A beloved baseball stadium in Ontario, which served as a filming location for several popular sports movies, was gutted by a fire that broke out overnight.
The blaze was reported around 11:30 p.m. on Thursday at the Jay Littleton Ball Park, located in the 1000 block of North Grove Avenue. Firefighters who responded found heavy smoke and flames engulfing the stadium and dugout areas.
The extent of the damage to the historic ballpark and whether it can be salvaged remains uncertain.
“It’s upsetting… This ballpark has been a part of the city’s baseball history. I have two young kids in our league and the dream has always been that they get to play at Jay Littleton,” lamented Ontario Eastern Little League President Aaron Matthiesen.
The field’s cinematic fame includes its appearance in the 1992 hit movie “A League of Their Own,” directed by the late Penny Marshall and starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, and Madonna. It was also featured in the films Eight Men Out and The Babe Ruth Story, according to the City of Ontario’s website.