Riverhead in Suffolk County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Wivchar Stadium

— Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame —

Photographed by Chris Vaccaro

1. Wivchar Stadium Marker

Inscription.
Location of baseball field where Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige played on July 21, 1950.

Erected 2022 by Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame. (Marker Number 3.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is July 21, 1950.

Location. 40° 55.756′ N, 72° 40.8′ W. Marker is in Riverhead, New York, in Suffolk County. It is on 814 Harrison Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Riverhead NY 11901, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the New York City Metropolitan Area

and on Long Island.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Early Duck Farm (approx. one mile away); Benjamin Franklin Mile Markers

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. 1.3 miles away); Big Duck Ranch (approx. 3.4 miles away); Battles of Penny’s and Luce’s Landing (approx. 4.3 miles away); Old Orchard (approx. 6 miles away); Pigthle (approx. 6 miles away); Hallock Homestead (approx. 6 miles away); Horse Block (approx. 6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Riverhead.

Also see . . . Historic marker unveiled… (Suffolk Times, May 9, 2022). Full title: Historic marker unveiled, commemorating night baseball legend Satchel Paige played in Riverhead. Excerpt:

Sometimes history can be found in the darnedest places — like your own backyard. That was the case for Riverhead when Fabio Montella’s research found that the late, great Satchel Paige pitched in a baseball game at the former Wivchar Stadium in Riverhead in 1950. That event was commemorated Thursday with the unveiling of a historical marker erected by the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame.

The marker was placed at the Pulaski Sports Complex, near the Riverhead Central School District offices alongside Osborne Avenue, within a fly ball of the Riverhead High School baseball team’s home field. That site is believed
Paid Advertisement

to be about where Wivchar Stadium was located and where Mr. Paige pitched in a barnstorming game for the Philadelphia Stars against the Riverhead Falcons.

(Submitted on July 21, 2025.)

Additional keywords. Baseball, Sports, Riverhead, Long Island, Suffolk County, Hall of Fame

Credits. This page was last revised on July 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2025, by Chris Vaccaro of Lake Grove, New York. This page has been viewed 168 times since then and 58 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on July 13, 2025, by Chris Vaccaro of Lake Grove, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.