LAKE COUNTY CAPTAINS
Classic Park
Classic Park is the Cleveland Guardians' High-A affiliate in Eastlake, Ohio — on the Lake Erie shoreline 20 miles east of Cleveland. The Captains name references the Great Lakes maritime tradition, the lake captains who commanded freighters on Lake Erie carrying iron ore, coal, and steel that built America's industrial Midwest. Lake Erie is the shallowest and most storm-prone of the Great Lakes — its November storms have sunk dozens of ships, including the Edmund Fitzgerald.
PHOTO: Nick81aku · Public domain
Architecture & History
Classic Park opened in 2003 in Eastlake on the Lake Erie shore, serving Cleveland's eastern suburbs. The 7,273-seat facility has hosted the Lake County Captains throughout their affiliation history.
Build specs
- OPENED
- 2003
- CAPACITY
- 7,273
Names & History
2003–present
Classic Park
The original name. A later naming rights deal renamed it Classic Auto Group Park, though the shorter name persists.
The Food
Cleveland-Style Polish Boy
The Polish Boy — a kielbasa sausage on a hoagie bun layered with french fries, coleslaw, and BBQ sauce — is Cleveland's most specific food tradition. A street food invented in the African American communities of Cleveland's East Side.
Lake Erie Perch Sandwich
Fish sandwich stand
Lake Erie yellow perch — breaded and fried, on a hoagie roll with tartar sauce and lemon — the Great Lakes fish sandwich tradition.
Pierogies (Cleveland Polish Heritage)
Pierogi stand
Pierogies — potato and cheese stuffed dumplings, boiled and pan-fried in butter with sauteed onions — the Northeast Ohio comfort food tradition.
Captains Dog
Hot dog stands
Standard hot dog. Available Polish Boy style — with fries, coleslaw, and BBQ sauce.
The Beer
Classic Park features a strong Northeast Ohio craft presence. Thirsty Dog Brewing and Platform Beer Company represent the Cleveland craft tradition.
Platform Beer Company Juice Jackson IPA
Platform Beer Co. · Cleveland, OH
Platform Beer Company from Cleveland's Ohio City neighborhood.
Thirsty Dog Brewing Siberian Night Imperial Stout
Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. · Akron, OH
Thirsty Dog from Akron, one of Ohio's oldest craft breweries.
Great Lakes Brewing Company Commodore Perry IPA
Great Lakes Brewing Co. · Cleveland, OH
Great Lakes Brewing Company — founded in Cleveland in 1988 — brings Commodore Perry IPA, named for the War of 1812 hero.
Sun & Weather Guide
Northeast Ohio summer heat
Lake Erie shore heat — warmer than you expect. Day games in Eastlake from June through August regularly hit 85–90°F.
Lake Erie breeze moderates evening temperatures
The Lake Erie shore breeze makes Classic Park one of the cooler Midwest League evening game experiences.
Insider Tips
The One Thing
Classic Park (now Classic Auto Group Park) serves Cleveland's eastern suburbs — the home turf of a deeply devoted Cleveland baseball community that lives and breathes Guardians baseball.
Best Seat in the House
Third base reserved sections give you the best view of the Lake Erie shoreline hills in the distance.
Getting There
Classic Park is in Eastlake on US-20, about 20 miles east of downtown Cleveland. Ample free parking adjacent to the stadium.
Pilgrim Stops Near Eastlake
Weird, wonderful, and worth the detour.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
The river that caught fire in 1969, now a national park with herons and otters.
Pro Football Hall of Fame Canton
The NFL was founded in a Canton car dealership in 1920. The Hall of Fame is here because of that fact.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Cleveland
The pyramid on Lake Erie where the argument about who belongs never stops.
Plan your pilgrimage
Every Park a Pilgrimage.
Plan a baseball road trip through Eastlake and beyond.
Start Planning →