Ricky Davis 1/22/26 Ricky Davis 1/22/26

A Look outside of Smokies Stadium in Kodak, Tn.

Smokies Stadium in Kodak, TN - Former home of the Tennessee Smokies Baseball Team - Kodak Tri X Film Photography by Ricky Davis of TRD Photography

Recently I was driving to Johnson City, TN and I stopped off to check out the outside of Smokies Stadium in Kodak, TN. I grew up loving baseball and I’ve been working on a project taking photos of different ballparks, so I couldn’t not take the opportunity to photograph Smokies Stadium.

The stadium is currently empty as the Smokies moved back to Knoxville in 2025. From everything I have found, the stadium is still being decided on what will be eventually happening to it, although the last article I read was for a developer that will keep the stadium in tact.

Smokies Stadium isn’t a super old ballpark, it was opened in 2000 and 2024 was it’s final year. I didn’t get to go but to a few games here over the years as it’s a couple hours from my home, but it always had a different feel to me than a lot of the other stadiums. Although I do have some awesome memories from Smokies Stadium.

In 2009 I believe it was, I got to meet one of my childhood heroes, Dale Murphy. He was doing a meet and greet signing at the Smokies/Braves game. Jason Heyward was playing for the Mississippi Braves at the time, but I spent the whole game in the line that wrapped around the stadium to meet Murphy. I was ecstatic!

I went back for another game to see Heyward and Freddie Freeman. I also went to see Kris Bryant when he was playing for the Smokies and tearing up minor league hitting. I’ve always loved the feel of minor league games.

I’m hoping to get to swing by and check out the Smokies new park sometime in the near future. Here’s a few more photos that I took outside of the stadium. Sadly there wasn’t a whole lot outside of the stadium to photograph. I’d love the opportunity to get permission to make photograph the inside of the stadium sometime. I loved the way the outfield was setup for fans to stand at the wall. I’d love to get a photograph of the stadium from that angle.

Ricky Davis 1/2/26 Ricky Davis 1/2/26

Chattanooga Lookouts and At&T Field - Minor League Stadium on Film

Chattanooga Lookouts and AT&T Field - Kodak Tri X Film Photography by Ricky Davis of TRD Photography

I grew up in Chattanooga going to Lookouts games at Historic Engel Stadium but in 2000, the Lookouts moved to AT&T Field. I don’t have as many “nostalgic” moments at AT&T Field, simply because I wasn’t a kid anymore going to games with my dad. However I did get to take my kids to games at AT&T Field over the years. Next year, the Lookouts will be moving to a new field here in Chattanooga, so I decided to stop by and take some photos from outside AT&T Field to capture the stadium as it is today.

One of the cool experiences my kids got to have at AT&T Field was being honored on school night where lots of local schools had their kids in a parade before the game. One of my favorite experiences though was my youngest daughter and I were at an early special game on a Wednesday. I unfortunately was holding my camera taking photos of the game (photographer, go figure) when I foul ball was lined towards us. It was headed for my youngest daughter but I reached out to shield her with my left hand. Unfortunately it bounced off my hand (but luckily it didn’t hit my kiddo). Someone else grabbed the ball and she was pretty disappointed. An usher came up to her and gave her a ball which made her day. It’s moments like that that make memories, especially for kids. Baseball is one of those sports that just offer those one of a kind moments.

One of the special things about baseball is the history, and how new chapters continue to be added. The Lookouts have legends, and more are made as the years go by. Some of the Lookouts legends from my childhood may have never made it big in the majors, but they are still legends to me. One of my favorites was Scott Pose. Then you had Brian Koelling, Calvin (Pokey) Reese, and Steve Gibralter. Pokey had the longest major league career of those guys.

At AT&T field though, there have been three different Major League Teams the Lookouts have represented. The Dodgers, the Twins, and then back to the Reds. In my time at the AT&T Field, I’ve gotten to see Corey Seager, Byron Buxton, Jose Berrios, and others wear the Lookouts uniform. I haven’t gotten to see them but a couple of times since they went back to the Reds due to schedule, but the Reds prospects have been stacked.

So for several years after Covid, I just couldn’t seem to work time in to go see a game. It was strange going back and seeing how things have changed with the digital age. When I used to go, I always got my tickets at the ticket booth, but now so much has gone cashless and digital. It’s weird seeing our national past time grow and change with the times. It’s easy to look at the changes and wish for the past. But there’s still so much beauty in baseball.

There’s just something about the sound of bat hitting the ball just right. The dust from a catchers mitt after a fastball strikes out the other teams cleanup hitter. The air even smells different when it’s spring and baseball season is upon us again. I have a lot of great memories from AT&T Field, and I can’t wait to make some new ones at the new stadium. I’d love to hear some of your favorite memories from the park if you got to watch a game there.

Here’s a few more photos that I got to take that day. All were shot on Kodak Tri X Film.

A Look outside of Smokies Stadium in Kodak, Tn.

Chattanooga Lookouts and At&T Field - Minor League Stadium on Film

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