too.
Minor League Baseball Questions, Answered
Quick answers for your next trip to the ballpark.
What level of minor league baseball are the Dayton Dragons?
The Dragons are the High-A affiliate of the Reds and play in the Midwest League. They were a Class A team from 2000 through 2020.
What are the levels of minor league baseball?
Since 2021, each of the 30 major league clubs has four full-season affiliates: Single-A, High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A, for 120 teams in all.
Where do the Dayton Dragons play?
Day Air Ballpark in downtown Dayton. It opened on April 23, 2000, as Fifth Third Field and took its current name in 2020.
How long is the Dragons’ sellout streak?
On July 9, 2011, the Dragons sold out their 815th straight game, a record for North American professional sports. By May 2023, the streak had reached 1,459 games.
Did Corey Thrush play professional baseball?
Yes. Before joining the family business, Corey’s playing days took him to ballparks from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Yuma, Arizona. He still gets to Dragons games whenever he can.
Where can I find a minor league baseball schedule?
Every affiliated team posts its schedule on MiLB.com. For the Dragons, start at MiLB.com/dayton.
Your Home Deserves a Home-Team Crew
Same family, same Dayton roots, same attention to the small things that make minor league baseball and a good roof work. When your roof, siding, or windows need attention, we’ll give you a written quote with no pressure. See our roofing services, and ask about financing.
Call 937-833-5136 · Office: Mon–Thu 9–4, Fri 9–2 · Michelle, our AI assistant, answers 24/7
