State Mutual Park Recon

[Cobra22nd]

An Overview of Autographing at State Mutual Stadium
By: cobra22nd (Chadwick Griffith)

I have never ‘graphed at Rome. This report is based on observations made when I stopped by during a business trip.
As with any other stadium, you must decide which team you will chase before and which you will chase after.

Home team layout (pregame)

The home side is on the third base side at SMS. Access appears to be top notch, and the only thing that could possibly hinder you is an overzealous usher.

The players will come out from a tunnel between the last column of seats and the grassy area in the outfield. If you position yourself between the dugout and the grassy area, you will have unparallel access to the players. Once they enter the tunnel, they MUST go to the dugout before they can get onto the field. At this stadium, setting up by home plate on the home side is going to limit your success, so you may want to think twice about that. If you miss someone in the tunnel, odds are that you can catch them if you swing around to the grassy area. The bullpen is in the outfield, and I observed no way for the players to sneak out there. Please note, I observed NO doorway in the home team dugout, aside from the tunnel.

Home Dugout:


The tunnel:


The view from the berm area by the dugout:


The view from the berm looking into the dugout and tunnel:


A view OF the berm:

Visiting team layout (pregame)

The visitors are on the first base side, of course. They appear to access the clubhouse via a doorway/tunnel combo that heads under the stadium on the home plate side of the dugout. Visibility is hindered from this side, as it is on the home side, so your best bet is to set up between 1st and the outfield. If you are closer you are to the dugout, you will have to lean over to see in farther, but that shouldn’t be a big problem. Again, the bullpen is in the outfield, and I noticed no other access to it besides on field. On this side, your experience will be more like most other minor league parks.

Visiting team dugout:


View from the home plate side of the dugout:


View from first:

Home team layout (postgame)

Remember that tunnel? Well, you can see where it goes, if you pay attention. It goes to the building on the other side of the fence. That is where I believe the clubhouse to be. There is a single door and a double door, and I do not know which is which, but I did not observe any side exits. Set up in the parking lot and you should be golden.

View from the corner by the tunnel, showing where the tunnel leads:



Home team clubhouse exits:

Visiting team layout (postgame)

Approximately even with that tunnel from the dugout is a double set of doors. The first and last time I did a Sally league game was in 2001, and the visiting team hopped on the bus in full uniform, providing limited autographing opportunity. That was in Hickory. If it is still that way in 2007, your best bet is to do the home team unless you have limited cards left to be signed by either team. If you need one guy and don’t know what he looks like, the fact that they wear unis on the bus will be a blessing.

Visiting team clubhouse exit: