Announcement
The History of Denton Field
In 1941, Miles City hosted the Western Sectional American Legion tourney, but only if lights were installed in the park. This project was done by August. Teams from Tulsa, OK; Omaha, NE; Lewiston, ID; and the winner San Diego, CA (also won the World Series) played in the tourney. Three players (Les Moss, Rex Barney, and Bob Usher) from this tourney became Major League players.
In 1943, Miles City was awarded the American Legion World Series, primarily because of the war years to keep the Series out of a large city, especially if that city happened to be in a congested war area, where the movement of teams would affect the war effort. Miles City is the smallest city in which the classic has been held, since 1926. Over 22,000 attended the series (9 games) and 4,000 for the title game. The teams were New Orleans, LA; Flint, MI; Springfield, OH; Whiteville, NC and Richfield (Minneapolis), MN winning the Series, the championship game, a 3-2 verdict over Springfield.
Doug Denton, was a long-time popular and prominent figure in American Leagion Baseball and other Miles City athletic circles. Coach Denton's Legion teams won 6 State titles and 7 second place finishes from 1936 to 1950. In 1966, the park was named Denton Field in honor of Coach Denton.